On the first page of Neuromancer the protagonist swallows an amphetamine pill and washes it down with a double espresso. Shamefully, that's something I've done many times, as an adult. But as a kid I didn't get it, and found the whole book to be too dark and weird to enjoy. I thought my life was going to turn out great. As an adult failure with a history of substance abuse I find it much easier to identify with the protagonist, Case, who's a burnt out ex hacker turned junkie.