After reading Discworld I wanted to read more of Terry Pratchett so I picked up A Slip of the Keyboard. If I said he was a good natural storyteller people who’d read him before would probably reach through the screen and slap me. No kidding, is what they’d probably yell at me. So all I’ll say is that he reminds me of listening to a friend tell a story. I realize that for other people the parts I loved- writing, how he writes, how he researches and steals from reality and even book tours might not be for everyone. It’s something I want to do one day hence the extreme interest.
It’s quite fun to read his stories and I especially loved about how he started reading as a kid and more importantly how he started to enjoy it. He doesn’t think much of traditional schools to this and I tend to agree with him there. Students, kids should be encouraged to read for love but there again that’s a personal thing. Ever since I was young I’ve always had a book or had one in progress but you put a syllabus and a schedule in front of me and there’s just some flashing no sign that makes me want to not read any of the books on the list.
The last part of the book is the issues that are dear to his heart. Including an essay called, “The Orangutans are Dying,” which made me cry. He also talks quite openly about his diagnosis with Alzheimer’s and frightening specifics about how someone with his version of the disease will deteriorate. Some of the best writing at the end is his work with right to die movements.
I will say that whether you agree with him or not I never felt as though I was being bludgeoned over the head with his views. He passionately makes his case and leaves it to the reader. My views on that are more in line with his anyway but I definitely walked away with a deeper understanding of something I hope I never have to experience first-hand.
Recommend: Yes.
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