A fun story about a little boy who is obsessed with poo. He gets to go the zoo, the plumber's guild, and the local sewage station. I do not know if kiA fun story about a little boy who is obsessed with poo. He gets to go the zoo, the plumber's guild, and the local sewage station. I do not know if kids would enjoy the book, but I certainly did. In spite of its title, it is reminiscent of Mary Poppins, rather than Winnie-the-Pooh. The illustrations are delightful.
I was left with one question--who is his grandmother? She is a very formidable woman....more
Terry Pratchett is my favorite author. Usually his books are based on an idea (like surviving your parents) or an object to satire (like Hollywood movTerry Pratchett is my favorite author. Usually his books are based on an idea (like surviving your parents) or an object to satire (like Hollywood movies or Australia). His books usually have strong believable characters and while they can be page-turners, his writing style is more relaxed.
Lately, Pratchett has moved away from these closely observed characters, and more towards epics. His characters has become less human, and more like super heroes. Raising Steam is his stab at the Odyssey. He hasn't given up observation, as there are interesting little vignettes throughout the book, but his characters are no longer flesh and blood. The writing style is somehow both anxious and biblical.
All in all, worth admiring, but not my cup of tea. (view spoiler)[ My one real complaint with the books is the "clean up your act" speech. I don't think King was being sloppy, it was just that nobody had forseen this type of accident. Also, is deWorde married to Sacharissa or not? Either there was some sloppy writing, or they are no longer together. (hide spoiler)]...more
I just reread this book after rereading "The Truth." It is tremendous fun, with lessons in economics and humanity along the way. I wish my father coulI just reread this book after rereading "The Truth." It is tremendous fun, with lessons in economics and humanity along the way. I wish my father could have lived to read this book, as he loved "Going Postal."
We get to see Sacharissa Crisplock continue growing from a proper lady into someone who was "That kind of fun. A bit like juggling knives (p 105)." We meet Topsy Lavish (also fun), a nonagenarian former show girl who lives on gin, and her nephew Hubert, who accidentally builds an economic model that can influence the real world!
I found the romantic subplot unusual for Pratchett. In most of his books, finding love is enough, especially if s/he can share in your life's work. Carrot and Angua are unmarried, and William de Worde and Sacharissa seem content with their (unmarried) status quo. Spike and Moist have found each other, but Spike has her own (obsessive) career and is often gone on the road. Moist won't be fully happy until they have tied the knot. (view spoiler)[ I particularly enjoyed what happened when they accidentally discovered the former bank president's cabinet of "toys." The whole horseradish metaphor is lovely. And of course Spike eats horseradish sandwiches. (hide spoiler)]
Why four instead of five stars? The writing is a lot looser, and the comedy is broader than in "The Truth." After all, "Making Money" is about Moist Lipwig, a (reformed?) former con man. "The Truth" is about a former aristocrat who becomes a mildly pompous journalist. Moist's plays it fast and loose, and thinks "William de Worde, who was almost certainly the same age as Moist but wrote editorials that suggested his bums was stuffed with tweed" (p 147). William does things almost as dangerous and out there as Moist, but he protects himself with his buttoned-up propriety.
I have chosen to spend my life surrounded by Williams and Sacharissas, rather than Moists and Spikes. The broad comedy and loose writing of "Making Money" doesn't appeal to me as much, even though it is a rip-roaring good time. Lastly, (view spoiler)[ I do have some qualms about Mr. Bent being let off without some extra drama. Was he really "forced" to run crooked books for Sir Joshua Lavish? I understand his psychological issues kept him at the bank, but I don't know if that is a proper excuse in the eyes of the law. In the eyes of the farce at the end of the book, maybe, but not to the outside world. Pratchett may have just been feeling generous. After all, the bad guy does get to experience "the happiest day of his life" on the last page of the book. (hide spoiler)]...more
I read this years ago and enjoyed the humor. I reread it and, this time, the characters came alive. William de Worde is the son of an (abusive, arrogaI read this years ago and enjoyed the humor. I reread it and, this time, the characters came alive. William de Worde is the son of an (abusive, arrogant, etc. ) autocratic nobleman (view spoiler)[ who has at least one redeeming quality (hide spoiler)] who believes he was born to lead. William rebels and wanders aimlessly until his fate finds him--he discovers (with the help of a Dwarf printer) newspapers, and that he is meant to be a newspaper man.
