I would tend to agree with you, although I have not read the books you mention. Many of today's books seem to have been written in haste, with "loose ends" of plot often not tied up. Not to mention all the grammatical errors that I can usually pick out. Books that rivet me these days are rare, indeed. I did like "The Winter Soldier". Even a few decades ago, I found books to be better written, e.g. "The Sheltering Sky", "Too Late the Phalarope", some of Margaret Atwood's earlier work. Given time, I am sure I could come up with many others.

Having read all that you cite as examples of good literature, Cindy, and agreeing with you...let me add today's Kate Quinn creations. The Rose Code; The Alice Network; The Huntress...and many, many more of her works qualify to become members of your honorable list. It's my personal opinion that she has an exceptional talent and her offerings are sustainable.

I agree Cindy. I used to read every night. Mostly to relax from hectic days. But over the last couple years, I have fallen onto books that just don’t grab my attention. I don’t know if it is due to Covid issues or not picking carefully or the writing. I like history and sometimes that can get a bit tedious so I don’t have the mental energy to press on. But you make an interesting point I hadn’t considered. Got me thinking because I am currently out of books for evening reading. This will inspire me to get new books.

woodnymph, I’m not familiar with the books you mentioned, going to look them up. I did read Handmaid’s Tale many years ago which resonated with me. I read the sequel The Testaments not too long ago. It was fine, but Atwood should have stopped with Handmaid’s.

Winter, I have read The Alice Network which I did enjoy and just started The Rose Code a couple days ago. Funny that you mentioned those books.

Flo, I don’t care for history as in non-fiction but I do like historical fiction, It’s always nice to learn something. I am glad I’m reading again even if I’m not quite as wowed as I used to be.

Sounds like others may feel similarly. Interested to read more opnions.

I'm another fan of Kate Quinn, I adored The Rose Code and everything else I've read by her. Have you read the Cazelet Chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard? Or any of Susanna Kearsley's books? Those might fit the bill, too.

Old but good historical (and romantic) fiction are the Williamsburg novels by Elswyth Thane. The first one, Dawn's Early Light, is set during the Revolutionary War, the second during the Civil War, and on up through I believe seven books. Amazon has DEL for $2.99.

Thanks Carolyn. Will get that.

My book club has been struggling to finish one book a month. Many of us think it’s COVID but it’s also the lack of great books to read. We just finished The Namesake, which was a good book. We read Michelle Obama’s autobiography and The Thirteenth Tale. Some of us liked Where the Crawdads Sing, but half didn’t. We also read The Underground Railroad, which most of us loved.
We also read The Alice Network, which was a universal hit. As was The Huntress.

I suspect that it may also due to the type of novels that you enjoy, Cindy. The ones you listed are all big sweeping dramatic historial novels. I don't see that style of novel being written as much as I once did. Perhaps they are simply not in style at the moment.

sher_z6, I have not read The Cazelet Chronicles nor anything by Susanna Kearsley. Thanks for the recs, will look them up.

Carolyn, I like the idea of a series of romantic historical fiction, will check these out too. Thanks.

RedRyder, haven’t heard of The Namesake, will also read a synopsis of this. I should check out the book by Michelle Obama, I don’t usually read autobiographies but i like her so I’m tempted to try. I read The Underground Railroad, liked it but no wow factor for me.

I have Where the Crawdads Sing sitting here, my daughter gave it to me after she couldn’t read it so will give it a go. Yes, The Alice Network was good.

Rosefolly, you may be on to something. I do like big, sweeping novels. It amazes me how an author can so seamlessly weave a story encompassing multiple time periods, locations and characters. Maybe that has fallen out of fashion. People like fast everything nowadays, maybe they just don’t want to sit down with a weighty tome.

Cindy, some of the Booker Prize nominees for the last few years might appeal to you.

The Hilary Mantel trilogy about Thomas Cromwell is interesting once you get used to the style!

