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mikimeiko's review
4.0
I don't like football. I think this is not a mistery for anyone who knows me. But!, when is Pratchett we're talking about, then everything is <3
Characters are good as usual, even if at certain times they seem a bit stereotypical, and there's much more romance than in the usual discworld book, but it still works, and the books manages to make you think and laugh as good humor should.
Characters are good as usual, even if at certain times they seem a bit stereotypical, and there's much more romance than in the usual discworld book, but it still works, and the books manages to make you think and laugh as good humor should.
mehitabels's review against another edition
4.0
as per usual, with Sir Pratchett, what I didn't think impressed me the first time around, triple impressed me the second.
dantastic's review against another edition
3.0
Football (soccer to Americans like myself) is all the rage in Ankh-Morpork and Vetinari, the Patrician, has given Unseen University the duty of refining it from a street game to an organized event. Only some people don't want it organized. Can the Unseen Academicals, with Trevor Likely and the mysterious Mister Nutt, overcome football's rowdiest hooligans?
The thing about Terry Pratchett is that while his stories take place in a fantasy world, they are about real world events and concepts. This one speaks about stereotypes, prejudices, the fashion industry, and sports as religion. The romance between Trevor and Juliet is an obvious sendup of Romeo and Juliet, except that they're fans of opposing football teams.
The story itself is pretty funny. Lots of one-liners and wordplay. I spotted a P.G. Wodehouse reference that I wouldn't have gotten the last time I read a Pratchett book. The wizards are a funny bunch. The story of Mr. Nutt was well done, as was the modelling subplot. I hate to admit it but slight goosebumps arose when Trever Likely stepped up.
While I wouldn't say this is one of my favorite Discworld book, it's definitely worth a read.
The thing about Terry Pratchett is that while his stories take place in a fantasy world, they are about real world events and concepts. This one speaks about stereotypes, prejudices, the fashion industry, and sports as religion. The romance between Trevor and Juliet is an obvious sendup of Romeo and Juliet, except that they're fans of opposing football teams.
The story itself is pretty funny. Lots of one-liners and wordplay. I spotted a P.G. Wodehouse reference that I wouldn't have gotten the last time I read a Pratchett book. The wizards are a funny bunch. The story of Mr. Nutt was well done, as was the modelling subplot. I hate to admit it but slight goosebumps arose when Trever Likely stepped up.
While I wouldn't say this is one of my favorite Discworld book, it's definitely worth a read.
blairconrad's review against another edition
4.0
Very good. I was put off at first by the presence of the wizards (for some reason, the wizard books tend to leave me flatter than most of the others, say the guards or witches), but there was less wizardly focus than I'd feared. A fair number of new characters introduced here - some interesting and some slightly less so.
Still, I really enjoyed the way Pratchett dealt with the arrival of organized football ("soccer") in Ankh-Morkpork. The inter-team rivalry felt authentic, and dovetailed nicely with the Shakespearean themes in the book.
Add to all this a number of chuckle-out-loud moments (charisntma!) and continually referring to the stadium as The Hippo, and we have ourselves a book.
Still, I really enjoyed the way Pratchett dealt with the arrival of organized football ("soccer") in Ankh-Morkpork. The inter-team rivalry felt authentic, and dovetailed nicely with the Shakespearean themes in the book.
Add to all this a number of chuckle-out-loud moments (charisntma!) and continually referring to the stadium as The Hippo, and we have ourselves a book.
ketchikrista's review against another edition
5.0
Terry Pratchett is a genius and never ceases to amaze me. This book was delightful and light just where I needed it.
margyly's review against another edition
4.0
Word is that Terry Pratchett has Alzheimers, and knows it, and that our Discworld days are numbered. So sad.
dozylocal's review against another edition
2.0
Terry Pratchett is never bad, but I didn't enjoy this one (except perhaps towards the end) as much as I have some of his others. I suspect it's because I'm not that into football, so a lot of the funny stuff probably went over my head. There was still enough funny stuff to keep me giggling. There always is when The Librarian is around. I enjoyed Glenda and Nutt as new characters.