Hi Neighbor!
One benefit of becoming frustrated by TV series scrolling is that I discovered my new favorite contemporary author. I turned off the TV and turned on to Matt Haig.
I’m a bit of a book snob, a very picky reader. I’m frequently disappointed with contemporary fiction and return time and again to the classics. Won’t elaborate on all of the contemporary books with glowing reviews that I’ve picked up and put down, returning to classics that are consistently thought provoking, beautifully written and unforgettable. Some of my favorite, time-honored books become increasingly meaningful and precious to me as I re-read while growing older: War and Peace, Jane Eyre, The Sound and The Fury, The Scarlet Letter, Oliver Twist, Madame Bovary and Frankenstein.
I prefer books where the characters are compelling and the words flow uninterrupted. In contemporary fiction, I am particularly turned off by some word choices and find it challenging to get turned back on. I read a web article recently stating the most disliked word in the English language is moist. I mention this not because I dislike moist but because I’m stopped in my reading tracks by what I personally consider nails on the blackboard words like “indubitably.” I’ve just encountered that old-fashioned gem of a word in newly published fiction. Who talks like that in 2021? Preposterous!
So, back to Matt Haig, a contemporary author receiving my two thumbs up for his book The Humans. Not sure if it’s destined to be a timeless classic. But there are no offbeat, turn off words. It’s admirably well written, full of humor, heart and humanity.
Choosy reader,
Jane
Share books you enjoy with your MainLine Neighbors in the comments section below!
I just read MIDNIGHT LIBRARY by Matt Haig. It’s also a very good read. Really puts things in perspective in life. Enjoy!
I just read MIDNIGHT LIBRARY by Matt Haig. It’s also a very good read. Really puts things in perspective in life. Enjoy!
View lessIf you like Matt Haig’s “The Humans” you may also appreciate his more recent books. I recently finished “The Midnight Library” and “How to Stop Time” and found them both entertaining and hard to put down.
View moreIf you like books similar to these – I guess they are fiction/fantasy then you may also enjoy “The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue” by VE Schwab, and “The Midnight Circus” by Erin Morgenstern.
If you like Matt Haig’s “The Humans” you may also appreciate his more recent books. I recently finished “The Midnight Library” and “How to Stop Time” and found them both entertaining and hard to put down.
View lessIf you like books similar to these – I guess they are fiction/fantasy then you may also enjoy “The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue” by VE Schwab, and “The Midnight Circus” by Erin Morgenstern. Perfect escapist reading for the pandemic….
Few fab and fave reads: Like a trilogy (nay, a 4th book is now out) with supernatural and historical and romantic resonances? The Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness—fun, romping time-traveling read with witches, vampires, and daemons . More cerebral read for those who do not like war stories: The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers—what a beautifully written story of friendship. That reminds
View moreFew fab and fave reads: Like a trilogy (nay, a 4th book is now out) with supernatural and historical and romantic resonances? The Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness—fun, romping time-traveling read with witches, vampires, and daemons . More cerebral read for those who do not like war stories: The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers—what a beautifully written story of friendship. That reminds me of another wartime book I found compelling: Any Human Heart—I watched the TV adaptation and THEN read the novel, and LOVED the book! Just a few kooky books that pop to mind. ENJOY your PAGE-TURNERS!
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