Book Review: Interesting Times

From Goodreads: MIGHTY BATTLES! REVOLUTION! DEATH! WAR! (AND HIS SONS TERROR AND PANIC, AND DAUGHTER CLANCY)
The oldest and most inscrutable empire on the Discworld is in turmoil, brought about by the revolutionary treatise What I did on My Holidays. Workers are uniting, with nothing to lose but their water buffaloes. Warlords are struggling for power. War (and Clancy) are spreading throughout the ancient cities.
And all that stands in the way of terrible doom for everyone is:
Rincewind the Wizard, who can't even spell the word 'wizard'...
Cohen the barbarian hero, five foot tall in his surgical sandals, who has had a lifetime's experience of not dying...
..and a very special butterfly.

Thoughts: With the recent passing of Terry Pratchett, it was impossible for me to not read one of his books. I really like this cartoon a Pratchett fan drew so thought a book that featured the luggage was particularly fitting.

Source: Asplenia Studios

Once again, Pratchett did not disappoint. A scheming warlord who wants to be Emperor, a band of ageing barbarians, Rincewind the wizard, the luggage and even a brief appearance by death towards the end. What more could you want from a Discworld novel? As always if you want to look beyond the bare basics of the novel, there is a lot of commentary about society and the silly way cultures have done and continue to do things simply because that's the way it's always to be done. Or you can just take it as a rolicking good read and find yourself sniggering at the funny bits on public transport!

Interesting Times gets 4 stars

 *        Did not like it
**       It was OK
***      Liked it
****    Really liked it
*****   It was amazing

Book Review: Soul Music

From Goodreads: Other children get given xylophones. Susan just had to ask her grandfather to take his vest off.
Yes. There's a Death in the family.
It's hard to grow up normally when Grandfather rides a white horse and wields a scythe – especially when you have to take over the family business, and everyone mistakes you for the Tooth Fairy.
And especially when you have to face the new and addictive music that has entered Discworld.
It's lawless. It changes people.
It's called Music With Rocks In.
It's got a beat and you can dance to it, but...
It's alive.
And it won't fade away.

Thoughts: We needed something to listen to on a recent 14 hour drive. It needed to be something that would engage hubby as he was the one driving, but also needed to be something I could listen to. The kids didn't matter - they were plugged into their own devices! Soul Music fit the bill perfectly.  Pratchett once again takes something you think you've got a pretty good handle on (Rock 'n' Roll) and turns in on it's head. The music puns flow thick and fast and you could end up in a competition to see who can "name that song" if you listen to it with someone else. Best of all you will laugh a bit, snigger a lot and just plain enjoy it.

Book Review: Men At Arms

From Goodreads:'Be a MAN in the City Watch! The City Watch needs MEN!'But what it's got includes Corporal Carrot (technically a dwarf), Lance-constable Cuddy (really a dwarf), Lance constable Detritus (a troll), Lance constable Angua (a woman... most of the time) and Corporal Nobbs (disqualified from the human race for shoving).
And they need all the help they can get. Because they've only got twenty-four hours to clean up the town and this is Ankh-Morpork we're talking about...

Thoughts: Ah Pratchett, when all else fails, there is Pratchett. I have finally started to drift into the territory of Pratchett's I haven't read before - don't ask me why I stop reading an author I so obviously love - I just did. Men at Arms focuses on the Night Watch, as they become a more professional outfit - going for a bit of representation of minority groups and actually attempting to solve crimes. However, there are people (including that Patrician and the head of most of the Guilds) who aren't so sure about these new fangled ideas. Once again though, good wins over evil (sort of) and everyone lives happily ever after (until the next time).

Challenges:  Ebook Challenge

Lords and Ladies

Lords and Ladies - Terry Pratchett

From Goodreads: It's a hot Midsummer Night. The crop circles are turning up everywhere-even on the mustard-and-cress of Pewseyy Ogg, aged four. And Magrat Garlick, witch, is going to be married in the morning...Everything ought to be going like a dream. But the Lancre All-Comers Morris Team have got drunk on a fairy mound and the elves have come back, bringing all those things traditionally associated with the magical, glittering realm of Faerie: cruelty, kidnapping, malice and evil, evil murder.* Granny Weatherwax and her tiny argumentative coven have really got their work cut out this time...With full supporting cast of dwarfs, wizards, trolls, Morris Dancers and one orang-utan. And lots of hey-nonny-nonny and blood all over the place.
 *But with tons of style.

