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!