This is still bothering me days later.

So new classes have started. In one class we did introductions that involved telling about yourself, like your favorite book.

We go around the room. I recognize some of the books, generally associating them with recent bestsellery titles. I don't recognize others.

Midway through I go and say my book.

The teacher pauses and says she doesn't recognize the title.

We continue going down the class and I keep thinking about what she said. Because it's not just this class. She teaches more than one class, and she's taught before this. She must have done this a lot.

And she commented that she didn't know the title. I mean, there are so incredibly many books out there. I never think anything of it when I hear a title I don't recognize.

But she said she didn't know the title. And only to me, as if she recognized all the others. And as if she was used to recognizing all the others.

As if everyone always said the same books.