Reviews - La notte di Babbo Maiale

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La notte di Babbo Maiale by Terry Pratchett

2.58k reviews for:

This book came as somewhat of a disappointment as one of the first non-Tiffany Aching Pratchett books I’d read. I spent the first two thirds of the book frustrated by the interweaving plot threads among four or so characters, although I’m aware they may be less a fault of the book and more my dislike of fantasy as a genre. The humour at times felt unnecessary, heavy handed, and condescending, while at others it was charming and caused me to sharply exhale out of my nose. I think it depends on one’s tolerance for dad jokes at the time. Part of my dislike of that writing is rooted in annoyance with my younger self, and the superiority complex I adopted mirroring Pratchett’s witty ‘smarter than thou’ approach but again, that’s more of a personal reflection. The unfurling of the plot twist and ending were lovely, a striking observation of childhood monsters, humans imagination, and belief systems. I loved the philosophical discussion of gods and their existence, and the importance of culture and tradition, but I wish I had enjoyed the rest of the book as much, as opposed to waiting for the punchline.

penguinmacroni's review against another edition

3.75

funny reflective medium-paced

pippa_w's review against another edition

4.5

'Though here's a tip, though. Just "Ho. Ho. Ho," will do. Don’t say, "Cower, brief mortals" unless you want them to grow up to be moneylenders or some such.'
HO. HO. HO.

Okay. I totally get it now. This one tickled and touched me in all the ways I imagined a Discworld novel would before I ever read a Discworld novel.

Following through on my suspicion that the Death series really needed more Death, he is an absolute, nuanced delight. There is little I can draw on literature that I have enjoyed more than reading as the entity that literally divides souls from bodies experiences moral qualms about the Hogfather's inequality of gifts. The ways in which he triumphs, fails utterly, and is completely baffled are... every emotion rolled up into one, really.

Because Death and his many complexities receive more attention in this book, other characters who were more difficult to love in previous books are elevated. Susan meets her potential (helped by the surprisingly developed God of Hangovers), Albert is at his sardonic best, and the Unseen University crew is finally starting to grow on me (a bit like a fungus, but at least we're getting somewhere). Teatime is a fantastic, chaotic villain - the Joker energy is real as he very nearly destroys the Discworld equivalent of Christmas. And I think I'm in love with Hex the thinking machine, his entitlement to a letter to the Hogfather, and how he needs a mouse and his teddy bear to work?

HUMANS NEED FANTASY TO BE HUMAN.

The story is a beaut, and for the first time, really, I completely feel that the elements were fully cohesive and, even with the Discworld's trademark nonsense, everything really did make sense. Human nature, from its best to its worst, is effectively examined without hitting the reader over the head. Every time things are getting a bit much, Pratchett throws in a clever laugh.

I... really... don't think this book needed the Ridcully and the secret bathroom storyline.

NEVERTHELESS. This one will be a re-read at Christmastime again and again. I will gift it to my pre-teen one day. It was fantastic.

WELL THEN... HAPPY HOGSWATCH.
AND GOOD NIGHT, CHILDREN... EVERYWHERE.