Can i be completely honest with you? I actually prefer long-form mysteries like Christie and others.

I really like short stories and I notice that a lot of them have a similar style of denouement so that’s why I suggested it!

If you find any good ones! Feel free to let me know!

You know what, it might be that Agatha was truly creating more of a Thriller than a mystery in this one! Maybe you’re more into Thrillers than cozy mysteries?

You should actually check out some short Mystery Stories instead of mystery books.

I’m a huge mystery reader — but I would be absolutely angry if I spent time reading a long form mystery only to have the author not reveal who it was.

Personally I love Agatha’s murderers, they’re all characters and stereotypes on their own with vile murderous twists that make them so interesting. I personally love the murderer of ATTWN.

However, in short mystery works, I’ve found it much easier to accept the “Author didn’t reveal it” because in short form I’m much more inclined to see the entire puzzle laid out in under 50 pages. I’m much more likely to enjoy a “no reveal” that way.

Dude get out of my head! I just finished HorrorStor — among Best Friend’s Exoricism and Final Girls — and I just love how much fun his horror is. He clearly knows the tropes and cliches and is just having a great ride with it.

I was doing research on him and found he wrote Paperbacks From Hell about horror books in the era and and I was like I have to pick it up! This was my sign haha

That’s totally the point! I personally loved the series and as a big sci-do/fantasy reader, it’s a must read in the genre for me because the topics and science NK Jemisin brings to the table and extremely well done and strong.

And hey not every book is for everybody no shame!

I’d just like to state that I think you’re talking about the SECOND PERSON narrative. The “You” did this “You” did that? Correct? That’s second person. First person is “I” did this, “I” do that.

Not a spoiler but — I will say that if you read a bit more of the book, you’ll understand why Essun is speaking this way as she’s quite a broken and shattered character who is dealing with trauma — ie. She’s not fully present in the events going on in her life that take place at the start of the book.

I’ll also say that there’s an even deeper reasoning as to this you find out later in the book with a twist or two. But if you’re not enjoy it it — it’s totally understandable!

No worries, I’m ADD so I speak quicker than my thoughts and I totally get it. I didn’t even see your response so absolutely no worries!

I don’t hate Sanderson, in fact I own most of his books.

There are other people I found, very much like you, who mistake critique of art with hatred and disrespect. It’s very strange, truly. Not once did I insult him, his religious views (which I don’t agree with), his family, or his personal appearance.

I strictly mentioned MY feelings on his work — an art — that I pay for an have every right to critique or not.

My feelings about the way his rabid fans treat others have nothing to do with him and are more of an interesting point brought up on how people treat others when the dislike something they love — as you did assuming I disrespected him.

You are entitled to your opinion. And I am entitled to mine. But you will not tell me how my opinion is wrong or how I’m being disrespectful for having it.

I’m going to be honest with you, it’s not necessarily the best look to “discuss your disagreements with Sanderson.”

It’s one of those things, sadly, that so many people here seem to love him and recommend him. He’s truly the Coleen Hoover (Tik Tok) but of Reddit.

I completely agree with your points — 100%. I think Sanderson’s naming conventions in nearly all of his stories fall flat. They’re very poor linguistically. And he spends so much time outlining and plotting that his characters just fall flat — seeing as he “discovery writes them — but they don’t cohesively flow like a tapestry into the plots he’s created.

The same goes for his prose. To me, Sanderson doesn’t like writing — telling a story. He likes gotchya moments, he likes hard fact, and rules. His prose and stories are never about immersion to me and sweeping me off my feet — but more like a DND Manual. Which kind of sucks cause he has some cool ideas!

Overall, I don’t think it’s worth “discussing” here with anyone as — seen above — you’re only going to state your opinions so that other people can tell you why you’re wrong about Sanderson, lol.

It might even be a more healthy discussion if you were to just post this on r/bookscirclejerk where most people aren’t infatuated with Sanderson like the second coming of Fantasy lol

You definitely misunderstood OP’s point.

Honestly, Brandon Sanderson is overhyped in my opinion. If you’re not enjoying it, drop it. He is not the end all be all of fantasy, there are many others with stronger voices, beliefs, and much more to say.

Lol I’ve always been a reader and a bath person too and your suggestions are perfect!

I read in the bath every night lol no joke

Murder of Roger Ackroyd. That’s what you need to read for Poirot. Right now. Go do it. NOW.

This is what I’ve been saying. I always find it weird when people on here are like “I didn’t like the hobbit it was dull” and everyone is like Omg it’s a kids book go dead Lord of the Rings it’s EPIC FANTASY!

Yeah. No. I think the Hobbit is a much better, well-paced, FUN adventurous tale. Lord of the Rings is even more dull to me.

I complete agree with all your comments fyi! It’s more than just HP being popular. HP was a PHENOMENON! It got EVERYBODY reading. Kids and adults alike. It was huge. Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, Narnia, anything else listed . . . Where is it’s theme parks? Broadway shows? Multi-series movies? Events? Name one of those things that hits ALL OF THESE.

That’s Harry Potter.