Soul Music (Revised) | 
pickBest case scenario: I'm glad to have re-read it, and I feel better about it than I did the first time. My hunch that I'm more invested in Susan Sto Helit as a character, than Death, proved true. If I think of this as one of the Discworld Death books, it feels like there's barely enough of him in it, AND I run into the same problem I've regularly had with Death's books, 1/?
Robotswithpersonality 2/? that no humourous circumstances outweigh the very effective basic sadness that Pratchett has imbued the character's existence with. It's not particularly that he writes him as an Eeyore character or makes things that happen around him more tragic than necessary, (edited) 3w
Robotswithpersonality 3/? it's that the framework of the stories is always how he cannot relate to, or participate in the world of humanity beyond a certain degree, and from a human reader perspective, that barrier to inclusion feels sad! Death embodies some marvelous fantastical elements, and can add a touch of menace or humour or pathos depending on the scene, but I find when he's carrying the book, I cannot shake the basic sadness, 3w
Robotswithpersonality 4/? and while Pratchett doesn't shy away from heavier themes, in most of his books, I get a defiant, angry, hopeful vibe from how the story plays out. But you can't fundamentally change the nature of Death as an anthropomorphized figure or as an event that happens to all beings. Upon reread what worked for me was that the story also doesn't truly rely on the magical power of music/commentary on the music industry narrative either, 3w
Robotswithpersonality 5/? it feels like shenanigans and interstitials in Susan's story and how her story here can only be the focus of this particular plot if Death is mostly absent. She has an inheritance that affects her perception of reality, but there is a reality she needs to face, there is grieving she needs to do, and that came through much clearer upon reread. 3w
Robotswithpersonality 6/6 The intersection of fame as immortality, of choosing a LIFE over being immortal, of choosing a mostly human existence over the alternative, that's where the storylines really came together at the last moment. Yeah, I loved it, it hurt in a very human way. I can't see rereading it as often as certain City Watch books, but I could definitely see reading through the Susan Sto Helit books again, more than the Death books. 3w
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so-so
