If you like the OT stuff, give the NJO a try, I have read a few books from before the NJO started and asides from the Thrawn trilogy most of them were pretty bla never read shadows. The books still have there ups and downs but the overall story really is great. If you want a good read, try Traitor out. Star by Star is also very good. Those two plus dark journey(i didnt like this one very much), and destiny's way really set up the current Legacy series. In fact star by star was such a tragic book, the repercussions from that story are still felt like 20 books later.
Anyway thanks for the apology good day.