I am overwhelmed by the sheer number of reviews I could theoretically write

Here's what I've read (semi-recently) and not blogged about:

1. A Slip of the Keyboard by Terry Pratchett 

    Collection of Pratchett's non-fiction. Quite enjoyable, though got a bit repetitive at the end, which was many essays advocating for the right to assisted suicide/death with dignity [1]. Good quote (besides the entire thing): "[A]t its best science fiction is about us and our Faustian bargain with our big brains, which dragged us out of the trees but may yet drag us into the volcano." He talks about many things in this collection, including the power/aggravation of his Author Hat, the importance of writing and reading fantasy, and working at a nuclear power plant and the myths that spring up there. If you're a fan, read it.

2. Nation by Terry Pratchett 

    Prompted by his mentioning in the above that he considers this his best work. Good and compelling and quotable, as all of Sir Terry is. The fantasy is minimal, more of historical-legend type than the wizard/dwarf/vampire mix of the Discworld. So if you want to try Pratchett but HATE fantasy, try this one. (Though I hate -high- fantasy, and LOVE Discworld.) Good quote: "If a lie will make us strong, a lie will be my weapon."

3. Two Old Women by Velma Wallis

    Alaskan legend, about, you guessed it, two old women, and their successful fight to survive the winter when abandoned by their tribe. If you liked My Side of the Mountain as a kid, try this one. Much shorter (more novella than novel), but hey, I learned things about trapping rabbits and hunting moose that I never knew before.

4. The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor 

    Such a good book, but so depressing in many places. There are 5? 7? 9? (it's been a while) stories, each relating to but not dependent on the others. Usually such a device aggravates me, but these are distinct, and they don't switch back to previous POVs. [2]

5.  Maskerade by Terry Pratchett 

    Terry's take on Phantom of the Opera, complete with old, sassy witches. Nanny and Granny are such delightful characters, and great foils to one another. I love it that people are not reduced to one category or label in the Discworld. There are many good ways to be a witch, and all are equally valid and helpful. You can be young and fierce (Tiffany), young and timid (Perdita nee Agnes Nitt), old and raunchy (Nanny), or old and tight-laced (Granny). Witching requires being able to see things for what they are, analyze them, and then do what needs doing to heal/help/prod/change/fix. K. doesn't like the witches so much, but I sure do. Good quote: "Nanny Ogg usually went to bed early. After all, she was an old lady. Sometimes she went to bed as early as six A.M."

6. The Shepherd’s Crown by Terry Pratchett 

    The last of the Discworld. Short and less polished, due to his dying before completely finishing the text, but very moving. A good ending, though sad.

7. Being Mortal by Atul Gawande 

   And more about death, this time from a surgeon. Related to but not entirely like How We Die. Where the latter deals with the literal mechanisms of death, this deals with the moments before death, how physicians and families of the elderly or the terminally ill can better prepare for the end, the benefits of hospice, etc. I found the most thought-provoking part to be making sure to converse loved about what "life" means to a given individual, and that doctors should give recomendations for treatment based on those discussions. That is, it does no good to prolong a person's biochemical life if they have nothing worth living for. So, for one of his patients, it would remain worth it to stay alive (undergo surgery, chemo, etc) for being able to watch football and eat chocolate ice cream. On the other hand, for his father, life was meaningless if he could no longer interact with people and maintain a certain level of autonomy. So in both cases, when surgeries and treatments could no longer preserve those things, the medicine turned to palliative care, rather than aggressive procedures.

8. The Ghost in My Brain by Clark Elliott

   Meh. Generally too wordy and repetitive, though it is incredible that the author a) managed to keep teaching and taking care of his children despite not being able to think [give focused attention to anything] more than a few minutes at a time and b) recover an incredible amount of brain function eight years after his concussion. Read The Brain That Changes Itself instead, or at least first.

9. 400 Things Cops Know by Adam Plantinga

   This is frequently hilarious (though sometimes you feel bad laughing, you just can't help yourself) and always informative. He writes with alacrity and realness. And if you like Pratchett's Watch series, you'll see Vimes all over this book. Good quote: "Keep in mind the old law enforcement adage that sounds like a country song: The Only Person I Trust Is My Mother And I Ain't Even Too Sure About Her."

10. Jingo by Terry Pratchett

     Sir Terry takes on war. I like this one better than his other take on war (Men at Arms). It's got more Vimes, for one thing, which is always a plus. Who else could decide that the proper response to imminent, race-hatred-fueled warfare is to arrest entire countries? Good quote: "Theft was the only crime, whether the loot was gold, innocence, land or life."

11. Fast Breaks by Phony McFakename

     Proofread for a friend. Bizzaro fiction, and also some zombie short stories. The bizarro stuff's not my jam, but "The Most Amazing Story Ever" and "Dawn of the Wed" are enjoyable.

Genres

Fiction: 3, 4, 11

Non-fiction: 1, 7, 8, 9

Pratchett: 1, 2, 5, 6, 10

***

Here's what I'm in the process of reading: Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers

Here's what I'm about to read: Sorcery and Pyramids by Terry Pratchett, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

Here's what I want to re-read, having now finally watched the movie: Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynn Jones

...and there you have it. The book update. Bam.

xo, 

Devo

[1] Choose your term, depending on which side of the debate you fall.

[2] Maybe I'm just a lazy reader slash don't like cliff hangers, but I just loathe having to keep up with a POV switching book. I have to remember whose voice I'm reading, what they know and don't know compared to the other POV character, who's where and just nonsense.