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icarusabides's reviews
574 reviews
Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett
The witches are back and this time the trio of Granny, Nanny Ogg, and Magrat are on a road trip, erm broom trip?, to the far off City of Genua where there may or may not be some meddling to be done as someone is manipulating stories for their own end. This installment in the Witches series focuses on various different traditional fairytales, all of which are depicted in typically Pratchett-ian fashion.
I've always enjoyed Witches Abroad more compared to the previous two entries in the series but it may now simply be my favourite Discworld book. The writing is simply better than Equal Rites, Granny actually feels like Granny, and the ideas are executed better. Those things are also true of Wyrd Sisters but the twist on fairytales in Witches Abroad works much better for me than that the take on Shakespeare from Wyrd Sisters.
It's a book about stories, the nature and power of them. The ending itself is well earned and Pratchett brings everything together well but it's the journey that really makes this book. The trio of witches travelling across foreign lands and their reactions to encountering the various people, cultures, cuisine, and banana infused rum drinks they contain is wonderfully entertaining. Nanny Ogg is on some of her best form, she's utterly hilarious throughout, and then there's Greebo who is just an absolute delight throughout the whole book with the incident with the 'bat' being a particular highlight
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
"You can't go around building a better world for people. Only people can build a better world for people. Otherwise it's just a cage. Besides you don't build a better world by choppin' heads off and giving decent girls away to frogs."
The witches are back and this time the trio of Granny, Nanny Ogg, and Magrat are on a road trip, erm broom trip?, to the far off City of Genua where there may or may not be some meddling to be done as someone is manipulating stories for their own end. This installment in the Witches series focuses on various different traditional fairytales, all of which are depicted in typically Pratchett-ian fashion.
I've always enjoyed Witches Abroad more compared to the previous two entries in the series but it may now simply be my favourite Discworld book. The writing is simply better than Equal Rites, Granny actually feels like Granny, and the ideas are executed better. Those things are also true of Wyrd Sisters but the twist on fairytales in Witches Abroad works much better for me than that the take on Shakespeare from Wyrd Sisters.
"Cats gravitate to kitchens like rocks gravitate to gravity.".
It's a book about stories, the nature and power of them. The ending itself is well earned and Pratchett brings everything together well but it's the journey that really makes this book. The trio of witches travelling across foreign lands and their reactions to encountering the various people, cultures, cuisine, and banana infused rum drinks they contain is wonderfully entertaining. Nanny Ogg is on some of her best form, she's utterly hilarious throughout, and then there's Greebo who is just an absolute delight throughout the whole book with the incident with the 'bat' being a particular highlight
Maskerade by Terry Pratchett
Three is a good number when it comes to Witches because as the book itself says:
However, that said, two is also a pretty entertaining number when it comes to Witches because those arguments and squabble between Granny and Nanny Ogg make for a rather hilarious double act throughout this book.
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I know next to nothing about Opera so perhaps I'm not getting everything I could out of this book but despite my lacking knowledge in this area I still had a fantastic time with this book. The plot works regardless and the Witches are just on incredible form, especially Nanny Ogg who is capable of stealing each and every scene she's even remotely close to.
There's a good supporting cast to the Witches as well with Greebo along for the ride once more, a few cameos from The Watch as they prop up the odd wall here and there, and of course Walter Plinge the amiable outsider who's genial nature and unconventional form leads unfortunately to ostracision and suspicion.
Agnes is an interesting character to explore as, quite like Walter, she's something of an unfortunate outsider wherever she goes and her determination to push against the inexorable pull of her supposed future as a Witch because she sees this as cementing that lonely outsider status is fascinating. It's also pretty understandable to be annoyed by Granny's complete, and usually correct, belief that you'll do what she says eventually.
There's a good supporting cast to the Witches as well with Greebo along for the ride once more, a few cameos from The Watch as they prop up the odd wall here and there, and of course Walter Plinge the amiable outsider who's genial nature and unconventional form leads unfortunately to ostracision and suspicion.
Agnes is an interesting character to explore as, quite like Walter, she's something of an unfortunate outsider wherever she goes and her determination to push against the inexorable pull of her supposed future as a Witch because she sees this as cementing that lonely outsider status is fascinating. It's also pretty understandable to be annoyed by Granny's complete, and usually correct, belief that you'll do what she says eventually.
“Granny really couldn't be having at all with Nanny Ogg, who was her best friend.”
Three is a good number when it comes to Witches because as the book itself says:
"You needed at least three witches for a coven. Two witches was just an argument."
