there's a classic Ballard interview where he goes scorched earth with it:

So just to make sure I’m clear, Laura’s not a murderer and you regularly choose institutional violence?

That was *not* what initially popped for me ;). I will take a closer look, thanks!

Adult could work, but they’d like a younger protagonist. Ancillary Justice was too much when they tried it, but they’ve enjoyed some other non YA. They seem to be a lost more attached to character- and plot- driven than I remember being, so the Fantasy with world building I read is Not Their Thing

That looks interesting and also I don't want to give them a book about mental health professionals behaving badly :)

there once was a king dressed in yellow
a very remarkable fellow
they made him a play
and people did say
that all those who saw it went dryixfyixfidgfjxffxjtrdturtesuuesrurestirsditrurstrstutrsustrusrtuetsuteseutsbjivkhhcfhkcgfgfjxfgicgfjxfzrwaesriychx

Alix Harrow's Ten Thousand Doors of January for "oh, yeah, this is what it means to love these stories", Kate Elliott (probably Court of Fives as an intro, or the Unconquerable Sun series that's partway through), maybe Sofia Samatar's Stranger in Olondria.

reminder if you are still in clean-up mode today, don’t overwork your garbage disposals.

today the busiest day of the year for plumbers. fats, starches, and bones do not belong in a disposal or drain.

reduce food waste, compost where you can, and don’t treat your drains like a trash can.