Speculative fiction, as I understand it, is basically an overall term for sci-fi/fantasy/horror together, and uses the innovative technologies/magics/creatures to further the plot. OnSpec magazine from Canada calls itself a speculative fiction magazine and its writing quality is outstanding.

Oh God. I read Devil in the White City several years ago, and I'm still not over it. Creepy as hell. Have you read Isaac's Storm, about the Galveston Hurricane? It's fascinating if you're a weather geek or a disaster addict like I am.

I have letters after my name, too, (from a real university, in fact), and I read all kinds of books. Classics, memoir, YA, popular fiction, biography, fantasy, even children's lit. I don't think you're any smarter than I just because you eschew YA and I don't. Your response to San Diego comes off as bitchy and…

Bitch please. I'd rather be pretentious than willfully ignorant.

Those are excellent suggestions too! I love the idea of reading assignments and designated reading time. My mom is one of those insufferable people who thinks all TV is bad (except sports, the political debates, and the Oscars), so my sisters and I weren't allowed to watch TV growing up (except the aforementioned…

I love HHGTTG!! And those are excellent suggestions. I love Bryson! His Summer, 1927 America was very good as was his book on the royal Society. If you like him you should Read Tony Horwitz, his book on Captain Cook is amazing.

Your daughter sounds awesome! And she's better than me because I've never read A People's History of the United States and it's not on my summer reading list. (I don't read nearly as much nonfiction as I should. She's probably too ) Did she ever read Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson, about the history of the English…

What's she reading? Tell me it's His Dark Materials; those are my favorite fantasy books ever, for anyone of any age group! (I also remember liking Anne McCaffrey and Redwall a lot when I was around that age...unfortunately, I just read an excerpt from a Redwall book last week and it was so terrible. And I was forced…

I don't know which part of my post you're hating on (James Joyce fan? Superhero fan? Adult who reads YA books exclusively? Virginia Woolf hater, god forbid?) but I like your owl! If you're an adult who only reads YA literature, I'm guessing its name is Hedwig?

YA is not a genre, it's an age category that encompasses ALL genres. Superhero movies are a genre. So, not really snobby, but well, ignorant. Read The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing and get back to me. :-)

Some amazing works have been written about young people (which is generally when they are relegated to YA status). Hell, I found the Power of One in the YA section once- and no one could accuse Courtenay of being anything but one of the most talented authors Australia has ever seen. (I'm a huge Couryenay fan girl , as…

O.k. but considering there are enough people out there who will only read James Patterson books, I'm willing to give more leniency to someone who's tastes run as broad as a whole genre.

Just as long as others can reserve the right to lovingly poke fun of Joyce fans. #TeamVirginiaWoolf

Do you feel like there's a racial bias in which popular literary novels get the most backlash, too? I'm not saying it's necessarily a thing (I would need a lot more information), but sometimes I feel like writers like Salman Rushdie, Junot Diaz, and Zadie Smith get more than their fair share of hate - and assertions…

Agreed. I like what's considered high end and low end and everything in between.

I'll accept the ribbing. In turn, I reserve the right to make fun of anything you enjoy that I find to be overrated or pretentious.

I read all kinds of books, including YA, but I don't think it's weird and sad when adults read YA exclusively, because it's better than not reading at all. Reading is awesome. Everyone should do it!

All I actually see while I watch the kittens dance:

You are generally in the hospital for your clinicals, and you do dress appropriately there, usually in scrubs. This sign was on a classroom building, where no one should be worried about whether their clothing distracts others from their studies. If a 20-year-old man can't pay attention because there is a pair of…