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4.3 AVERAGE
4.3 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, War
challenging
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-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
ridiculously found of this ragtag band of misfits and their morally grey jolly faced leader who would kill without a second thought
adventurous
dark
funny
sad
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
This book was newly published when I first started reading Discworld eighteen years ago. I wanted to read it right then but, because I am me, I decided to wait until I could read it in order. Literally half my life later, I made it! And honestly, I'm kind of glad I waited. Eighteen year old me was smart, but I appreciate it more now than I think I would have then. This one has instantly made my top five Discworld books, right up there with a bunch of City Watch books, and Hogfather.
What we've got here is an anti-war book that simultaneously criticizes the pointlessness of nationalism and patriotism, and adherence to gender norms. The central gag. Pratchett keeps it going for the whole novel, and it gets funnier as it goes.
I am not smart enough to write about this series in depth, and I'm most definitely not funny enough. Terry Pratchett was a genius, so I hope you'll forgive me for just filling up the rest of this review space with quotes.
What we've got here is an anti-war book that simultaneously criticizes the pointlessness of nationalism and patriotism, and adherence to gender norms. The central gag
Spoiler
that not only is our main character Polly Perks a girl dressed up as a boy so she can fight, but that her entire squadron are also girls dressed up as boys, as is her commander, and eventually we learn that so are all the leaders, never gets oldI am not smart enough to write about this series in depth, and I'm most definitely not funny enough. Terry Pratchett was a genius, so I hope you'll forgive me for just filling up the rest of this review space with quotes.
“The purpose of this lectchoor is to let you know where we are. We are in the deep cack. It couldn't be worse if it was raining arseholes. Any questions?”
“You take a bunch of people who don't seem any different from you and me, but when you add them all together you get this sort of huge raving maniac with national borders and an anthem.”
“I want to eat chocolates in a great big room where the world is a different place.”
"Trousers. That's the secret. Trousers and a pair of socks. I never dreamed it was like this. Put on trousers and the world changes. We walk different. We act different. I see these girls and I think: Idiots, get yourself some trousers!"
"'What does Borogravia want? Not the country. I mean the people.'
Polly opened her mouth and then shut it again, and thought about the answer.
'To be left alone,' she said. 'By everybody. For a while, anyway. We can change things.'
'You'll accept the food?'
'We are a proud country.'
'What are you proud of?'
It came swiftly, like a blow, and Polly realized how wars happened. You took that shock that had run through her, and let it boil.
. . . it may be corrupt, benighted, and stupid, but it's ours . . .
Vimes was watching her face. 'From this desk here,' he said, 'the only thing your country has to be proud of right now is you women.'"
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
medium-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
I'd heard a lot of good things about this one and I mostly enjoyed it. I listened to the new audiobook narrated by Katherine Parkinson while reading along and that was a fun experience. It's very different to the other Discworld books I've read because it's a fairly realistic war novel. It's more full on than Pratchett's usual comic Ankh-Morpork violence. I grew quite attached to the main characters and thought the commentary on gender was insightful for a book from 2003. I also enjoyed the appearance of Vimes. I found the plot didn't always hold my attention but it was maybe just a little too long for me since war novels aren't really my genre.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes