520
by YankeeTarheel
Oh, there have ALWAYS been crappy writers of novels. The reason past writers seem better than today's is because the crap washes away and is (mostly) forgotten, Same with crappy music, crappy movies, crappy artists, etc. In pop music, those that were at least a fad were called "one-hit wonders" with one hot song and then oblivion. Like "Eve of Destruction" by Barry somebody and "Incense, Peppermints" by Strawberry Alarm Clock.
Know anyone who's actually SEEN "How Green Was My Valley", which won the Oscar for Best Picture? What about "Citizen Kane" which it beat for "Best"? I've NEVER seen Green but who hasn't seen "Citizen Kane" or doesn't know the catch-phrase "Rosebud"? (Other notable nominated films were "Here Comes Mr. Jordan" -- redone as "Heaven Can Wait", "The Maltese Falcon"--"it's the stuff dreams are made of!", "Little Foxes", "Sergeant York" ("What price glory, Sergeant York??" --all classics).
George R.R. Martin should NOT be the standard of great writing. Nor should Nora Roberts (though she's far better than a Harlequin Romance writer should be). But Toni Morrison or Walter Mosley are outstanding. The late Ursula K. LeGuin was one of the finest writers of the 20th and early 21st centuries. And, while I'm not a fan of Gabriel Garcia-Marquez, there's no doubting his greatness.
HOWEVER......If you've lost interest in novels I totally "get" that. I lost interest in Prime-Time TV decades ago. I can't explain it other than most, hell, all of it became EXCRUCIATINGLY boring, with recycled ridiculous plots and cartoonish characters. I simply lost, for almost all of it, my ability to suspend my disbelief. There are shows I haven't even been able to watch even 15 minutes of before turning them off (The new Tracey Ullman show, "Veep"). Others I struggled through one or two episodes (Fleabag, Sherlock--despite Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman). A few a whole ten episodes (Blind Side, West World) and then..ugh!
I was an avid Star Trek fan since 1966...but when "Enterprise" came out I kept finding reasons not to watch...later watched on DVD and, well, I was right. Haven't even been interested in the new CBS "you gotta pay extra for this crap" versions.
So I get not wanting to waste time on novels that only disappoint you.
"Even if the bee could explain to the fly why pollen is better than shit, the fly could never understand."