I used to be an avid tv viewer but watch so little of it now. I'm not interested in Game of Thrones and it's ilk or anything involving werewolves. Stories of werewolves seem to be taking over the shelves at the library as well.

I never understood why my parents didn't watch any television except the news or an occasional variety show, but now I do. I'm not entertained by excessive blood, sex or perversion. I don't find slapstick, mean-spirited dialogue or double entendres humorous. I have no desire to watch how narcissistic people behave in "real" situations. I read a comment recently that there are very few likeable characters in television shows and I agree with that. Real life has enough turmoil, strife and stress. I don't need to see it on television or in the movies.

I'm having a hard time finding new authors to read, too. So many books now are poorly written, badly edited and full of errors, not to mention the overpricing for electronic versions.

What kind of books do you like, Fun? Do you have some favorite authors? I read a lot---maybe I could make some suggestions for you.

i like some of the cop shows that are on now. But what i like best are the British mysteries on PBS. i also subscribe to Acorn, which has a lot of the older series. Foyle's War, New Tricks, Miss Fisher, Brokenwood, and George Gently. The characters are more mature, and aren't all gorgeous. i get a much more realistic feeling with them.

Has anyone else noticed all the errors on the TV guide in recent months?

JoanEileen, thank you for offering to come up with some author suggestions. I generally read mysteries and thrillers. My favorite authors currently are Daniel Silva and Laurie R. King. I'm picky, though. I don't like most cozy mysteries or humorous mysteries, but I'm also tired of reading about serial killers. I recently read several books by Craig Schaefer. They were a bit of a knock-off of Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series, but they held my attention and were well-constructed. I've read a lot of authors in my life, so unless the author is relatively newly published, say in the last five years or so, I've probably read the books already.

What do you like to read?

I see we're on the same page when it comes to cozy and humorous mysteries and Daniel Silva! Isn't he just the best? I look forward to each July when his latest comes out. This year's is called The Black Widow and will be available July 12th. I've got it reserved at my library.

Mysteries and thrillers are my preferred genres, too. Through the years I've really enjoyed Nelson De Mille, Frederic Forsyth, Harlan Coben, John Hart, and Robert Barnard. A couple of authors who write mysteries set during and after World War I are Jacqueline Winspear (Maisie Dobbs) and Charles Todd (Bess Crawford). Some recent books I have enjoyed are Burning Angels by Tawni O'Dell, Circling the Sun, a novel about Beryl Markham by Paula McLain and The Martian by Andy Weir. The last two aren't mysteries but just really good stories I thought. Hope some of these might be new to you and to your liking.

As to what I like to read, I find myself lately really enjoying books about adventuring. Down the Nile, across the Gobi Desert, trekking the world's trails really appeal to me. I also look for the latest celebrity bios and enjoyed those by Sue Mengers and Padma Lakshmi just lately. Also World War II history interests me and certain unusual books like raising chickens or life on a tea plantation. I am never at a loss for something to read!

i enjoy reading mysteries too -- started with Judy Bolton when i was a kid. My current favorites are Sue Grafton, Deborah Crombie, Michael Connelly, John Sandford and Harlan Coben.

i used to enjoy cozies, but got tired of them.

Thanks, JoanEileen. I think, like you, that I need to explore some other genres. About ten years ago, I went through a phase of reading travel related books and cookbooks. Maybe I need to try some biographies.

I'm not familiar with Tawni O'Dell so I will look that one up. I agree that Daniel Silva is superb. He's the only author that I will pay full price for his e-books immediately upon publication.

Cococobits, we love the British mysteries also....love Michael Kitchen in Foyle's War. A favorite that you might enjoy is Judge John Deed. Martin Shaw is a high court judge and a great series. Didn't care much for Vera but no country does murder like the Brits!

Great thread, with lots of new authors for me to discover....and add to the "Books you have been reading" of a few weeks ago. My list is growing!

I get my TV shows via an antenna. I like the networks some of the time, but "ME TV" often keeps me company in the kitchen. It runs series I never watched when they were new, so I'm discovering some things most people have known for years. Like Wonder Woman was really beautiful . . . Gunsmoke was a good show . . . Hoss on Bonanza was a sweetheart . . . and Batman was campy.

I don't know why I didn't like westerns in my youth. Chuck Connors, James Arness, and several others were very attractive! And sometimes I think it would be fun to go hang out with Sheriff Andy Taylor. I could play catch with Opie and then sit on the porch and sing with Andy while we wait for Aunt Bee to call us in for dinner. :-)

About the newer shows, I never think of myself as particularly squeamish, but I find myself closing my eyes at some of the gory scenes in today's crime and medical shows. They must have a reason for showing all blood, etc., but it doesn't do a thing for me. It must be part of modern society's need for extreme stimulation of all kinds.

Alisande, I switched to antenna in February. Best decision I ever made!!

Excellent, Murraysmom--I'm glad you like it! I do too. Lots of money saved. With all the streaming, etc., offered these days, it seems the trend is away from cable. Hard to feel sorry for the cable companies though. :-)

A new show this year is Rosewood. It features a hunk of an ME with a debilitating disease. It doesn't show the gore either.

We just use an indoor antenna and get 3-4 channels, which is fine for local news and a very few network shows that we enjoy. Also TVO which has interesting nature or scientific shows at 7pm. Everything else we stream.

I think tv has changes, but then again, I'm older and so have I.

I avail myself of wonderful shows that I can stream- mostly non- U.S.

Texas_gem: I totally get what you are saying. I don't like the gory parts--sometimes I have to close my eyes during Chicago Med--they show everything--yuk!

I liked your last post, Alisande, and watch MEtv regularly, besides a few others that have the old shows--they delight me, mostly.

I have antenna tv too, pick up 32 stations. I stopped watching tv dramas, crime shows years ago, I prefer to watch comedies, something that makes me laugh and Coronation Street which I have watched since I was a kid. I do like Scorpion though when I think to watch it. Online I watch a lot of BBC historical documentaries that are on Youtube or PBS shows. Watching gore and violence is not my cup of tea.

Cherryfizz, I so envy you and the Torontonians who get so many channels. You're perfect, geographically. Our city picks up 6 at the most, and mine is inside, not an outside rooftop. When the leaves come out on the trees, I'll probably lose everything.

Jasdip, I just have a cheap inside antenna. Some of my friends in the county pick up more stations than I do. I also can't pick up our local ctv station in my living room which I find strange but when I had a television in the bedroom I used to be able to get it a 5 am. I got rid of cable in 2004, my neighbour bought me the analog box and the antenna years before the stations changed and set it up for me. I couldn't believe the all the new stations that appeared. I am in a good location. I am always scanning for new stations. I get better reception and more stations than some of the people i know who are paying for cable or digital and they don't get any of the local Detroit stations. I just think of all that money I didn't give to the cable company haha it now goes to Bell for my internet

And the stations are all HD with the antenna, which is nice! If you get TekSavvy in your area, I just recently dumped Bell in favour of them for my internet. More bps per month and cheaper.