Chatter Of The Squirrel

Depressing Books

November 9, 2009 on 10:10 pm | In Books | No Comments

Was raining heavily, so I had no reason to rush home.

Took the opportunity to read a couple of books I saw at Borders a while ago. And also to redeem some Tesco coupons.

There’s a new Nick Hornby book, but I couldn’t find it. Hard to believe that the entire stack I saw last time sold out. But then, they say naked sells. So maybe that’s why there wasn’t a single copy of Juliet, Naked left.

While hunting for it, I came across :

The final book of The Wheel Of Time…. Maybe… Probably not…

So it’s finally out. A chance for closure. Yet, a chance I dare not take.

This is the book Robert Jordan wrote while losing the fight with sarcoidosis. He never saw it finished.

Seeing this title at Borders now, was like suddenly finding your cat’s chew-toy under the sofa, a cat that you buried three years ago, and which you had loved for twelve.

I believe I started the series at the end of 1995. And I can almost remember when/where I acquired the books I have in my collection. Several of them were gifts.

Rand al’Thor, Perrin Aybara & Mat Cauthon are more familiar to me than the Tooks and Brandybucks.

This relationship has been too long, and too bitter sweet.

And I don’t think I’m quite ready to deal with the conclusion yet.

Another turn around the shelves, and I also found this:

Some idiot saw himself fit to write a 6th book to the Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy.

I gave it a quick flip, and it was like watching a pimply-faced arse playing Kurt Cobain on Guitar Hero.

So apparently everyone didn’t die in Mostly Harmless, and they’re all back for a big adventure. Including Random Dent, Arthur’s daughter, who is President of the Universe and married a gerbil.

F.U.C.K.

This is a word that I use VERY sparingly. But in this case, there’s nothing more eloquent.

This Rowling-wannabe, tripping on meth, thinks he can get away with screwing Douglas Adams’ gift to mankind!!

F.U.C.K.

He even brings back Fenchurch.

F….

Even while I was mourning those that have been taken too soon, I am assaulted by this injustice.

It’s more painful than watching Spielberg rape Indiana Jones. More foul than Lucas shitting on his own franchise.

This depresses me.

I’m going to bed!

Book: Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett

November 9, 2009 on 2:20 pm | In Books | No Comments

Every Pratchett has a theme, or a parody.

Unseen Academicals is Romeo and Juliet with soccer.

Honestly, not too interesting. The main protagonists are a candle dribbler turned soccer coach and a pie-baker. Even though Rincewind makes a cameo, he doesn’t do much except for pinballing a football with the back of his head.

There is a story of personal growth, of rising above the expectations and prejudices of people. The other story is of living up to the expectations of those same people.

One of the most interesting Pratchett metaphors in this book, is the Crab Bucket.

For every crab that finds the strength to attempt to crawl its way out of the bucket, other crabs who’ll pull it back down. That’s why you can keep crabs in a bucket without a lid.

An eloquent metaphor for the lower denizens of Ankh-Morpork. Or everywhere else.