More Pratchett is good for the soul

[swatkat]

I just finished Thief of Time. Gah. So good! The Procrastinators (*giggles*) in Night Watch make a lot more sense now, for one. And oh, Death! And Susan! How she's grown! I'll have to get my hands on Hogfather now.


All the Discworld books are profound in their own way – I just love how the Death books deal with the cosmic scheme and philosophies and ultimately are a celebration of life, of human beings with all their faults and their stupidities. Death has always treated life with awe and wonder, and the Auditors are a wonderful addition to this theme, because they can actually *be* human and feel in a way Death never can. Especially Lady LeJean – her *wonder* at being alive:

How did humans survive this?

She'd been fascinated by the art galleries. It was clear that some humans could present reality in a way that made it even more real, that spoke to the viewer, that seared the mind… but what could possibly transcend the knowledge that the genius of an artist had to poke alien substances into his face? Could it be that humans had got used to it? And that was only the start…

Life is too beautiful for her to bear. *sobs*

Also, death by chocolate? I could die like that. *hearts Pterry*

Susan and Death break my heart:

WOULD A LITTLE SMALL TALK HURT?

Susan sighed. She knew what was behind that, and it wasn't a happy thought. It was a small, sad and wobbly little thought, and it ran: each of them had no-one else but the other. There. It was a thought that sobbed into its own handkerchief, but it was true.

And I love how Susan is only mostly logical. Yes, I have much love for Susan. *adds her to the People to Slash Angua With list*

Susan/Lobsang. Time/Wen. How does he do it? Just how does Pterry do it? How do *all* his pairings manage to melt my heart? I mean, the ending? Gah.

Nanny Ogg! *squee* I've missed the witches. I really do need to read Lords and Ladies.


I also have with me Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, by Susanna Clarke. I've heard good things about it (apparently, her footnotes are as good as Pterry's. we'll see), so I'm really looking forward to reading it. As soon as I have time, that is – it's a very fat book. *g*

Comments

[ashfae.livejournal.com]

You SO need to read Lords and Ladies!

Thief of Time is tied with Night Watch for my favorite. Though generally my favorite is whichever I'm currently reading!

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

You SO need to read Lords and Ladies!

I know! I just keep getting distracted by other books!

Thief of Time is tied with Night Watch for my favorite.

I'll have to read it again to *swallow* the whole thing, but yes, definitely one of the best books in the series. (my favourites are Night Watch, Feet of Clay and Reaper Man)

Speaking of Night Watch, do you know there are people who don't like it?

[donnaimmaculata.livejournal.com]

I love the reductio ad absurdum of the concept that religions/philosophies from far away are better by default. The prevailing trend of gushing over the Far Eastern philosophy of the moment is a pet peeve of mine in RL, and Pratchett shows brilliantly why it is so. The way Mrs Cosmopolite's sayings just happen to offer an answer to everything makes me too happy for words.

Also, the Auditors discovering the meaning of humanity? Inspired. And I <3 Susan. Susan rocks.

Lords and Ladies is one of my favourites and the reason why I deeply distrust Tolkien's elves. It's all just show, doncha know?

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

I love the reductio ad absurdum of the concept that religions/philosophies from far away are better by default.

Word. Pratchett always has startling insights about the nature of religion and belief.

Also, the Auditors discovering the meaning of humanity? Inspired.

That was just amazing. Lady LeJean was the best thing about it, but I also loved the other Auditors as they squabbled over the names of colours even as they held life in contempt, and died of chocolate.

And I <3 Susan. Susan rocks.


I liked Susan in Soul Music (which I'm not particularly fond of, I'm afraid), but in this book she really did rock like a rocking thing. *g*

Lords and Ladies is one of my favourites and the reason why I deeply distrust Tolkien's elves. It's all just show, doncha know?

That's definitely going to be the next book. *g*

Swatkat

[lyras.livejournal.com]

Susan and Death are wonderful together. Their relationship breaks my heart, too.

I shall refrain from commenting on Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell until you finish it, but do have a few things to say, so let us know when you get to it :). (It took me three weeks to read - gaah! Most books take three to five days for me.)

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

I shall refrain from commenting on Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell until you finish it, but do have a few things to say, so let us know when you get to it :).

Recommended, then? *g* I want to start it, I want to - but I have a very busy schedule right now, and I have absolutely NO self-control once I start a book. *sigh*

[lyras.livejournal.com]

To be honest I was pretty equivocal about some aspects of the book, but it was given to me by a friend who absolutely loved it. I certainly have things to say about it - it seems to inspire strong feelings in most people!