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tangleroot_eli's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
This book does have some fun moments. We get our first introduction to Archchancellor Ridcully and Ponder Stibbons. Gaspode the Wonder Dog is a darned delight. And that climactic scene is pretty edge-of-your-seat.
Still. My favorite Discworld books are the ones where Pratchett brings his keen perceptions and sharp humor to shared human concerns. "Everything in Hollywood is fake and trolls are stupid" proved to be a very thin frame to hang a book off.
Still. My favorite Discworld books are the ones where Pratchett brings his keen perceptions and sharp humor to shared human concerns. "Everything in Hollywood is fake and trolls are stupid" proved to be a very thin frame to hang a book off.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Sexism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Fatphobia, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
Minor: Saneism, Questionable consenttheaceofpages's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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? No
4.5
" You know what the greatest tragedy is in the whole world?... It's all the people who never find out what it is they really want to do or what it is they're really good at. It's all the sons who become blacksmiths because their fathers were blacksmiths. It's all the people who could be really fantastic flute players who grow old and die without ever seeing a musical instrument, so they become bad plowmen instead. It's all the people with talents who never even find out. Maybe they are never even born in a time when it's even possible to find out. It's all the people who never get to know what it is that they can really be. It's all the wasted chances. "
I always enjoy Pratchett's books that are clearly set in a Discworld equivalent of a real Earth place. In this case, Hollywood. People and animals alike ae being drawn out into the desert and don't know why until they get there - get to Holy Wood. The alchemists discovered how to make moving pictures and moved out there to get away from the ever judgmental wizards (although one of them ends u becoming one of their biggest stars). I enjoyed all the references to popular classic movies and the commentary on the movie making process. With all of Pratchett's signature chaos, randomness and puns of course. I loved all the cut throat competition, crazy ideas and general weirdness of it all. With the mysterious darkness lurking underneath. And I loved seeing more of Cut Me Own Throat Dibbler and his manipulativeness. I loved getting to see his ambition and how his mind works a bit after so many appearances in previous books. And of course the ever present flawed reasoning and somehow exceptionally functional some of the time reasoning of the wizards in the background.
If you like movies, movie humour or just a crazy weird ride of the book this is definitely worth a read or listen. This is a standalone book in the Discworld series. While we do see previous characters, you can enjoy this book without knowing anything about them.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia, Sexism, and Fire/Fire injury
woweewhoa's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual harassment, and War
Minor: Animal death and Incest