I Miss Terry Pratchett
3 hours ago
- #memory metaphor
- #Terry Pratchett
- #teenage reading
- Terry Pratchett's writing compares memories to unruly furniture, with Rincewind's memory 'terrorizing the other occupants and kicking over the furniture'.
- Pratchett's pocket-sized books were perfect for secret teenage reading, hiding in places like classrooms, with themes that appealed to adolescents.
- His humor and absurdity contrasted with serious fantasy, treating readers intelligently and resonating with teens overwhelmed by adult expectations.
- Characters like Rincewind and the City Watch mirrored teenage experiences, such as feeling inadequate or grappling with identity.
- Pratchett's battle with Alzheimer's ('the embuggerance') led to a thoughtful approach to death, including scripting his own ending.
- His death in 2015 left a gap for teenagers who once found an 'on-ramp to reading' through his accessible and engaging books.