Now, I'm not going to just update y'all on whatever I've got on my bookshelf. There will be themes and theories and the like, but the ultimate goal is to take a closer look into all books that not everyone would think to take seriously, such as kid's books, 9-12 books and teen books, maybe even the occasional 'fluffy' fiction paperback like urban fantasy or something.
So, without further adieu, let us begin! I'll start with what I've just finished reading - Going Postal by Terry Prachett.
If you don't know who Terry Prachett is, then here is a brief bio. Mr. Prachett used to be a sort of technical writer for a power plant and wrote satirical fiction on the side. Then his on-the-side work was finally published and well received. The rest, as they say, is history.
His books all take place in a world called the Disc World. A flat planet sitting atop four elephants that are sitting on the back of space turtle. If you never learn anything about the Disc World, this says it all. It says: Hi, I'm a clever blend of humor, clever observation and classical myths/folklore/philosophy.
So, Going Postal. The star is Moist Von Lipwig, a con man, who up until Chapter 1 has gone by the name of Albert Spangler. Then he got caught, and hanged - end of Chapter 1. The rest of the book is dedicated to Moist's 'saved' life by the city's tyrant and his job on parole as a the new Post Master General.
This may simply sound funny and odd at the moment and, trust me, it is. But there's more to it than that. Going Postal takes a look at the power of words and what it is that we find so special about them. In earlier books Prachett takes the reader into the Wizarding University's library where all the books must be kept chained up. Their words have too much power and are simply dying to be read... or kill you... you know whichever comes first. So just imagine what Prachett will do with posted letters.
What he does is ask the question: Would you open someone's mail? Well certainly not, that's a felony. But then, what happens to an undelivered, unopened letter. The words want to be read, don't they? And so many of them all trapped in the post office together...
Well that's simply lethal! Imagine the power such words could take on? They've marinated for years... and they'd chosen Moist as their 'Deliverer'.
Also, Prachett plays with the role of the Golem, a creature made of mud with a piece of parchment in his head giving him instructions and a purpose in life... not all that different from humans. Golems come to work in the post office with Moist and they understand the power and truth of words in a way that Moist simply can't. Being a con man, Moist has spent his life making words do back flips for him. He understands how to play with words. How to twist their meaning in ways that would make a theologian smile. What happens when he is confronted with the honesty of the Golem? It is beautiful, to say the least.
Finally Prachett explores the mass cultural trend of texting/emailing compared to the old fashioned post. It is not a new debate, but it is certainly a fun one; and Prachett knows that the true heart of any competition isn't the winner, but the man who can put on the better show. Leave them with some sparkle and they'll laugh while you steal their money. Tell them you're their to rob them, and they'll hand it over gladly.
At least they will if you're Moist von Lipwig.
Well, in a nutshell, that's Going Postal. I highly recommend it. Even if you've never touched a Disc World book, you won't be out of the loop, but you'll certainly be hooked.