What I Thought: Having finished the 6 books I bought on holidays, I turned to my kindle as I pondered my next read. Should I return to Les Miserables? Read the sequel to Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall? Try something completely unknown? Then my husband said Pratchett - Pratchett is perfect holiday reading. And he was right. (don't tell him, I don't want him getting ideas!)
Lords and Ladies sees a return to Lancure and the witches, Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat Garlick as the prepare for Magrats wedding to the king. But as usual, all is not well. The elves are trying to break through from their world to the Discworld. And despite everyting you've heard before - Elves are not nice!

Challenges: eBook Challenge

Moving Pictures

Title: Moving Pictures
Author: Terry Pratchett
Series: Discworld
Genre: Fantasy/ Comedy Fiction
Audience: Adult
Format: Kindle

From Goodreads: The alchemists of the Discworld have discovered the magic of the silver screen. But what is the dark secret of Holy Wood Hill? It’s up to Victor Tugelbend (“Can’t sing. Can’t dance. Can handle a sword a little”) and Theda Withel (“I come from a little town you’ve probably never heard of”) to find out.

What I thought: One of the things I love about Pratchett is his ability to take the ordinary and stand it completely on it's head!
In Moving Pictures Pratchett takes a swipe at the unreality of Hollywood - or Holy Wood. A place where dreams are made and broken. People from all over the disc are being drawn there for reasons they can't explain and the real question is who is controlling the actions. All done of course, with Pratchett's trademark humour. Love it!

Challenges: EBook Challenge

DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT IN ORDER TO WIN AN EBOOK COPY OF CONNIE CORCORAN WILSON'S HELLFIRE AND DAMNATION II!

Today tell me your favourite Hollywood Blockbuster!

Eric

Title: Eric
Author: Terry Pratchett
Series: Discworld
Genre: Fantasy/ Comedy Fiction
Audience: Adult
Format: Kindle

From Goodreads: Discworld's only demonology hacker, Eric, is about to make life very difficult for the rest of Ankh-Morpork's denizens. This would-be Faust is very bad--at his work, that is. Eric wants to fulfill three wishes: to live forever, to be master of the universe, and to have a hot babe. Instead of conjuring a demon, Eric brings forth a wizard whose incompetence is matched only by Eric's.
 
What I thought: Pratchett is my fall back guy. Don't know what to read? Go for a Pratchett! Pretty good fall back position I feel!
So Eric summons a demon...except the demon is not quite what he expected. In fact what he gets is the failed wizard Rincewind. So off they set to see if they can fulfil Eric's wishes - which they do...kind of. More laugh out loud funny.

Challenges: Ebook Challenge,

Guards! Guards!

Title: Guards! Guards!

Author: Terry Pratchett

Genre: Fiction
Audience: Adult
Format: Kindle

FromGoodreads: Here there be dragons...and the denizens of Ankh-Morpork wish one huge firebreather would return from whence it came. Long believed extinct, a superb specimen of "draco nobilis" ("noble dragon" for those who don't understand italics) has appeared in Discworld's greatest city. Not only does this unwelcome visitor have a nasty habit of charbroiling everything in its path, in rather short order it is crowned King (it is a "noble" dragon, after all...).

What I thought: One should not mess with dragons, it leads to no good! Guards! Guards! Is the first of Pratchett’s books to introduce The Night Watch, including Vimes, Carrot and Nobby. And once again it’s a wonderful light heart read, perfect for the break I needed from A SuitableBoy. As always Pratchett lightens my soul, cleanses my reading palette and gives a bloody good belly laugh. Perfect!

Challenges: eBook Challenge,

Pyramids

Title: Pyramids
Author: Terry Pratchett
Series: Discworld
Genre: Fantasy/ Comedy Fiction
Audience: Adult
Format: Kindle

From Goodreads: It's bad enough being new on the job, but Teppic hasn't a clue as to what a pharaoh is supposed to do. After all, he's been trained at Ankh-Morpork's famed assassins' school, across the sea from the Kingdom of the Sun. First, there's the monumental task of building a suitable resting place for Dad -- a pyramid to end all pyramids. Then there are the myriad administrative duties, such as dealing with mad priests, sacred crocodiles, and marching mummies. And to top it all off, the adolescent pharaoh discovers deceit, betrayal - not to mention a headstrong handmaiden - at the heart of his realm.

What I thought: Yep, another Pratchett! And to be honest, not one of my favourites. It took me a little while to get into this. Normally with Pratchett you can see where he is going, knowing he is not going to get there the way you think he will. In this, it seemed to take awhile to find the direction, but once he did, it picked up. Again, the every day is turned on it's head and given the Pratchett treatment of being ridiculed, twisted and generally laughed at. I'm also using this for my What's in a Name challenge for a type of house because the dead (undead??) pharaoh's lived (existed?) in them. Do you think I can get away with it??

