Discworld

Don't get mad, but I haven't read much Terry Pratchett in the past.  I've read two Discworld books, actually. Wyrd Sisters, which I acquired in college when dating a Discworld fanatic, and recently the Colour of Magic. And this isn't because I don't like Pratchett - I love him - it's just that my reading history often doesn't go in the same directions as most. I didn't grow up reading as much fantasy and I just...missed it.  But I am going to fix that. I plan on continuing to read Discworld books, though not right away, in a row.

What is interesting is the argument as to HOW to read these.  I assumed, like most, that you could read them in the order they were published.  But some, like my college ex, will jump around and scream a lot if you suggest this.  They think that the books should be read chronologically.  I've also seen them divided up by characters or groups.  What stands out the most for me is the fervor that this topic can insight in people.  It's scary. And often entertaining.  Of course, when someone re-arranged all the Discworld books in our college Sci-Fi library from being alphabetical to being in order they came out, it was neither.  This was aggravating and there followed much violence.

I have not decided on a best course of action for my reading.  I got The Colour of Magic on my kindle, but it's likely that going forward my reading will be more a 'as-I-acquire-them' sort of order. I have a used book store nearby that is my friend, but you have to take things as they come in.

Hey, if the Disc doesn't have to answer to your rules of science and order, then neither do I!

Reading and Writing about Reading

As a long time book nerd, it was a little unsettling when I realized just how little I read these days.  With work and activities, and coming home tired, I was continuing to amass books at home, enlarge my "to read" list, but never do anything about them!  My living situation became a lot about sitting in front of the tv and not having a place to read comfortably.  Now, my new living situation affords me a more comfortable space to quietly read, but I would still find myself in front of the tv with my computer on my lap. I'd go to bed, more often then not, with a headache from the eye strain or my neck angle.  And I wasn't reading.  I wasn't escaping to a fantasy world or learning anything, or just having those quiet moments to myself.

So I decided to change that.  I've decided to go back to always having a book or two being read.  And I'm going to track them again on GoodReads.  I also made a brand new LibraryThing to catalog the ones I own. Because I need to. Because reasons.

Another part of my new leaf (or returning to the old leaf, I guess) is that I want to write about my books more.  Sometimes you just need to get ideas and thoughts about a character or story out of your head, put feelings in to words.  Hopefully that means a return to Bibliorantics.

In the meantime, a quick overview:

• I just started a book on the history of surveying the US. Looking forward to some nonfiction!
• Recently read Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic finally.  I'd read so little Discworld in the past so I want to start at teh beginning and work my way through.
• Started the new Ms. Marvel series, reading volume one (issues 1-5) No Normal.  I LOVE IT. Kamala, the new Ms. Marvel, is instantly likable and relateable.  I need more immediately. I forsee myself devouring this series.
• Just finished a cute YA book called A Taste for Red by Lewis Harris about vampires.  But it's a different spin, and it's really light and adorable.  I wish the author would write more about the main character, Svetlana.  It would be a great series for young kids who want to read about vamps and the supernatural.