I recommend this short read only to Discworld fans and only after reading Raising Steam as it is connected to it even though loosely.
It was n2,5 stars
I recommend this short read only to Discworld fans and only after reading Raising Steam as it is connected to it even though loosely.
It was not written by Pratchett, but "by" the Discworld Emporium and it shows. It is no more and no less than a Discworld train baedekker, listing touristy-travel info mostly related to the Sto Plains, but despite some humorous references familiar to fans, it is mostly a list and neither original, nor riveting. Learning about the number of dwellers of various cities or which accommodations offer what amenities can hardly be called engaging and there's a limited potential for laughs about the various ways cabbage may be used.
As for the book format, I do recommend the audiobook with Penelope Keith as possibly the best way to wring out as much enjoyment as possible from this not very enjoyable book. ...more
“If you trust in yourself. . .and believe in your dreams. . .and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working “If you trust in yourself. . .and believe in your dreams. . .and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Pure Pratchett, an ageless story with universal appeal to both children and adults.
This is one of the most serious stories of Discworld, as Terry Pratchett knew perfectly well that if you write to and about children, you have to be serious, otherwise it won't work.
I wish I could have been like Tiffany Aching as a child: unafraid with First Sight (to see what is really there) and Second Thoughts (thinking about what you are thinking) and lots of common sense. Hell, as an adult, I still want to be Tiffany. Well, First Sight does not work all the time, though I am getting better at Second Thoughts (and Third).
I don't have a daughter, I have a small son, nevertheless I hope we will read this book (and others of the Discworld series) together one day to remind me and show him that:
- you don't need to own and brandish a sword to be a hero: sometimes a firm grip on a frying pan and on facts suffices - it takes courage to accept and to be yourself, but it's worth it - just because you are not a prince/princess, it does not mean that you don't have your own story - that you have to go and question stories and not take them at face value.
“Them as can do has to do for them as can't. And someone has to speak up for them as has no voices.”
“It doesn't stop being magic just because you know how it works.”...more
I am leaving this without rating, though if I'm brutally honest, it would be max 2 stars for me and I hated that I felt about it that way, especially I am leaving this without rating, though if I'm brutally honest, it would be max 2 stars for me and I hated that I felt about it that way, especially as this was his very.... very .... last one
I also hate knowing that there won't be any more of his books... EVER
It also makes me infinitely sad.
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I liked the first 3 Tiffany Aching books, but was strongly of the opinion that the 4th one (I Shall Wear Midnight) already lost steam.
It's hard to describe how I feel about this 5th book about Tiffany's, but there it goes.
THIS BOOK WAS SUCH A WASTE with recycled, weak storylines that were already much better explored and presented in other books (like e.g.: Lords and Ladies) and repetitive themes in a totally unnecessary story about Tiffany Aching that equally bored and frustrated me. Sir Terry already said everything that could be said in books 1-3.
I am raising my rating from 3 to 4 stars as I enjoyed the story much more on re-read, and yet... and yet ... and yet...
Something was definitely off-kI am raising my rating from 3 to 4 stars as I enjoyed the story much more on re-read, and yet... and yet ... and yet...
Something was definitely off-kilter here. I felt the characters from Vetinari to Moist and to Harry King were similar to, but not exactly themselves. Like someone was trying really hard to copy them and while making a good job, they just did not get them exactly right.
Also, quite a few recycled storylines from earlier Discworld novels with much weaker impact....more
"The important thing about adventures, thought Mr Bunnsy, was that they shouldn't be so long as to make you miss mealtimes."
"I suppose there is a Big "The important thing about adventures, thought Mr Bunnsy, was that they shouldn't be so long as to make you miss mealtimes."
"I suppose there is a Big Cat in the Sky, isn't there?" "I'M SURPRISED AT YOU, MAURICE. OF COURSE THERE ARE NO CAT GODS. THAT WOULD BE TOO MUCH LIKE . . . WORK."
I am not sure why I did not read this book before now. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I never found the tale of the Pied Piper of Hamelin very appealing when I was a child.
In retrospect, I should have known better.
