Scarlett Epstein Hates It Here

basically a book version of this joke:



This was funny and a pretty realistic look at fandom / fan culture, which is always nice! Lots of flawed and realistic characters, as well as some poignant self-reflection:

It's been bothering me more and more that I can't ever see anything objectively, that every observation I make is filtered through my personal lens whether I like it or not. I mean, all my favorite novels are like that. F. Scott Fitzgerald basically is Gatsby, so obviously it's Gatsby's book, and Daisy comes off like a flake. But maybe in Daisy's unwritten book, Gatsby is a flashy, patronizing asshole who thinks he could win her with money and fancy stuff. And that might be an even better book.

She sighs, as if she thinks everything she's about to say is something that's going in one of my ears and out the other, and says “The best parts of life aren't clear-cut or obvious – they don't have neat endings. I know it's your inclination to skip to the end, but you can't just focus on how it's all gonna turn out.”