Browsing unknown books, I’m less likely to choose a novel written by someone young. That has always been true, even back when I was a youngster myself. Certainly, good writing is good writing and age has little to do with plot, or pacing, or style. But when it comes to characterization, experience matters. A writer needs to have been around life’s block a few times in order to write people and their relationships.  I seek novels that teach me something about humans – including me.  Now that’s not to say that better understanding is a given with age. Cluelessness can be the most persistent of traits.