Terry Pratchett infuses brilliance into the rather unsavory story. You get the "customary" humour, irony, satire, sound judgement & philosophy with extraordinary entertainment value....more
This is not the best Discworld book or the best City Watch book and strictly speaking, it should be 4-stars only, but I just don't have the heart to gThis is not the best Discworld book or the best City Watch book and strictly speaking, it should be 4-stars only, but I just don't have the heart to give it less than five stars, because it features SAM VIMES, so there it is.
An openly- biased, non-objective 5 star rating from me.
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So yesss, Jane Austen actually turns up in a Discworld novel (albeit for a very short time). Isn't it just wonderful?! (view spoiler)[YES. IT TOTALLY AND ABSOLUTELY IS! (hide spoiler)]
"You know, Commander Vimes, things are different in the country. People think that the country is where you can go to hide out. It ain’t so. In the city you’re a face in the crowd. In the country people will stare at you until you’re out of sight, just for the entertainment value."
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"The sound of the gentle rattle of china cup on china saucer drives away all demons, a little known fact."
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And reading/listening to a Discworld book by Terry Pratchett, especially if it features Samuel Vimes, also drives away all demons - A WELL KNOWN FACT!
In Snuff, His Grace, The Duke of Ankh, Commander Sir Samuel "Sam" Vimes -in a plot cooked up by by Lady Sybil and Lord Vetinari- is FORCED to leave his beloved-beloathed Ankh-Morpork and go ...
*GASP*SHOCK*HORROR* on a HOLIDAY to the
another round OF *GASP*SHOCK*HORROR*
COUNTRYSIDE
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to Lady Sybil's family's mansion, Crundells.
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He is to "enjoy" the pleasures of meeting High Society
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as well as trying to find his way in the labyrinth of "Downstairs"
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and expecting to be bored out of his wits.
But it is only because he has never read the Discworld literary equivalent of Agatha Christie, otherwise he would know that a magnificent stately home and a seemingly peaceful countryside equals horrible murder where everyone is suspicious
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as well as antagonistic towards him and his cause.
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There are quite a few recurring themes Pratchett is attacking mercilessly by making the reader delighted, shocked and deeply troubled at the same time.
In this instalment (just like in Unseen Academicals) he returns again to the issue of what is considered as "human" and where the lines are where one's rights clash with those of others. He is challenging our views and showing us that -in the best traditions of humanity- we are all hypocritical asses.
While I think that the villain of Snuff, Stratford, is pretty much recycled from earlier DW novels (he resembles the psychopath Carcer from Night Watch, albeit without the details and the depth and he does not have much screen time), the novel is still very powerful with nods to Jonathan Swift (A Modest Proposal) as well as to Jane Austen.
-------------------------------- Original Review HAH! I can't believe I've never bothered to review this book, especially as it has a reference to JANE AUSTEN....more
I hate giving any books by Terry Pratchett less than 4 stars, but I had to do it for this one.
I read it twice. My original rating for this book was 3I hate giving any books by Terry Pratchett less than 4 stars, but I had to do it for this one.
I read it twice. My original rating for this book was 3 stars and yep, it stays that way (though at one point I was tempted to downgrade). It was the weakest book of the Tiffany Aching-series .... well until The Shepherd's Crown was published anyway :( (That one made me infinitely unhappy not just because Sir Terry passed away, but because I found it so bad.)
This was definitely the book where things started on the slippery slope for me with the series. Was it because Tiffany has (almost) grown up? Dunno. The core was interesting, but it was surrounded by so much unnecessary, and let's be honest, boring padding that started grating. Also I couldn't shake the feeling that Sir Terry was actually spoonfeeding us with the same facts and information basically in every chapter and this put me quite out of countenance with him. Tiffany, whom I always admired for her down-to-earth thinking, first sight and second thoughts, became almost insufferable with her self-anointed martyrdom and basically 50 % of the book was about nothing else but the constant repeat of how much she is doing alone as there is noone else to do it. It became rather tiresome after Chapter 1.