However, that said, two is also a pretty entertaining number when it comes to Witches because those arguments and squabble between Granny and Nanny Ogg make for a rather hilarious double act throughout this book.
"Gytha,” she said, “this is me askin’ you this. Is there any page in this book, is there any single recipe, which does not in some way relate to . . . goings-on?” Nanny Ogg, her face red as her apples, seemed to give this some lengthy consideration. “Porridge,” she said, eventually. “Really?” “Yes. Er. No, I tell a lie, it’s got my special honey mixture in it.” Granny turned a page. “What about this one? Maids of Honor?” “Weeelll, they starts out as Maids of Honor,” said Nanny, fidgeting with her feet, “but they ends up Tarts.” Granny looked at the front cover again. The Joye of Snacks."
Interesting Times by Terry Pratchett
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It seems people either love the Rincewind books or loathe them, mostly loathe it seem. As Discworld books they're usually not the most sophisticated and they tend not to tackle more of the bigger satirical angles like the Guards series does etc and that's because they're quite old school adventure romps with Rincewind used as the gateway to various parts of the Discworld not seen before. I love them though and find Rincewind, arch coward and the Discs most reluctant traveler, to be rather endearing. This time around his unwilling adventure takes him all the way to the Counterweight Continent and the Agatean Empire.
Along the way he meets up again with an old friend in Cohen the Barbarian as the ultimate coward meats the ultimate hero, perhaps playing fast and loose with the term hero but he's the opposite of Rincewind nevertheless and this brings a lot of humour and a lovely balance to the book. Something something counterweight hurr hurr.
There is, however, a really poor caricatured view of Asian culture that seems like it was in there originally to poke fun at stereotypical racist Western views of the culture but pushes it so far and uses such low hanging gags as Two Little Wang or the Chow cuisine etc that it's really quite disappointing and no longer clear who the gags are aimed at. It's a real shame too because the rest of Interesting Times is a lot of fun especially seeing the ex-Teacher Saveloy attempting to civilise Cohens horde of venerable Barbarians.
Along the way he meets up again with an old friend in Cohen the Barbarian as the ultimate coward meats the ultimate hero, perhaps playing fast and loose with the term hero but he's the opposite of Rincewind nevertheless and this brings a lot of humour and a lovely balance to the book. Something something counterweight hurr hurr.
There is, however, a really poor caricatured view of Asian culture that seems like it was in there originally to poke fun at stereotypical racist Western views of the culture but pushes it so far and uses such low hanging gags as Two Little Wang or the Chow cuisine etc that it's really quite disappointing and no longer clear who the gags are aimed at. It's a real shame too because the rest of Interesting Times is a lot of fun especially seeing the ex-Teacher Saveloy attempting to civilise Cohens horde of venerable Barbarians.
Soul Music by Terry Pratchett
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
A solid enough entry in the Discworld series but not one of the very best. Soul Music is something of a rehashing of previous books with the plots of Mort, Reaper Man, and Moving Pictures combined. Once more Death is off exploring another aspect of humanity which leaves a void to be filled by Susan as others have done previously in Mort and Reaper Man while the rest of the plot is tied up in the idea of Rock Music invading the Discworld much as the film industry did in Moving Pictures. There's even Dibbler heavily involved in the production and extraction of money from pockets on an industrial scale once more.
It riffs (hurr hurr) very heavily on the rock music angle with references galore and puns packed throughout the book which means mileage will vary depending on how much an individual cares about the rock and roll. Overall it was interesting, funny, and fast paced but there's no denying that I found Death, Susan, and the Death of Rats far more interesting than any of the main musical plot which while enjoyable enough did feel like Moving Pictures 2.0 but with more refinement and better jokes.
It riffs (hurr hurr) very heavily on the rock music angle with references galore and puns packed throughout the book which means mileage will vary depending on how much an individual cares about the rock and roll. Overall it was interesting, funny, and fast paced but there's no denying that I found Death, Susan, and the Death of Rats far more interesting than any of the main musical plot which while enjoyable enough did feel like Moving Pictures 2.0 but with more refinement and better jokes.
Men at Arms by Terry Pratchett
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
There's a slight Citizens On Patrol vibe to Men At Arms what with Cuddy the Dwarf, Detritus the Troll, and Angua the W... joining the Watch and the reactions of not only the Watch but their own communities to this move.
