A Baker lost in a dieting world

Ok I confess.I am an addicted baker.Blame it on my German roots but soon as the temp hits below 50 I want to bake. I remember the good ol' days when I would bake for hours and take the goodies to work and enjoy the smiles on peoples faces enjoying my wonderful treats. Ah enter the decade of everyone watching their diet blah blah blah. Make a tray full of goodies and they pass it up to search for the carrot sticks. *sigh* -Maybe that's what is wrong with the world today-no one is having enough Toll House cookies!

What happened to the Great American Novels?

Remember when you could read a book like Brave New World-Grapes of Wrath- or even some great Ray Bradbury books? I love reading great novels but every book I see today seems so
what is the word I need?/ dated maybe. Seems like they are all alike just different writers. Maybe it's my loss of not going to the library anymore and trying to read reviews in the paper or online. Even browsing thru Barnes & Noble I can't find anything that makes me want to go AH!!!
Here's one! I am tired of romance type novels-and please don't buy me any Daniel Steele or Nora Roberts! . I need something that reminds me of the great Steinbeck novels. Ah well I guess the quest coontinues!