As I said, the core story saved the day eventually, but it's far below par the best Discworld standards....more
" '... anyway, you said you were at your wits' end with thinking what you'd do with the money.' 'Yes, but I'd have quite liked to have been at my wi" '... anyway, you said you were at your wits' end with thinking what you'd do with the money.' 'Yes, but I'd have quite liked to have been at my wits' end on a big comfy chase longyou somewhere with lots of big, strong men buyin' me chocolates and pressin' their favors on me.' 'Money don't buy happiness, Gytha.' 'i only wanted to rent it for a few weeks.' "
" 'Well, you are a witch!!! Can't you do that thing with the cards and glasses?' 'Well, yes ... we could have a poker game, ' said Nanny. 'Good idea.' "
Maskerade is Discworld's / Terry Pratchett's answer to The Phantom of the Opera (which is the winner of my category: the most boring and pointless book ever).
And what an answer it is: it's fun's and boisterousness' answer to boredom and staleness. It almost makes me forgive Gaston Leroux for writing the original.
Letting the witches Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg on to the stages and behind the scenes of the Opera is just the ticket the story needed and Bob's your uncle, or maybe - in this case - Andy (Lloyd-Webber).
I need to re-read the Witches-books of Discworld to give a final verdict, but this is certainly among my favourites.
“Well, basically there are two sorts of opera," said Nanny, who also had the true witch's ability to be confidently expert on the basis of no experience whatsoever. "There's your heavy opera, where basically people sing foreign and it goes like "Oh oh oh, I am dyin', oh I am dyin', oh oh oh, that's what I'm doin'", and there's your light opera, where they sing in foreign and it basically goes "Beer! Beer! Beer! Beer! I like to drink lots of beer!", although sometimes they drink champagne instead. That's basically all of opera, reely.” ...more
‘Why are our people going out there?’ said Mr Boggis of the Thieves’ Guild. ‘Because they are showing a brisk pioneering spirit and seeking wealth and ‘Why are our people going out there?’ said Mr Boggis of the Thieves’ Guild. ‘Because they are showing a brisk pioneering spirit and seeking wealth and . . . additional wealth in a new land,’ said Lord Vetinari. ‘What’s in it for the Klatchians?’ said Lord Downey. ‘Oh, they’ve gone out there because they are a bunch of unprincipled opportunists always ready to grab something for nothing,’ said Lord Vetinari.
'Wazir comes from Smale, you see,' said Carrot. 'And Mr Goriff comes from Elharib, and the two countries only stopped fighting ten years ago. Religious differences.' 'Ran out of weapons?' said Vimes. 'Ran out of rocks, sir. They ran out of weapons last century.' Vimes shook his head. 'That always chews me up,' he said. 'People killing one another just because their gods have squabbled-' 'Oh, they've got the same god, sir. Apparently it's over a word in their holy book, sir. The Elharibians say it translates as "god" and the Smalies say it's "man".' 'How can you mix them up?' 'Well, there's only one tiny dot difference in the script, you see. And some people reckon it's only a bit of fly dirt in any case.' 'Centuries of war because a fly crapped in the wrong place?' 'It could have been worse,' said Carrot. 'If it had been slightly to the left the word would have been ‘liquorice'.'
On consideration, I would say "Jingo" is my 2nd favourite book of the Ankh-Morportk City Watch series (right after Night Watch ) and my 3rd favourite in the complete Discworld series (after Night Watch and Hogfather).
It was due to this book I decided that I want Sir Samuel Vimes as my literary husband (I am truly sorry, Mr Darcy, but you just have to move on. In any case, you have Lizzy Bennet and the adoration of the rest of the world to console you and yes, we can still be friends.) and my (secret) crush for Vetinari started.
And if I were an educational authority preferably with international competence, I would make all the politicians of the world read it and discuss it in class and write essays about it and if they scored higher than C+, then and only then would I allow them to hold office of any kind. But it is wishful thinking as well as longing for more Vetinaris and Sam Vimeses in the world.
In "Jingo" Terry Pratchett is actually waging a bitter and deeply sad one-man war against nationalism, racism, religious fundamentalism, territorialism and all kinds of nasty-ISMS invented by men and he does it the way he knows best: by making you laugh out loud and think! And there is no better way to do it, in my book anyway....more
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