didnt know was a thing until one of the first reviews of my first book was like "i didn't like this book, i would never behave the way the main character did"
i was like "what a weird comment, obviously most people will know the book is not about them" whoops
Anyway—a perfect example of the issue with the current state of reading is addressed by Fran Lebowitz in conversation with Toni Morrison—people use fiction as a mirror to see themselves instead of using it as a doorway, or a window, as a way out.