Carrot really comes to the fore in Men At Arms what with Vimes impending retirement and it's interesting to see how he steps into lead in his own unique way, what with the majority of the Watch more than happy to shirk responsibility where possible. The Angua and Gaspode angle was decent but felt a little disconnected but the rather sweet relationship formed between Detritus and Cuddy after their initial hostility is very enjoyable.
It definitely suffers from having to juggle a lot of characters, including many new ones. The first Guards book, Guards Guards, had to carry introducing Vimes, Carrot, Nobby, and Colon and although Men At Arms builds on those characters it also has to introduce Detritus, Cuddy, and Angua to the series while also juggling the main plot of the book and throwing in side characters such as Gaspode, Vetinari, Lady Sybil, and Edward.
Carrot really comes to the fore in Men At Arms what with Vimes impending retirement and it's interesting to see how he steps into lead in his own unique way, what with the majority of the Watch more than happy to shirk responsibility where possible. The Angua and Gaspode angle was decent but felt a little disconnected but the rather sweet relationship formed between Detritus and Cuddy after their initial hostility is very enjoyable.
It definitely suffers from having to juggle a lot of characters, including many new ones. The first Guards book, Guards Guards, had to carry introducing Vimes, Carrot, Nobby, and Colon and although Men At Arms builds on those characters it also has to introduce Detritus, Cuddy, and Angua to the series while also juggling the main plot of the book and throwing in side characters such as Gaspode, Vetinari, Lady Sybil, and Edward.
Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The second entry in the Witches series is a far more polished work on the whole than Equal Rites and the first of the sub-series to really feel like a Witches book. This is especially true in the case of the characters who have come a long way in the short period of time since Equal Rites, they're far more rounded and real here which is something that's most notable in the case of Granny Weatherwax.
Alone Granny Weatherwax is a truly wonderful character but when in a trio alongside the brilliantly irreverent Nanny Ogg and the endearing Magrat they really do shine, it's a fantastic dynamic and any time the three of them are interacting in a scene is fantastic.
The book riffs a hell of a lot on the works of Shakespeare, mostly Hamlet and Macbeth, as later Witches book will in turn riff on fairytale stories and mythology and it does so well but mileage will definitely vary as a result. It's a book that will simply work better for those with a deeper appreciation kg Shakespeare. That's probably why Witches Abroad works better for me personally but Wyrd Sisters is still very enjoyable all the same for its characters and the core message of how the power of story can shape a world, and its history, more so than anything.
Alone Granny Weatherwax is a truly wonderful character but when in a trio alongside the brilliantly irreverent Nanny Ogg and the endearing Magrat they really do shine, it's a fantastic dynamic and any time the three of them are interacting in a scene is fantastic.
The book riffs a hell of a lot on the works of Shakespeare, mostly Hamlet and Macbeth, as later Witches book will in turn riff on fairytale stories and mythology and it does so well but mileage will definitely vary as a result. It's a book that will simply work better for those with a deeper appreciation kg Shakespeare. That's probably why Witches Abroad works better for me personally but Wyrd Sisters is still very enjoyable all the same for its characters and the core message of how the power of story can shape a world, and its history, more so than anything.
My Evil Mother by Margaret Atwood
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Ah the age old story for rebellious and resentful children the world over who are told it'll be different when you have your own, with a core of deniable but equally possible witchcraft running through it.
As a short story it covers a lot of ground for the main character which is admirable enough but it would probably have worked better had the protagonist been more likeable rather than someone simply dismissing their own mother as crazy before then turning round and using similar manipulation to control their own child.
As a short story it covers a lot of ground for the main character which is admirable enough but it would probably have worked better had the protagonist been more likeable rather than someone simply dismissing their own mother as crazy before then turning round and using similar manipulation to control their own child.
Casino Royale by Ian Fleming
The plot is a rather low stakes affair on the whole with Bond being sent to scuttle an enemy agents plans to money he'd previously squandered before his own people find out. There's a little bit of excitement, action, and a drawn out torture scene before a rather listless final third in which Bond recuperates with his ever more erratic seeming companion.
Other than that it's pretty much a full house of racism, sexism, chauvinism, and anti-semitism which may be explained, perhaps, by the era it was written in but it certainly doesn't excuse it.
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Slower paced initially than I'd been expecting, much like a le Carré Smiley novel but without the engrossing prose and compelling plot to keep the reader engaged. Instead there's rather a lot about the rules of Baccarat and the numbers of cards being drawn each round which put me in mind of Arnold Rimmer reliving his decades old Risk dice throws and manoeuvres.
