re: SECrOTB Book Club: I need a good book to read

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there is nothing wrong with Grisham, Clancy, King, or Crichton. They are good authors and their books are well done for the most part

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They are good authors. Their books do really well.

But Doritos are very good. They satisfy hunger in a satisfying way. Which is why they sell very well. It's an enjoyable experience to eat Doritos but afterwards you've done nothing but pacify your hunger.

You read a typical modern mainstream book, it's like a Doritos. It's enjoyable. It's pacified your boredom or intellectual itch. But there wasn't much real nourishment.

A 'better' book, not necessarily a more difficult book (stuff like The Stranger or Monkey Wrench Gang) can offer entertainment and nourishment. Instead of snacking on Doritos you decide to start snacking on homemade sweet potato fries. Maybe a little more work, but not much, still eating something fun and snackable, but you're getting nourishment while you're enjoyably snacking.

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You see this in older 'classics' that were written before major publishing companies became a thing. Robinson Crusoe is a great example of this. That book would be a $.99 on amazon if it was written today.

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I'd probably recommend more older, or new old books to people. I don't think my argument is talking strictly about new indie vs new commercial mainstream. There's more going on.