He is such a rich character--and not just because he doesn't understand the value of a dollar. He is haunted by his father, trying not to be him, while becoming more and more like (a better version of) him. He has a way with words, except with the woman he has no idea he wants. His hires a photo enthusiast (no longer blood sucking) vampire out of pity, who takes a shine to William because he sees William fighting off his past just like him, but without the help of cocoa and temperance meetings.
He emerges with still a long way to grow, but so much kinder than one imagined (view spoiler)[ He used his accumulated power with Ventinari to help Mrs. King and her daughters. While this certainly cemented his relationship with Mr. King, and got him to push people around, it was such a nice way to do it (hide spoiler)]....more
**spoiler alert** My take on "Snuff" is colored by my personal life. My mother is an expert on transnational crime and corruption. Her most recent boo**spoiler alert** My take on "Snuff" is colored by my personal life. My mother is an expert on transnational crime and corruption. Her most recent book is on human trafficking. I have read a lot about how "Snuff" is about work camps or the Holocaust or any one of many other human tragedies, but the plot in "Snuff" is straight-up international human trafficking. Unfortunately, events like this happen ALL THE TIME. There are trafficking victims in sweatshops and in fields in our own countries, and it is amazing how people are able to dehumanize the victims. People might find the debate between Vimes and Vetinari disturbing, but it reflects what happened in the round world. There were lots of debates on how to fight human trafficking because the laws did not allow cops to do what was necessary. When trafficking flared up after the collapse of the Soviet Union, our laws were out of date. Agents had to use "white slavery" laws from the 1800s. Some people think Terry Pratchett's writing has gotten less focused, but everything about the book rang true to me.
It was interesting to see Sam Vimes' domestic life. We had seen hints, but we had not seen the day-to-day interactions between Vimes and Lady Sybil. I had noticed that Pratchett has become less circumspect about love recently; there is even a dirty joke. The last line of the book is priceless and I wish I could read Jane's novel.
The one way in which I feel Pratchett's diagnosis might affect the novel is that he seems to be tidying loose ends. The only unresolved major plots all involve Carrot. ...more
When I was young, my mother was very disturbed that in second grade, I was still reading picture books rather than chapter books. My father read my brWhen I was young, my mother was very disturbed that in second grade, I was still reading picture books rather than chapter books. My father read my brother and I part of a chapter book every night, and I liked pictures. I was pressured away from picture books, only to become an art history(and math) major in college. Sometimes, kids do know what is best for them. I do, however, now LOVE chapter books. Reading is one of my great joys in life, especially reading Terry Pratchett books. So imagine my delight at a Terry Pratchett picture book, illustrated by the incredible Paul Kidby! While his visions of Terry's characters don't always match mine(the Sam Vimes in "Where's my cow?" is closer to my mental image), he is an excellent artist. Sometimes, he paints a person or place and I just go "wow"! The Librarian, Vetinari, Death, Granny Weatherwax, Mr. Wuffles, Detritus, Rincewind, Mustrum Ridcully, Carrot, Nobby Nobbs--all rendered perfectly alive. I wish there had been more pictures of Lady Sybil and Agnes Nitt. To make it even better, Terry gives his commentary on each picture, including how he thinks the characters should look....more
My fiance gave me this book for Christmas. I repeatedly opened it, read the first couple pages, and then put it down. This was not because I didn't liMy fiance gave me this book for Christmas. I repeatedly opened it, read the first couple pages, and then put it down. This was not because I didn't like it; it was because if I read it, then it would end. Unfortunately, this time I could not put it down and read until dawn. Oops.