"Then there was this pest of a girl. He sighed. Women were for recreation, on a job they got in the way and fogged things up with sex and hurt feelings and all the emotional baggage they carried around. One had to look out for them and take care of them, bitch. "
The plot is a rather low stakes affair on the whole with Bond being sent to scuttle an enemy agents plans to money he'd previously squandered before his own people find out. There's a little bit of excitement, action, and a drawn out torture scene before a rather listless final third in which Bond recuperates with his ever more erratic seeming companion.
"The conquest of her body, because of the central privacy in her, would each time have the sweet tang of rape"
Other than that it's pretty much a full house of racism, sexism, chauvinism, and anti-semitism which may be explained, perhaps, by the era it was written in but it certainly doesn't excuse it.
Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett
The characters are interesting certainly but not quite there yet, especially in the case of Granny Weatherwax who is something of a Proto-Granny here, the shape is there but there's still some marble needs chiselling away to really find her. That and the lack of Nanny Ogg to act as her counterweight leaves things feeling a little unbalanced too.
Esk is a nice character with plenty of potential but the book doesn't quite take the time to give her the depth she really needs which is a shame because the idea was sound.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Equal Rites is a solid early outing into the Discworld containing a lot of the building blocks that will become core elements of a Witches book but as yet without the refinement that will progress it from solid to truly great, ala Witches Abroad.
It provides a good early contrast of the differences between Witches and Wizards in the series, Headology vs Fireballs as it were, and coming as it does on the back of two Rincewind books it works quite well in that regard. It's got the usual Pratchett wit sprinkled throughout but the overarching story of a young girl finding herself split between the worlds of Witching and Wizarding does get quite sidetracked in the end by a sort of cosmic big bad that helps to resolve the plot a little inelegantly.
It provides a good early contrast of the differences between Witches and Wizards in the series, Headology vs Fireballs as it were, and coming as it does on the back of two Rincewind books it works quite well in that regard. It's got the usual Pratchett wit sprinkled throughout but the overarching story of a young girl finding herself split between the worlds of Witching and Wizarding does get quite sidetracked in the end by a sort of cosmic big bad that helps to resolve the plot a little inelegantly.
'They're both magic. If you can't learn to ride an elephant, you can at least learn to ride a horse.'
'What's an elephant?'
'A kind of badger,' said Granny. She hadn't maintained forest-credibility for forty years by ever admitting ignorance.'
The characters are interesting certainly but not quite there yet, especially in the case of Granny Weatherwax who is something of a Proto-Granny here, the shape is there but there's still some marble needs chiselling away to really find her. That and the lack of Nanny Ogg to act as her counterweight leaves things feeling a little unbalanced too.
"Granny, meanwhile, was two streets away. She was also, by the standards of other people, lost. She would not see it like that. She knew where she was, it was just that everywhere else didn't."
Esk is a nice character with plenty of potential but the book doesn't quite take the time to give her the depth she really needs which is a shame because the idea was sound.
Slow Horses by Mick Herron
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Very enjoyable spy thriller with its own sense of style to it and its this style of writing which is probably the main strength of the book, it's quite unique and makes the whole thing feel fresh and snappy.
Unfortunately, the downside to this prose style is that it makes all the point of view characters, and there are a fair few, feel like they're written with the same voice. Each of them, of course, has their own issues and viewpoints but the authors punchy analytical style of writing is present in them all which feels odd. Characters like Lamb should stand out in how they think and perceive the world to characters like Ho and River but you could read a paragraph from any characters internal monologue and confuse it easily for another.
The plot itself is pretty solid, a tight little mystery plot that resolves well and has a few misdirections that are played quite well. There is an annoying tendency however to routinely dump a characters backstory in one go that feels inelegant and unnatural, especially during an early chapter that did so with four or five different characters which became rather draining.
Unfortunately, the downside to this prose style is that it makes all the point of view characters, and there are a fair few, feel like they're written with the same voice. Each of them, of course, has their own issues and viewpoints but the authors punchy analytical style of writing is present in them all which feels odd. Characters like Lamb should stand out in how they think and perceive the world to characters like Ho and River but you could read a paragraph from any characters internal monologue and confuse it easily for another.
The plot itself is pretty solid, a tight little mystery plot that resolves well and has a few misdirections that are played quite well. There is an annoying tendency however to routinely dump a characters backstory in one go that feels inelegant and unnatural, especially during an early chapter that did so with four or five different characters which became rather draining.