As a change from the modern cosy mysteries that I usually read, I like the medieval mystery series like Roger the Chapman by Kate Sedley etc. Rather than reading one big book, it is easier for me to read books in a series. Heavy tomes have to be put on a table for me to sit up to and read these days!

Annpan, I find many/most of the Booker Prize books very hard-going and some downright impossible . .. but each to his own! I would agree that Mantel is one of the readable ones.

I feel that the cost of printing has gone down so much over the last few years that publishers can turn out easy-to-read paperbacks, with little thought to content/style, producing a super abundance of 'cheap' reading. The sort of books great for long plane journeys or lolling on the beach; but once read quickly forgotten.

Also our tastes change over the years. If you enjoy those long 'family sagas' as I used to, you might enjoy the English series by R F Delderfield A Horseman Riding By or the Poldark series by Winston Graham . . . which have been very popular and made into several TV series over here . . . and who can resist a well-toned shirtless guy scything the corn in a field overlooking a very blue Cornish sea?

I really enjoyed The Golem And The Jini by Helene Wecker.

Also a fan of Kate Quinn novels because she does her homework and bases them on historical events.

Vee, the Mantel books are about the only Bookers that I recall reading. They don't go for my type of genre usually!

I can get interested in a book from a TV series or the movie though. The Godfather book was riveting. My husband got a prize of movie tickets and the book after buying a three-piece suit in a promotion. I scolded him for reading the book late at night until morning.

He said he couldn't put it down and I did exactly the same thing next night!

Thank you all for some new suggestions for my book club.

Cindy: we usually don’t read autobiographies but I bought the paperback for a flight home and couldn’t put it down. Michelle Obama’s writing is conversational and engaging. We all liked it.

Cindy, have you read any of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series? They are definitely big, sweeping stories, They are set in Scotland and the US and move back and forth between the 1700s (I think, it's been a while since I read any) and the mid 1900s. I thoroughly enjoyed them, and I believe I read here somewhere that there is a new one coming out soon.

Donna

I heard that Ms. Gabaldon is writing a new book, too, and look forward to it.

I am one who really liked Where the Crawdads Sing, but I have read quite a bit of criticism of it, as well. One person said she couldn't tell how it ended, which I found ridiculous. She must have been skipping through by that point. I badly wanted to tell her to go back and read the last chapter.

Ann, I did look at the current thread with the Booker prize nominees and I saw two books that sound interesting. My sis tried to read the first book in the Mantel trilogy and couldn’t get through it but she and I don’t always agree on books… Haven’t heard of Kate Seadley, I’m making note of all these suggestions.

Vee, thanks for your recs and of course I cannot resist ”a well-toned shirtless guy”, loved your description, gave me quite a chuckle.

RedRyder, I’m convinced now. I will get Michelle O’s book!

msmeow, (love that name do you have cats?) I read the first Outlander book and liked it i could not get through the second and I’m not sute why. I have managed to watch all the seasons on Netflix or Starzz though though. Apparently I can’t resist a shirtless Sam Heughan. Funny because I usually don’t go for the burly type.

Carolyn, I hope I like Where the Crawdads Sing. I hope it won’t have the overly descriptive writing style of A Gentleman in Moscow. I just wanted Amor Towles to get to the point! I realize some people really like Towles.

I really appreciate all these suggestions which I have written down. Will try some on my next book run!

Cindy, I came across Roger the Chapman at almost the last book in the series and had quite a job to get the early OOP ones which my library didn't have. I had to go to secondhand book sites.

Sedley has stopped writing them now. I don't know if it is because she got Richard the Third wrong by saying that he wasn't a hunchback and of course we now know he was suffering from scoliosis. It could be because of her age? She was born in 1926 according to the Stopyourkillingme website.

Rule of thumb regarding book choices:

You are not required to like books others enjoyed and recommend :0)

Life is very chocolate/vanilla. Thank goodness !

LOL, Cindy, yes, I've always had cats. :) The current pair are highly entertaining.

Donna

Uh, oh......Bon and Kathy will refrain from our obligatory photo ops !

