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Reviews tagging 'Death'
Terry Pratchett: A Life With Footnotes: The Official Biography by Rob Wilkins
10 reviews
callysutherland's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
anna_l_richards's review
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
lukerik's review against another edition
informative
sad
fast-paced
3.0
Far more interesting than it deserves to be considering it’s about a man who spent most of his time sitting down. It’s one for fans of Pratchett rather than fans of biography. Don’t come to it expecting Ackroyd or Tomalin. Wilkins has the disadvantage of being too close to his subject.
On the other hand, he has the advantage of being close to his subject. It’s intimate. It’s not a hagiography. There are numerous examples of Pratchett being a total arsehole. Particularly well done is his charting of Pratchett’s dementia. This might make you tear up at times. Of course, I didn’t because I’m a big brave boy. Having read the books as they came out I didn’t notice any effect on them until Raising Steam. There’s obviously something wrong with the novel. But then The Shepherd’s Crown is incomplete but what’s on the page is fine. What’s shocking is what a state he was in long before that. It beggars belief how he was able to continue for so long. Wilkins’s account of the writing of these two novels is very interesting.
It’s well written. Very readable, and the tone is spot on.
On the other hand, he has the advantage of being close to his subject. It’s intimate. It’s not a hagiography. There are numerous examples of Pratchett being a total arsehole. Particularly well done is his charting of Pratchett’s dementia. This might make you tear up at times. Of course, I didn’t because I’m a big brave boy. Having read the books as they came out I didn’t notice any effect on them until Raising Steam. There’s obviously something wrong with the novel. But then The Shepherd’s Crown is incomplete but what’s on the page is fine. What’s shocking is what a state he was in long before that. It beggars belief how he was able to continue for so long. Wilkins’s account of the writing of these two novels is very interesting.
It’s well written. Very readable, and the tone is spot on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Chronic illness, and Dementia
arrianne's review against another edition
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Dementia
Moderate: Terminal illness, Grief, and Medical content
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
rosieoh's review
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
Cried my eyes out. 5 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Terminal illness
_m0's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
5.0
Things I liked:
- The beginning was a little slow, but I did enjoy the many details and wry humor, and especially when it got to the part of his career when things were really taking off
- Rob's description of their long working relationship and friendship made it much more personal and engaging
- Fascinating to see behind the scenes of the progress of certain books -- for example, how closely the Tiffany Aching books drew on his own upbringing and experiences (the original trilogy is among my favorites, and this just goes to show why!)
- The footnotes, of course!
And, of course, the ending was more than a little heartbreaking. GNU Terry Pratchett.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia
Moderate: Death
cyluho's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
This book made me happy and it made me furious and it made me laugh and it made me bawl tears on a Saturday morning: a perfect tribute in my mind.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Terminal illness, and Dementia
Minor: Medical content, Vomit, and Suicide
katiewhocanread's review
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Terminal illness, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent and Death
Minor: Suicide
fishrgreat's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Terminal illness
questingnotcoasting's review
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
I think this will be the perfect read for hardcore Terry Pratchett fans, however even as someone who's less than halfway through the Discworld novels I found it fascinating. I thought it gave a brilliant insight into his life and mind and seeing behind the scenes was so interesting. I wondered if some of it would go over my head but luckily I know enough about the books I haven't yet read to understand the references. Also I think what I've learnt about his writing process will help me appreciate the rest of the books even more. There are very sad moments as you'd expect, but it's also funny and heart-warming throughout. At times it felt like Rob's story as well as Terry's, as they worked together for so long and he was the perfect person to write this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Terminal illness, and Death
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