I'm really feeling this with modern lit and I don't know why
The other day I was in a beautiful local bookstore. They opened recently and they have such a stunning, dark academia/library aesthetic. There's a ladder attached to one of the bookshelves - always a charming touch. There are overstuffed armchairs and free coffee for you to sit and read. There's a puzzle in one corner for people to work on. The woman who owns the bookstore has a great eye.
And yet? The only books I was even interested in perusing were ones written 50+ years ago. Give me Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters and Charles Dickens! All of the contemporary novels looked soulless and hollow. Every blurb feels like it is trying to hyper-optimize to be relatable for the audience instead of just allowing the author to tell their story with messiness and authenticity.
I'm not saying every contemporary book is like this. But enough of them do that I just felt overwhelmed and irritated.
Anyone else feel this way or am I just becoming a middle aged crank?