I was about 16 when the first book came out, and I never outgrew them. I feel like they grew with me. Each one was a little darker than the last, until you get to the last book, where you are dealing with very adult themes. It's not for everyone, I grant you, but some people like to read books just for fun.

I agree that her prose isn't fantastic. She's not Janet Fitch or Virginia Woolf. But she did create a fabulously rich fantasy world for her readers. I mean, Hogwarts, dude.

Yeah... the Darwin Awards aren't really full of stories of scientific experiments going awry. I can see what you're trying to say, but the comparison isn't very apt. Not to mention- the Darwin Award winners are not children.

I haven't broached that particular topic with her yet, because she seems able to function normally and the obsession tapers off after a while and reality settles back in. After reading this, I'm afraid that might not always be the case, so I may take your advice.

It probably is nothing more than that, but then it gets in her head and she starts having other symptoms, too- the morning sickness, the weight gain, etc. It can snowball really quickly.

My dearest and closest female friend is not able to have children and has never wanted anything else. She has false pregnancy symptoms that show up about 2-3 times a year and make her wildly hopeful for a few weeks. It's never progressed as far as Ruby's case- she usually lets it go (reluctantly) after the second or…

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/12/hug…

I have to agree with you. At least he was totally upfront about being a sleazeball. You gotta respect that. Hugh, on the other hand, is made even creepier by the fact that he tries to pretend he's a cut above guys like Larry. A douche in a silk smoking jacket sipping expensive brandy out of a crystal snifter is still…

I have read an article or two in them, and they do have good writers who occasionally cover very good topics. It's about the only thing, as far as I can tell, that separates them from the Clubs and the Hustlers and the Barely Legals of the world. So, points for that. However- to me, it has always seemed that the…

Unconditional love and support are what make a difference. You sound like you will be a good parent- just don't make the mistake of thinking strict parenting= perfect kids. My parents were SUPER strict, and it led me to be more secretive and rebellious. When I was raped as a teen, my parents didn't even know I was at…

So much ewww.

I've never understood the Hef love. Everyone acts like he invented porn or discovered titties or something. Any damn fool can get rich selling nude pics of attractive people.

I believe I read somewhere that Cosby instructed her to lie about her age in order to gain entrance to the mansion. And yes, you probably will be a strict mother, but that probably won't make a lot of difference. 15 year olds do stupid shit regardless.

Baby oil, man. *shudders*

Why is Michelle Duggar playing Wendy?

Thank you for taking the time to explain it to me. I will try to do that in the future.

I don't have any of my own (I think in a lot of ways I still don't grasp my privilege fully) but a huge turning point for me was when my friends got busted with a pound of weed. The Asian friend was searched, cuffed and charged. The white friend was lectured on hanging out with the wrong types and let go without being…

Now that makes sense to me. Thank you for taking the time to explain it.

I know exactly what you mean. I am saddened and dismayed by how many closet racists I actually counted as friends. On the other hand, one silver lining: I have re-bonded with my very uber-religious parents who believe the earth is literally 6,000 years old over this issue. For all their flaws, they did not raise me to…

That's solid advice.