Shannon's Review - Making Money by Terry Pratchett

Title: Making Money

Series: Discworld #36

Author: Terry Pratchett

Genre: Fantasy, Fiction

Publisher: Harper

Received: Purchased

Release Date: September 2007

Pages: 394

Rating:

Author’s Official Websites:

Main Site

http://www.terrypratchettbooks.com/

Twitter

https://twitter.com/terryandrob

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/pratchett

Shannon’s Thoughts:

Making Money is number 36 in the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett.  Similar to the Piers Anthony Xanth series, the books in the series do not have to be read in order.  This book is a sort of sequel to another Discworld book called Going Postal.  It features one of Discworld most famous and favorite character, Moist Von Lipwig.  In Going Postal Lipwig saved the Post Office now it seems that the town of Ankh-Morpork’s bank is in trouble.  There is only so much one man can do but Moist thinks he is up for the job.  The question is does the town want him for the job.

I have only read 1 other book in this series which was the first book Moist Von Lipwig shows up, Going Postal.  I enjoyed the silliness of some the happenings.  For one the dog, Mr. Fusspot, was my favorite character.  Everytime Pratchett described the dog I always found a smile on my face.  My second favorite character was the Golem, Gladys, who showed up in Going Postal as well.

While Making Money was fun and sometimes silly.  I feel like Going Postal had much more silliness and frolicking fun.  It is not that it was boring but there was some of the story dealing with the character, Vetinari that I was not sure what was going on.

Even with it’s faults I still liked the book and it’s characters.  I can’t wait to read the most recent book (Snuff) with Ankh-Morpork’s returning characters.  

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

 








Title: Good Omens
Series: None
Authors: Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
Genre: Fantasy,  Fiction,
Publisher:  Harper Torch
Received: Purchased
Release Date: December 2006
Pages: 412
Rating:


What is it About?

The time that has been predicted about and predicted about has finally come in this book.  The Antichrist is born and he is unknowing switched at birth to a good family.. Will this change the out come of Armageddon.

My Thoughts:

I read this book months ago and I can’t not remember much about it except the end.  Which I do not want to spoil.   There were funny things about about the book like, when the Antichrist wishes for his hell-hound and it turns out to be a small and tiny dog because that is what he wishes for.

What is left that I remember is not that great, which could be because of the subject matter. I don’t usually read Apocalyptic stuff even if it is tongue in cheek but read this on recommendation of my husband.  I just did not find this one remember-able.  I find similar problems with American Gods as well but enjoyed some of Pratchett’s work alone.  

I think if you like British humor and Monty Python you might grasp the humor better then I did.

Website:

Neil Gaiman
http://www.neilgaiman.com/

Terry Pratchett
http://www.terrypratchett.co.uk/

Sunday Salon - A Bookish Life 9/5/10

I have gotten a little more reading these weeks but still haven’t finished one of the five books I am reading.  I hope to get “Devil In The White City” by Erik Larson done.  It is actually a book my book club was reading a couple of months ago.  Yeah I am really behind on the book club thing.  We meet every first Thursday of the month and right now we are reading “Good Omens” by Neil Gaiman and Terry Prachett, which is pretty cool.

Also speaking of Terry Prachett we went to our local Walmart and for $9.00 we picked up two movies made in the U.K.  based on Prachett’s books of the Discworld.   The first one Color of Magic starring Sean Astin and other U.K. actor’s I don’t remember.  Color of Magic is two parts we watched the first part and I was really surprise that they gave the movie a pretty good budget,  
I liked it. The second movie is called Hogfather.



Monday
Review of ”A Journey Into Tomorrow” by Veronica Camille Tinto

Tuesday
It’s Tuesday Where Are You (maybe event)
Teaser Tuesday (maybe event)
Review of “Of Lights In The Night: Friends And Adventure” by Sean Noonan


Wednesday
Confuzzled Short Story 4 - “TBA” by Shannon McGee

Thursday
Review of “Dead Until Dark” by Charlaine Harris

Friday
Faery Friday - “Lizzie And The Tooth Fairy” Judith Wolman

Saturday
Weekly Geek (maybe event)
Special TBA

Sunday
Sunday Salon (event)


In Author News

I forgot to share these pics from May when I went to a book event featuring author Charlaine Harris.

The pictures are not that great but the event was very entertaining, especially since Ms. Harris has great charisma.

Shannon's Review - Nation by Terry Pratchett

Summary: A giant wave sweeps out a village all except for one boy, A ship wrecked on the same island with the boy, a girl in line for the throne of England. More villages make their way in to the island. Mau and the village or "Nation" deal with many real life questions such "As why does God allow bad things to happen?"



My Thoughts: "... I need there to be the old man and the baby and the sick woman and the ghost girl, because without them I would go into the dark water right now. I asked for reasons, and here they are, yelling and smelling and demanding. The last people of the world and I need them. Without them I am just a figure on a grey beach , a lost boy, not knowing who I am. But they know me. I matter to them that's who I am." from Nation by Terry Pratchett

Nation asked questions that we all ask ourselves at some point, about God, about what to believe, and about ourselves. Since this is a fiction book, it is not trying to give you answers to those questions, because it is also asking you how would you deal with what happens to the characters Mau, Daphne and slew of others. If your world ended, would you believe what you were taught to believe? Or would you grow with the change?

The characters were interesting. Especially Mau and Daphne, the main characters. Sometimes I got bored with the other characters and annoyed with one character, or animal, in particular that had every right to get on their nerves.

This book reopened questions that I already had and still have, which made this review hard to write. I wasn't sure what I liked because I have been focusing on the questions and finding answers. I guess what I am saying is I liked the book. It has a message that isn't new but is interesting. It is well written and characters are decent.

About the Author: Terry Pratchett is the author of many Discworld novel, childrens books and other fantasy books. He lives with his wife in England.

READ THORIN'S REVIEW OF NATION

Thorin's Review - Nation by Terry Pratchett

Summary: The fire god became angry, and in his rage he unleashed a wave that destroyed the world. But Mau, a boy who’d journeyed away to become a man, survived. He returns to find everything he loved wiped from the earth, the wreckage of giant ship, and a little girl, Daphne, who may be the princess of England. “When much is taken, something is returned.”

My Thoughts: Nation is about change. First about the change of becoming an adult and learning that you have no choice but to exert your judgment and power on the world around you. But it’s also about change forced upon Mau and Daphne, and the other survivors who begin trickling to the island. It’s about upheaval, and keeping your history and culture without being a slave to the past and outmoded ideas, i.e., moving forward on your own terms. And it’s about actually going through those things. This isn’t some self-help book that says ‘people must do X.’ It’s a good story in which you will see yourself, and question whether or not you’d be willing to suckle milk from a wild pig in order to save a baby’s life.

The book is also fairly entertaining. I don’t think anything about the plot was exceptional, but Pratchet is a great writer, and it shows throughout the book. For example, all the characters are written with distinctive, memorable voices that you will remember after the book is done. When Mau has a desperate plan to save the day, you aren’t able to figure out what it is until it happens. You see the twists coming, but I wasn’t able to figure out what the twist was until it turned, and I usually have twists figured out 100 pages in advance. This is one of those book I considered giving 4 stars to, but it’s not as good as Anathem or Raw Shark Text, my past 4s, so I’m going to go with 3 stars. Still a good read, though.

About the Author: You’ve heard of Terry Pratchet. Discworld … Good Omens was a collaboration between him and Neil Gaiman that’s a legitimate 5-star read … He’s sold 55 million books and hopefully we’ll see another 50 million sold before he calls it a career.

READ SHANNON'S REVIEW OF NATION