Received this e-mail today from someone submitting a comment to the “Suggest a Book” form:
Do have reviews on ANY Terry Pratchett book. Would love to “hear” your thoughts…
Thanks for the question! Not just because I like getting suggestions/e-mails, but also because I had nothing else to post today, having opted for sleep and time with my family over finishing a book.*
Pratchett’s a legend — almost universally praised and adored. I read the first two Discworld novels back in 2011, and didn’t care for ’em. Which I assume is an indictment of me, my taste, and very likely my morality, patriotism and love for my wife. So, readers, is it just these first couple of books? Should I start with a different Pratchett book? I’d like to bask in his particular brand of genius, just need a hand.
Anyway, I wasn’t going to bother dusting these off as they’re so short, but since you asked, here are my 2-star reviews for the first two Discworld novels.
The Colour of Magic
by Terry Pratchett
Hardcover, 183 pg.
St. Martin’s Press, 1983
It was amusing enough–chuckle-inducing in more than one place–but I never connected with it, not the story, not the characters, not the world. Left me pretty durn blah.
Probably just me, eh?
The Light Fantastic
by Terry Pratchett
Hardcover, 189 pg
Colin Smythe, 1987
I liked this one better than The Colour of Magic — it was better constructed, the characters were a touch more believable as characters, and I certainly laughed more. But, I had the same issues with this as I had with the previous.
I just didn’t care about anything or anyone, and saw no reason why I should.
Funny, clever stuff, and I couldn’t wait to be done with it.
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* Not that I didn’t try for all three