I haven’t considered them to be very long, but maybe I’ve read too many Sanderson novels. They all tend to have the same pacing and plot devices. It’s been long enough since I read the first few that I can’t remember if they get shorter or longer. The more recent ones where Andrew Child co-authors seem shorter to me.

Exactly. Just practical, sometimes preemptive violence.

Just finished the latest Jack Reacher novel. Standard Reacher Murder She Wrote with a giant as protagonist plot template. I find the Reacher novels helpful if I’m having a rough week and need a low cognitive load book. Working on Candle & Crowe now, which is the third book in Kevin Hearne’s Ink & Sigil series set in his Iron Druid universe. It’s also good for a bit of cheerful escapism, but not a pulp novel.

Skippity Toilet.

This is a catpastrophe.

I see your point, but it assumes I want other streaming services or content. I have YouTube Premium to avoid ads. The content I watch is almost exclusively YouTube creators.

That and paying for other services isn’t free of tracking either.

I guess I’m resigned to being the product in some instances.

Yes. There’s less fluff/firehouse level of content. I’ve mentioned this to friends as a selling point. It’s also much easier to feel like your comment might actually be seen.