"Unseen Academicals" is one of the funniest Pratchett books in years, but it still contains the social commentary we have come to expect. The book covers the lives of four workers at the Unseen University. Being protagonists, they turn out to have abilities far beyond their station. Pratchett focuses on one of them, Glenda, a night cook, to examine class in Great Britain. He has already touched on the subject(until Glenda, I thought thoroughly examined) with Sam Vimes. Supportive and suffocating, kind and cruel, he shows how the community can tear down its best for standing out, but also be accepting and kind.
My one problem with "Unseen Academicals" is that Lord Vetinari and Lady Margolotta do not seem to quite be themselves. He is talkative, he drinks, he seems to suddenly care about food, and his dialogue with Ridcully seems a little too spelled out. And since when does Ridcully think about love if Granny Weatherwax is not around? Knowing Pratchett's genius, this is probably character development which will be spelled out later. There are hints that this has to do with Vetinari having a "squeeze."
The scene with the colored candles by the side of the road is one of the most heartbreaking I have ever read. I am glad that Pratchett is not scared of tears in this touching novel....more
So what do you do if you have outlived your glory, but are as good as ever? If most of your friends have died, or gotten dementia? If you are still thSo what do you do if you have outlived your glory, but are as good as ever? If most of your friends have died, or gotten dementia? If you are still the world's greatest barbarian, even if you have to wear wool long underwear underneath your funny leather clothes? When you have proved yourself against the world, and only the gods are left?
A great story, fantastically enhanced by the illustrations, which are half the fun. After all, when it comes to elderly barbarians in long johns and S&M gear, isn't a picture worth a thousand words? ...more
This is a dense and weighty book that is full of meat to chew on. Sam Vimes, the Commander of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch, sets on to solve a crime anThis is a dense and weighty book that is full of meat to chew on. Sam Vimes, the Commander of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch, sets on to solve a crime and finds he needs to prevent war, or even possibly genocide. The book makes more sense on a second reading. A great book, but it lacks the clarity of Night Watch. Then again, it is supposed to. ...more
Terry Pratchett did it again; he wrote a Christmas classic about Death and a serial killer. Along the way, he deals with class issues, education, pagaTerry Pratchett did it again; he wrote a Christmas classic about Death and a serial killer. Along the way, he deals with class issues, education, pagan religion, and the mentally handicapped, all wrapped in a rollicking fun ride. I have given this to so many people as Christmas presents! ...more
A great book on defining yourself, instead of letting others define you. Should be required reading for all teenagers and anyone going through an idenA great book on defining yourself, instead of letting others define you. Should be required reading for all teenagers and anyone going through an identity crisis. ...more
In my mind, one of Terry Pratchett's masterpieces. Probably the best book in the Discworld series. A touching reflection on aging, youth, family, and In my mind, one of Terry Pratchett's masterpieces. Probably the best book in the Discworld series. A touching reflection on aging, youth, family, and loss, made all the better since it is Same Vimes doing the reflecting. I cried....more
I liked it, but my father LOVED it, which makes sense as he worked for the government. This is a great comedy about good government, which has extra rI liked it, but my father LOVED it, which makes sense as he worked for the government. This is a great comedy about good government, which has extra resonance in the post-Madoff era....more
Death gets fired and learns what it means to be human. As with Pratchett's best, beautiful and funny.Death gets fired and learns what it means to be human. As with Pratchett's best, beautiful and funny....more
A fun book about many, many things, including the foolishness of the idea of royalty. Very British. Introduces one of my favorite characters ever, SamA fun book about many, many things, including the foolishness of the idea of royalty. Very British. Introduces one of my favorite characters ever, Sam Vimes. Recommended as an introduction to the series, on its own merits, and as a precursor to "Men at Arms."...more
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