It's a silly post anyway.

[jadedmusings]

I have a confession to make. It's been eating at me since I finished this one book by a popular author that most of my friends adore.

I don't like Terry Pratchett.

[Pause for gasps of horror and pearl clutching.]

I know, I know. I mean, I liked Good Omens well enough, which he co-wrote with Neil Gaiman, but I've attempted to read two Discworld novels now, and...I just can't enjoy them. I couldn't get past the first two or three chapters of Small Gods, and while I finished Mort, I didn't like it.

Pratchett is a talented and excellent writer; I'll smack anyone who says otherwise. He's got a brilliant way of telling a story, and his characters are interesting on the surface. It's his style I don't like and can't get behind. I'm all for silliness and themes that poke at the ridiculousness that is humanity, but it was a struggle for me to stay interested in Pratchett's books. I'm not sure what it is, I mean the idea of Discworld makes me giggle, and I like the mythology and find the story behind it fascinating, but when it comes to actually putting all that into book form, for some reason it just doesn't work for me. Maybe it crosses the line from silly fun into too outlandish for me to find enjoyable?

I really can't explain why I didn't find it as entertaining as I should have. I can respect him as being good at what he does, but I won't be buying anymore of his books. I'll just have to life with not getting the Discworld jokes I see in some journals I read, or anytime a discussion of books comes up.

I think I just have weird tastes, and I am very picky about what I like to read.

Comments

[c-smith-author.livejournal.com]

Not attacking you to convert you -- but out of curiosity which books have you read?

Some are rather "SMACK YOU ON THE HEAD WITH HUMOUR" and some are a lot more subtle and interesting imho.

[jadedissola.livejournal.com]

As I said in the entry, I've read Mort all the way through and tried to read some of Small Gods, but I couldn't get very far. It just didn't "grab" me.

[c-smith-author.livejournal.com]

Suggestion if you ever feel like reading another (as I don't really rate either of them -- sorry my processing today is a bit shite, I'm sick) -- try Nightwatch or Thud. Both quite complex, both quite clever, and I think both much much better written.

[pwned-kisa.livejournal.com]

Nightwatch is really good, Going Postal is another really good one. I'm having a hard time getting through Thud. Hogsfather is probably my favorite of all of them, though.

Jade, don't feel bad about the not-liking Pratchett thing... although I love and adore both Pratchett and Adams, I really have to be in the mood for them, and I can't really read them back to back, as they get repetitive and annoying that way.

[falar.livejournal.com]

Well, I can't says I blame you for not getting through those two - they're not really what I call his really good stuff. Although Small Gods is quite interesting for a Christian and has some good philosophy.

Really though, I wouldn't start with them. Something more like Hogswatch or Wyrd Sisters or even Going Postal. BUT.

It's totes cool if you don't like them. Everyone seems to love them some Douglas Adams and I think he should go burn in a fire. So.