my brain needs to be preserved

I am going to be 21 in 12 days.

For the past couple of weeks, I am having this paranoia that I'll wake up that day a legal adult and I'll never be able to understand or even make sense of another book like Diana Wynne Jones' Fire & Hemlock ever again, should something similar come along from that point on.

I doubt that it was merely a string of coincidences that none of the older friends whom I introduced DWJ to could make head or toe of her stories' plot dénouements, whereas every other kid or teen that I had introduced her to, understood without trouble.

After each book, the latter category will find out more about the mythologies that are incorporated into her books. Meanwhile, the former complains that no explanations were given, and that they didn't even know that mythologies were involved - or who the characters were supposed to be even if they do.

I admit that I have a disdain for many adult fantasy fiction authors. How can fantasy be so narrow? And bound to so many rules? And the authors seem to find the need to anxiously explain, explain, and explain so many things thoroughly, over and over again throughout the story. To remind us of a fact a gazillion times, just in case we're too dumb, too busy, or too preoccupied with work and other responsibilities to remember.

I have many other things on my mind, but am not really in the mood to divulge.

So here's an abrupt end to my post.