Sean > Recent Status Updates

I really like the idea of the witches as characters. This particular appearance not quite as much. I think I probably just wasn't in the mood for one of the parody novels.

I think this is the first Discworld book I ever read. It's a while ago at this point, though not as far as it could be considering.

I think I don't like Rincewind as much as I would otherwise because his character doesn't seem to grow much. Some of the other adult characters change less than I'd prefer as well- apart from the changes as Terry (I normally feel an author's surname fits better) figures out who the character is.

This is the first in the series that I haven't read before. At least I think I haven't. If I have I certainly remember so little that I think I haven't. I'm always surprised by the places Coleridge shows up. I suppose it happens quite often with other famous texts as well, only I don't notice them.

It's interesting what I do and don't remember from last time I read these books. I tend to very vividly remember the start of each story. I also can't quite remember which ones I haven't read, though I know there's some. I very much enjoyed this one, more than the first two- and I thought I'd been enjoying THEM.

I have, of course, read this before. I'm surprised by how much of some of it I remember and how little of the rest.

Though I enjoyed much of the story I don't think I can continue the series. The attitude toward women is far too unpleasant. Plenty of stories contain outdated treatment of women, but the difference here is that the book itself feels sexist, instead of just the content (a distinction that mightn't make sense without clarification).

The way women are written in this is jarring. Other than that a decent, unique story, I guess.

Not enjoying the direction of these stories too much. I think what I enjoy most in stories (it's reading these that's making me think this) is the characters. The stories in this book are withdrawn from the characters, except for one, 'Stories of Your Life', which is consequently my favourite. I did like 'Seventy-Two Letters' a lot as well and it also involved you a little more with the main character.

'Mefisto in Onyx' is probably my favourite in the book so far (and there's not much left). I guessed all but the final plot event pretty quickly. I'm not sure if that indicates and obvious progression or I'm just on the ball today. Still enjoyed it anyway. Maybe I like to think I'm psychic. I'm guessing I liked it because I have a soft spot for quick witted characters and a 'happy ending' is often good.

'Paladin of the Lost Hour'. I can't tell if his writing is getting better, I like the style he's growing into more or I'm just more used to him. I'm liking most of the stories at this point. It might be that they've got less gory.

'Djinn, No Chaser'. Also good. Very lighthearted compared to everything else in the book so far. Maybe because it's a 'definitive collection'? People tend to have more respect for the serious. (I know I'm talking to myself in these progress notes. It's like a public facing diary that no one else cares about.)

'Count the Clock That Tells the Time'. What is wasted time? I dunno. It's always 'time you enjoy isn't wasted time' (not always, sometimes it's something different but essentially the same in principle). What you perceive as wasted time must relate to what you perceive to be your purpose (or our purpose/the purpose). And so another philosophical conundrum comes back to the meaning of life.

I was originally going to say that I didn't enjoy the last two stories I read as much, but then I realised how much they'd made me think. It might be more accurate to describe his stories as philosophical essays in the form of stories. Some are more broad than others in their scope ('Understand'), but they've all felt philosophic without being preachy. 'Didactic' doesn't fit, but it works as a point of comparison.

'Jeffty Is Five' might be my favourite so far. In this book so far I can see a little of the influence Ellison had on Neil Gaiman, particularly in Gaiman's earlier stories. I feel like he has since developed a style more his own. This comparison does make me wonder if other stuff from this era has a similar 'style' to it. That would imply a cultural (less specific) source of influence.

Good first story. Not as enjoyable as the other I've read by him, but still good. I haven't yet worked out what makes his writing so great. He does have clever (and novel) ideas as well as solid writing.

I enjoyed the second non-fiction piece more, though I'm not used to reading about history without footnotes and references.

I'm intrigued by the style of magic he's written so far.

Nothing has quite lived up to the first story. I'm enjoying the world though, and some stories have been great. The non-fiction chapters were a surprise and I'm mostly uninterested.

I can't think of the term, if there is one, but I'd describe the first story as the opposite of heavy handed. There's no obvious, stated lesson, but there was still depth to the story. This is an inadequate distillation of what I mean.