Shelf Spotlight: Terry Pratchett

Do you ever go to the library with an empty bag and fill it to the brim?  If you're anything like me, sinking yourself in a stack of favorite authors is how life becomes manageable!  Books are an addiction, and don't ever, ever take me to Readers Anonymous.

So, welcome to my new blog series!  I'll share an author or book at the end of the week, as often as I can.  This won't be a full book review, but just a quick highlight on who/what I'm reading at the moment.

TERRY PRATCHETT

Recently, I've gotten my mom hooked on Terry Pratchett, a British comic fantasy author I fell in love with after reading Going Postal.  His books take place in a universe named Discworld, and follow a number of different characters in intersecting mini-series.  Pratchett is absolutely brilliant with his words, almost like a fantasy P. G. Wodehouse.  Some of his books are better than others, and occasionally his humour gets a bit crude, but overall he's a hysterically funny read.  His satire puts things in perspective!  A few favorites and quotes:

A con man is given a reprieve - to become the new Postmaster for Ankh-Morpork's long defunct post office.

“Steal five dollars and you're a common thief. Steal thousands and you're either the government or a hero.”

Teppic, heir to the throne of the Kingdom of the Sun, has been trained as an assassin.  Who knew that pyramids and priests could cause so much trouble for the new pharoah?

“All assassins had a full-length mirror in their rooms, because it would be a terrible insult to anyone to kill them when you were badly dressed.”

The chief of the city watch is getting married, Captain Carrot may be the heir to the ancient throne of Ankh-Morpork, the new recruit is a werewolf; but the crime must be solved.

“If the Creator had said, "Let there be light" in Ankh-Morpork, he'd have got no further because of all the people saying "What colour?”