I was SUCH a huge fan of Pike! I don't think I read him much after high school, though. Maybe I felt that his books weren't "adult" enough after that? I don't know. And, yes, I really have lost my love of horror as I've aged. I'm just too much of a wuss now!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Deanna!

Yeah, I just got to the point where King was too gory and disturbing for me. Maybe adulting is just scary enough as it is so I can't take fictional horror anymore? I don't know, but I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Nicole!

I find people endlessly fascinating, so I like reading about our psychology and what makes us do the things we do. That's what I like about reading true crime. Everything else, though? Too disturbing. I can't handle it these days.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Anne!

Yeah, I feel like her books got worse instead of better as she aged. I do appreciate her loyalty to writing clean novels, though, because I REALLY enjoyed them as a teen and young adult. Like you, I was sad to hear of her death. She's an icon for sure!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Jenni!

We're reading twins in SO many ways, Lark! I really liked that Piers Anthony series, so I'm not sure why I didn't keep reading him. Clark and Grisham are both authors whose writing did not get better with age, in my opinion. Or maybe like Jenni said their novels just started to feel too formulaic over time. Whatever the reason, they're just not authors I read these days although I definitely loved their books back in the day.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lark!

Same! I read MHC regularly up until about the early 2000s. Then, I just started to tire of her books and haven't read one since. Funny enough, I'm in the process of donating all my MHC books (and lots of others) to a local high school that's having a book sale next week. I just don't think I'm ever going to re-read them, so no need to keep them, you know?

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Leah!

It was interesting to list these authors and think about why I don't read them anymore. I have clear reasons for some of them. Others, I've just outgrown I guess. Interesting how that happens over our reading lives, isn't it?

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Cindy!

Agreed! I've really enjoyed most of her books. They're very gripping and thought-provoking.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Wendy!

Trigiani's books are warm, big-hearted, and fun. I think I just read too many all in a row and got a little tired of her usual formula. It's been a number of years since I've read her, so it's definitely time to explore the books she's published in the interim.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Sam!

I'm impressed that you review all the books you read! I used to be really strict about that, but then I felt pressured because I was ALWAYS behind so I gave myself permission to chill out and only review what I wanted to review when I wanted to review it. It's been super liberating. Not having any kind of blogging schedule has made me a bit lazy about reviewing, though!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Carla!

I still dig creepy stories, but I prefer more of a Gothic/ghost vibe to straight-up horror. Even then, I want it to be scary but not TOO scary or disturbing. What can I say? I'm getting very wimpy in my old age!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Cindy!

True, true. We can't expect that every book from our favorite authors will be runaway hits for us. Some are definitely going to be better than others and that's okay. It's just when it gets to be more of the latter that I put those authors aside.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Leslie!

Same. I'm over King, although I did really enjoy his books back in the day. I still like Picoult, even though I haven't picked up her latest novels. I will, eventually. I'm just not rushing at this point.

Thanks for popping in, Jocelyn!

She's a great writer. I've read lots of her novels, plus a couple non-fiction books she wrote. I really like her stuff.

Thanks for stopping in, Lisa!

I think you would like Clark. Her mysteries are clean, without anything graphic or explicit. The books she published in the 90s are the best, in my opinion, but she was a very prolific writer so you have lots of books to choose from.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Cheryl!

Yeah, for some reason I don't have any interest in reading Picoult's YA novels. Not sure why. I do need to read her newest adult books, though.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Mia!

Ha ha. Good for you for not giving into the peer pressure! I didn't care for Andrews, but I read a lot of King. In private, I would read whatever, but in public I stuck to "cool" books. Silly me.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Pam!

I really like Picoult, but I know she's not for everyone. Different strokes for different folks and all that!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Marianne!

And that's the beauty of it, so many different authors, we can't read them all.

It seems like we've done a similar topic at some point in the past. I'll have to scan the list of old topics. If it's not there, I'll submit it for sure.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Kami!

I've read lots of his books, but there are still a bunch I haven't read. He's very prolific!

Thanks for stopping in, Catherine!

Yeah, it is an interesting exercise. Like you, I have definite reasons for dropping some authors but others there's just no real reason. Weird.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Jen!

Same, for the most part. There are obviously books of theirs I've liked more than others, but in general, I enjoy both Picoult and Trigiani very much. Glad I'm not the only one!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Suzanne!

It's been a long time since I've read KITCHEN PRIVILEGES, but I remember enjoying it. In fact, I'm pretty sure I have a copy of it somewhere on my overloaded bedroom bookshelves.

I should pick up one of Pike's recent books just to see what they're like. That would be fun, although I'm still holding a grudge against him for not answering the gushing fan letter I wrote him back in high school! LOL.

There are several YA authors who I could have put on this list, just because their books started to feel TOO teenage-y, you know?

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, RS!

Like I told Kami above, I feel like we've done a similar topic before. I'll have to scroll through the old ones and see. If I don't find it, I'll submit it. I could definitely do another list (or three) on this subject.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Deb!

That's a good point. There are so many new authors out there that it's easy to forget about the oldies we used to like. I know I'm easily distracted by the shiny and new!

Thanks for popping by, Rae!

It is interesting, isn't it? My tastes have definitely changed over the years. I hadn't really realized how much until I started thinking about this list.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Helen!