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kindredpinny's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
monitos's review against another edition
5.0
This was so difficult to read, especially when Terry’s decline starts showing - but it’s truly worth it if you are a fan. Prepare yourself with some tissues, though.
GNU Terry, you truly are the most alive and loved author.
GNU Terry, you truly are the most alive and loved author.
weboury's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
this book is beyond stars to me, which is why i'm choosing to forego the usual rating. but my god, how I cried. so many good things are in this book, but a particular quote stands out to me: "of all the dead authors, Terry Pratchett is the most alive." it tore me apart.
mind how you go.
mind how you go.
dmcke013's review against another edition
3.0
I don't often read non-fiction - I had enough of that during my school/university days - preferring instead a 'good story'.
I was also going to say that I don't often read biographies.
Except that, truth be told, this is actually the first one that I've ever read (despite attempting, in the past, to start some and then getting bored senseless within about the first 10 pages or so ...)
And also, truth be told, it wasn't one that I was really going out of my way to look forward, except that the late, great [a:Terry Pratchett|1654|Terry Pratchett|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1235562205p2/1654.jpg] is/was one of my favourites and that I saw this on sale for something like 99p.
Written by long-term assistant [a:Rob Wilkins|71224|Rob Wilkins|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], this has been compiled - I think that's the right word - from 'official' notes/memories as provided by Pratchett himself (before his untimely death, in 2015, to a rare form of Alzheimer's) and from personal recollections of Rob himself, covering Pratchett's entire life story from his childhood) where he was told by his headmaster he would never amount to anything and hated reading), right on through to his diagnosis and eventual (unassisted) death.
The last part, in particular, is particularly moving.
I was also going to say that I don't often read biographies.
Except that, truth be told, this is actually the first one that I've ever read (despite attempting, in the past, to start some and then getting bored senseless within about the first 10 pages or so ...)
And also, truth be told, it wasn't one that I was really going out of my way to look forward, except that the late, great [a:Terry Pratchett|1654|Terry Pratchett|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1235562205p2/1654.jpg] is/was one of my favourites and that I saw this on sale for something like 99p.
Written by long-term assistant [a:Rob Wilkins|71224|Rob Wilkins|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], this has been compiled - I think that's the right word - from 'official' notes/memories as provided by Pratchett himself (before his untimely death, in 2015, to a rare form of Alzheimer's) and from personal recollections of Rob himself, covering Pratchett's entire life story from his childhood) where he was told by his headmaster he would never amount to anything and hated reading), right on through to his diagnosis and eventual (unassisted) death.
The last part, in particular, is particularly moving.
ltg61's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.0
snoopy88's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
5.0
hayleyg84's review against another edition
5.0
I read an unauthorised biography of Terry Pratchett in the past and was utterly underwhelmed by it. I did not feel it provided any insight into one of my favourite authors. I had high hopes for this one as it was written by Rob Wilkins, who had not only a professional but also a very personal relationship to Terry Pratchett. That shone through right from the start and I really felt that I was seeing the real Terry Pratchett. It came as a surprise to me how hard I found it to read parts of this book and I did have to put it down a few times to have a quick sob. Maybe it shouldn't have been a surprise, I was devastated when TP died and this book helped me to know him better. I have spent the last few days telling my husband new things I have found out about TP (I was especially excited to find out that his favourite book shop is also my favourite- the wonderful Topping & co in Bath!). I am already in the middle of a re-read of the Discworld books (I think I will always be in the middle of reading them again) but it has made me want to revisit particularly some of his later ones and appreciate them for the wonder they are- how lucky are we that he was able to still write when his condition had progressed so much. A fantastic and moving biography.
thatokiebird's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I am so happy this book exists. Of course I would have endlessly loved an actual memoir written by Terry Pratchett, but this is surprisingly the next best thing. Terry Pratchett: A Life With Footnotes is written by his personal assistant Rob Wilkins, published in 2022. Reading the opening chapter where Rob lets the reader know how he came to be writing this "Official Biography", I was a little skeptical but as you read throughout the chapters you realize that personal assistant is not quite a strong enough name for what Rob was to Terry. Rob was his hands as he became the typer of his books when Terry could no longer type. Rob become his voice when Terry could no longer read out-loud at conventions. Rob became his body and his brain, when Terry had trouble getting around and even thinking near the end.
The story of Terry Pratchett's decline into Alzheimer's is utterly heartbreaking, and I cried multiple times while reading - like had to put the book down because I couldn't see through tears. That rarely happens for me, but when you're reading the detailed daily moments of what he went through - the book is so well written, that these moments absolutely come alive.
The book is also hilarious, with humor filling most of the book. The book includes Terry's childhood with large emphasis on how and when he became a reader, then a reader of science fiction, and eventually a writer of science fiction and fantasy himself. I, and I'm sure any reader of Terry Pratchett, immensely enjoyed this emphasis. It helped really paint the full picture of how my favorite author become that person. And then later in his life, as a millionaire beloved by so many, the seemingly realistic portrait it painted of a human who lived on his own time with his own views was pretty wild. He was at times portrayed as a trash asshole, at times as simply a bit of a grump, and other times as the most generous and thoughtful human to exist. I was glad to have all his sides portrayed. His anger, his short-temper, his lack of empathy, his humor, his charm, his imagination and curiosity.
I somehow just learned this book existed actually, and immediately checked out the e-book from my library and read it over a couple of weeks reading a chapter a night before bed. I absolutely loved it, and will be owning it eventually for sure. I'm doing my first reread of the Discworld books, having read all of them 15-20 years ago now. Having read this book as I start my reread through is definitely making me look at the books a bit different and I'm so happy for that.
The story of Terry Pratchett's decline into Alzheimer's is utterly heartbreaking, and I cried multiple times while reading - like had to put the book down because I couldn't see through tears. That rarely happens for me, but when you're reading the detailed daily moments of what he went through - the book is so well written, that these moments absolutely come alive.
The book is also hilarious, with humor filling most of the book. The book includes Terry's childhood with large emphasis on how and when he became a reader, then a reader of science fiction, and eventually a writer of science fiction and fantasy himself. I, and I'm sure any reader of Terry Pratchett, immensely enjoyed this emphasis. It helped really paint the full picture of how my favorite author become that person. And then later in his life, as a millionaire beloved by so many, the seemingly realistic portrait it painted of a human who lived on his own time with his own views was pretty wild. He was at times portrayed as a trash asshole, at times as simply a bit of a grump, and other times as the most generous and thoughtful human to exist. I was glad to have all his sides portrayed. His anger, his short-temper, his lack of empathy, his humor, his charm, his imagination and curiosity.
I somehow just learned this book existed actually, and immediately checked out the e-book from my library and read it over a couple of weeks reading a chapter a night before bed. I absolutely loved it, and will be owning it eventually for sure. I'm doing my first reread of the Discworld books, having read all of them 15-20 years ago now. Having read this book as I start my reread through is definitely making me look at the books a bit different and I'm so happy for that.