Cindy, glad to find another reader who did not enjoy the writing style of Amor Towles! I disliked the highly aclaimed "A Gentleman from Moscow."

I also thought "Where the Crawdads Sing" was a bit overrated.

One trilogy written long ago that some of us enjoyed reading and discussing here was Sigrid Undset's "Kristin Lavransdatter." It was out of print for a time but now is back in paperback, as well.

Diana Gabaldon's new book is out on the 23rd of November :)

For historical fiction set in medieval times, I can heartily recommend Sharon Kay Penman and Elizabeth Chadwick. Both authors do meticulous research and write well. Penman's Welsh trilogy is a good place to start for her (Here Be Dragons is the first) and Chadwick has a trilogy about Eleanor of Aquitaine, and another about William Marshall.

Ann, got it re Roger the Chapman. I would agree Sedley’s age may be the reason. I was impressed Margaret Atwood wrote The Testaments at 79. At that age, I’d want to just be resting on my laurels, but good for her.

yoyobon, lol agree!

Donna aka msmeow I’ve had cats my entire 40 year marriage. Love them, they’re the best!

woodnymph, there seem to be some of us who aren’t fans of A Gentleman, I was so hoping I’d like it. My sister has commented to me that she frequently hasn’t liked some of these overhyoed books like Where the Crawdads Sing, I may try that next since it’s sitting on my bookshelf.

Reader_in_transit, you are most likely not wrong. Social media may not really be a factor for me as far as why I got away from reading for a time, but Netflix, etc. sure was. I was way too caught up on binge watching. I still watch but only allow myself a certain amount of time per day. Perhaps with younger people social media causes less reading. And people do have short attentions spans these days! Ah yes, the mini series - “Roots” or ”The Thorn Birds” comes to mind Gosh I loved The Thorn Birds. I also agree with your cynicism comment. I wonder if I read The Winds of War now would I not like it as much?

Kath, thanks for your recs as well. I do like books written about the medieval time period and haven’t read one in quite some time.

Donna here are my babies - cats are the best!

Phillipa Gregory’s historical novels around Elizabethan times are some of my favorites. I think I’ve read them all.
We have 3 barn cats, one outdoor still-feral-except-to me cat and an indoor “princess” we adopted in 2007.
A horse farm requires a feline crew to keep the unwanted critters away.
The indoor baby.

RedRyder, I think maybe I’ve seen your baby on the Home Decorating forum. He/she looks ready to dine. You must feel honored that your feral has warmed up to you. Horse farm? I love horses too although never get to ride anymore. I’ve read The Other Boleyn Girl but none of PG’s other books.

Edited to add: Thought that was a napkin and a knife but maybe it’s a letter opener One of my cats would be knocking that pen off!

RedRyder, your cat looks posed to pounce! I used to have cats but don't keep any pets now as my retirement place isn't suitable. We acquired them in various ways but they seemed to choose a family member as a companion rather than the other way around!

Okay.......well, Kathy, you knew it had to happen .........

Now that (photo) would be a deal breaker! I have had 7 dogs and one cat: a Russian Blue who was a feisty, muscular male. He disliked all men and was partial to my female friends. He always felt our pup had invaded his territory.

I read some of Philippa Gregory's work and thought her interpretation of actual history had more inaccuracies than others. I do recommend the books of Sharon Kay Penman.

@Cindy Warren Fialka My cat is leaning on the table on my husband’s side. Yes, that IS a knife and napkin. She is more like a dog in many ways - goes to the door when someone rings the bell, sits with us to eat and watch tv and assumes visitors are there for her.

Yoyobon - It's good to pull out that reminder photo now and then. I just finished a two-week stint of kitty feeding and litterbox cleaning at a vacationing relative's house. That was also a good reminder for me. Because, you know, they are awfully cute and resisting temptation is not always easy. A dose of reality really helps. My motto is "Enjoy your friends' cats. You don't need one for yourself."

LOL, Kathy & Bon! I can't imagine a house without a cat in it. :)

Here are ours: