Anyone want to join a Discworld reading club?

Cafe Society
1

When Lobsang recently started a thread about Science of Discworld III, it quickly evolved into a perennial discussion about what Discworld was, and what order one should read the books. There wasn’t a lot of talk about the book in question, but it got me thinking about starting a reading club. Most DW books are fairly quick reads and if you guys are like me, you’ve re-read many of them many times and possibly skipped re-reading some that you didn’t like very much. I know a lot of people here avoid the Wizard series, because they don’t like Rincewind, whereas I love the bantering among the faculty and how beautifully Pterry delivers the lines. I’m currently re-reading Hogfather and skipping some parts, but savoring the scenes at UU.

Anyway, a reading club could serve a lot of purposes. First, it’s another excuse to go back and re-read the books. Second, maybe I, or someone else, who is a fan of the Wizards can help someone else overcome their aversion and in turn, I might learn to appreciate Carpe Jugulum. I also think we could pick up on a lot of stuff that L-spaceweb hasn’t found. Their annotations are sorely lacking and not very up to date.

I can take it upon me to administrate it, but I want to make sure that enough people are on board, so the effort won’t be wasted. I realize that maybe all of us can’t read all books, but if someone doesn’t have the time or urge to read a certain book, I hope there are enough of us to keep the reading club going.

My proposal is as follows:

Read in publishing order. The canon (for us) should include all ‘adult’ novels, Including ‘The Last Hero’. Books for younger readers, cook books, maps ASF are not included. Science of Discworld does bring the Wizard arc forward, but since, IMO, only the first shows an effort on Pterry’s part, I think we should skip them.

It would be fun if DW newbies would join in, so I propose that we have open spoilers for the book we’re currently discussing, but spoiler boxes for anything relating to later works. I don’t think we should use spoiler boxes for books that have been discussed in previous threads.

A new thread every two weeks. They are quick reads, but let’s not overdo it.

Anyone care to join?

2

I’m in. I finally decided to take the plunge.

I’m reading them in published order.

3

I’m in. I finally decided to take the plunge.

I’m reading them in published order. I’m on Witches Abroad right now. A new thread every two week sound about right. I can plow through a book per fortnight.

4

What are the odds that you’ll start this series of threads and the resident pTerry Dopers won’t join in? :smiley:

5

I’d say about 999,999:1 :stuck_out_tongue:

6

Hmm. Will “The Sea and the Little Fishes” and “Theatre of Cruelty” be included?

7

I need an excuse to buy the rest of the books in hard cover (I’ve got roughly half of them that way). I’ll join in.

8

So it’s still not a million to one shot? How about if I stand on one foot while reading, with my hat on backwards, while drinking warm lemonade? :smiley:

9

Sounds like fun. I’ll play.

10

I’ll participate, but I doubt I’ll read them in order with the rest of you. I read what I want, when I want.

So far, I’ve read The Colo(u)r of Magic, The Light Fantastic, Sourcery, Equal Rites, The Last Hero, and Thief of Time. I also own Mort and Eric and will probably read those within a month.

11

OK, I’ve never read any of the Discworld books so it sounds like a good time to me.

12

I can check in from time to time, but all my copies of the older books are in storage. I might get some out of the library.

13

I have already read them all. What do you expect me to do, read them again? :dubious:

:smiley:

14

Sounds fun.

Are we including Eric? I’m still annoyed that I bought that in paperback. Waste of money.

15

I’ll participate for the books that I have. Unfortunately, this means I won’t be posting for the first couple threads, as I vastly prefer Pratchett’s newer work over the older Discworld titles, and my purchases have tended to follow this bias.

16

I’ll join, and gladly. Heck, I’ve read every single one of them (except a few of the so-called ‘kids’’ books), and I own all but Lords and Ladies, Maskerade, The Last Hero, and Men at Arms. Well, actually, I have the first two, but I don’t know where they are, so I might as well not have them.

PS-Does anyone else really enjoy the occasional Latin tidbits PTerry offers up?

17

I just ordered 3 more DW books for my birthday next week. I left off at Jingo so I am trying to get through the whole series and I prefer to read them in published order.

I do happen to like Rincewind but I doubt I could explain the wizards to anyone.

Count me in.

18

Sure, I’m in. I’ve read all 29 discworld books at least twice.

Haven’t got my hands on “Once more with footnotes” yet tho.

19

I don’t seem to have had a lot of time for either reading or posting lately* but I’d feel remiss if I didn’t at least follow along and join in when I can!

*I was about 50 pages into Wyrd Sisters when a woman wandered into my life a couple of months ago … I’m just now thinking about getting back to it in my spare moments …

20

I like Rincewind, too. I’m reading them in publishing order, but I’m only 7 books in (last one I finished was “Pyramids”. next up is “Guards Guards”). So if I catch the threads, I’ll probably participate in the first ones (up through whatever ones I’ve read).