They work differently for different people. I could never just sit and listen to an audiobook, but I can’t just sit and listen to anything. Not having a secondary focus is often a guarantee that I won’t process the primary stream of information. But this also means that I can often handle audiobooks when I wouldn’t be able to handle reading text. Audiobooks allow for me to take up that secondary task very easily.

Only if I specifically want to support the author. I don’t like owning physical books unless it’s something I refer to often.

I often get book recommendations that, upon following up, aren’t right for me. Even if you ban people from ever mentioning YA novels, people will recommend books to you that you don’t want to read.

I generally think saying “I dislike this entire very broad category of books and won’t consider them at all” is a lazy way of choosing books to read. It’s a guarantee that you’ll miss out on some things you’d have really enjoyed and gotten a lot out of. And Red Rising is not YA, so you’re already applying that filter poorly.

I mean, to me, Tom Clancy is achingly, deploringly boring. Not a single compelling word in the whole shebang. Boring is very subjective.

I don’t mean this to be incredibly rude, but figuring out things like this is part of the writing process. Probably the biggest part, where you create.

1. 33

2. Disabled

3. Yes, both.

4. I don’t think this is an opinion thing. Yes, factually. Language evolves, and in writing, it’s seen most in fictional narratives.

5. Yes, but I believe it’s because technology gives us access to many more voices from many more places.

6. I don’t see them as changes. Slang has long been used in fictional narratives. Many classic authors specifically reference cultural memes specifically because it makes their writing more accessible. Images in text certainly aren’t new. Are you familiar with illuminated manuscripts? Abbreviations aren’t new, either. One of the difficulties of interpreting very old works is not being familiar with the common abbreviations of the day. What we see today are just continuations of literary traditions, adapted to contemporary culture.

This does sound pretty compelling. You may have more luck on genre romance subreddits, they’re very into niche, twisted dynamics. I’d be surprised if it’s not out there.

I’m also very interested to hear what content in The Old Man and the Sea is man-specific. Yes, the character is male. But the themes aren’t at all related to manhood?

I love The Sun Also Rises. I don’t need to be a man to understand the struggles men go through. Do you find yourself unable to read books about women because you haven’t had their experiences?

I get that, just giving another perspective. I’m happy to have my experiences only in my own head. It kind of makes it feel more special to me.

I have a few friends who had arranged marriages. They’re all very happily married and honestly have some of the most harmonious households I’ve ever been in. I think they’re only “problematic” in fiction when specifically written to be disrespectful.

I had to know Red Badge front to back for Academic Decathlon in high school. Seeing it makes me want to grab matches.

It doesn’t make me lonely, exactly. Or maybe I enjoy loneliness. I just don’t feel the pull to socialize about everything I do. Often it just makes my hobbies feel exhausting, tbh.

Your horrible attitude in attempted discussions of such a whimsical story is really delightful to me.

I like Hook on Once Upon A Time, which I just have a feeling might not be an acceptable position in this thread.

As a reader, I only buy books new specifically when I want to support the author. Otherwise, I buy used or get it from the library.