Challenges: Ebook Challenge, What's in a Name Challenge

Wyrd Sisters

Title: Wyrd Sisters
Author: Terry Pratchett
Series: Discworld
Genre: Fantasy/ Comedy Fiction
Audience: Adult
Format: Kindle

From Goodreads: Meet Granny Weatherwax, the most highly regarded non-leader a coven of non-social witches could ever have. Generally, these loners don't get involved in anything, mush less royal intrigue. but then there are those times they can't help it. As Granny Weatherwax is about to discover, though, it's a lot harder to stir up trouble in the castle than some theatrical types would have you think. Even when you've got a few unexpected spells up your sleeve.

What I thought: Whenever I need a read that will guarantee I will laugh out loud, I turn to Pratchett. The man is pure genius! In Wyrd Sisters we get to meet three witches from the Ramtops. Granny Weatherwax, a woman who gets out of the way for no one or nothing (witches don't get out of the way, things get out of the way of them!), Nanny Ogg a witch who is the matriarch of a large clan (so many she's not even sure who they all are) and Magrat the youngest of the three who is trying (fairly unsuccessfully) modernise the coven. Throw in a murdered king, a hidden prince and a travelling theatre troupe and you've got a rollicking read.
It doesn't take long to realise Pratchett has drawn much inspiration (fodder?) from Shakespeare and half the fun of this book is recognising which plays are being sent up. I know this  isn't the last book that stars the witches and I can't wait for more!

Challenges: Ebook Challenge

Sourcery

Title: Sourcery
Author: Terry Pratchett
Series: Discworld
Genre: Fantasy/ Comedy Fiction
Audience: Adult
Format: Kindle

From Goodreads: There was an eighth son of an eighth son.  He was, quite naturally, a wizard.  And there it should have ended.  However (for reasons we'd better not go into), he had seven sons.  And then he had an eighth son...a wizard squared...a source of magic...a Sourcerer.
What I thought:  I love the wizards of the Disc World. A bunch of doddering men who's main focus is not being killed off by wizards below them! But when sourcery  comes to the disc, all hell breaks lose. Once again it's up to Rincewind and the luggage to save the world - a position Rincewind despairs to find himself in again. This is once again a classic Pratchett read. It further explores the realm of the Disc World. Pratchett's ability to play with words finds you laughing out loud frequently. Some of my favourite gems follow.



The subject of wizards and sex is a complicated one, but as has already been indicated it does, in essence, boil down to this: when it comes to wine, women and song, wizards are allowed to get drunk and croon as much as they like.


"I'm not going to ride on a magic carpet!" he hissed. "I'm afraid of grounds." "You mean heights," said Conina. "And stop being silly." "I know what I mean! It's the grounds that kill you!"


Challenges: Ebook Challenge

Mort

Title: Mort
Author: Terry Pratchett
Series: Discworld
Genre: Fantasy/ Comedy Fiction
Audience: Adult
Format: Kindle

From Goodreads: Death comes to us all.  When he came to Mort, he offered him a job.
After being assured that being dead was not compulsory, Mort accepted.  However, he soon found that romantic longings did not mix easily with the responsibilities of being Death's apprentice...

What I thought:  Death needs a break so he takes on an apprentice. No one can give Death more life than Pratchett. Mort is learning how to collect souls and what happens when he doesn't. Death meanwhile is off looking for himself and collecting cats. Throw in Death's old and very loyal servant, Alfred, his adopted daughter Ysabell and a princess that people are having trouble seeing and you get yet another classic, hilarious read.


Challenges: Ebook Challenge

The Light Fantastic

itle: The Light Fantastic
Author: Terry Pratchett
Series: Discworld
Genre: Fantasy/ Comedy Fiction
Audience: Adult
Format: Kindle

From Goodreads: As it moves towards a seemingly inevitable collision with a malevolent red star, the Discworld has only one possible saviour.  Unfortunately, this happens to be the singularly inept and cowardly wizard called Rincewind, who was last seen falling off the edge of the world...

What I thought:   Continuing on from where The Colour of Magic  left off, The Light Fantastic follows Rincewind and Twoflower as they attempt to save the world from a collision with a red star. Only problem is, neither of the know they are trying to save the world, they are simply trying to save themselves! Through in an aging barbarian, a bunch of wizards who are trying to catch Rincewind and another wizard hell bent on seizing power for himself and you have classic Prtachett!

Recommended for: lovers of quality fantasy and any who want a good laugh.

Challenges: 100+ Challenge, eBook Challenge