Book Review: I Shall Wear Midnight

I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett

Publisher: HarperCollins e-books

Category: YA Fantasy

Synopsis: Tiffany is back in the Chalk working as a witch but something is going on and the there are whisperings about witches. Also her old friend Roland is getting married and acting strange.

My Thoughts: Now this one I LOVED! The age old story about evil walking amongst us spreading rumour and discord. Not to mention the confusing feelings when someone we loved moves on, and how to stay friends when this happens. Also quite a bit of Feegles.

The book starts out in pastoral setting with the annual fair, but then quickly lurches into a much more serious topic of domestic violence (side note, Jungle Red Writers have a great post on this topic) where Tiffany has to intervene in several ways. I thought this theme was very well done, with Tiffany’s bewilderment over why the wife stayed mirroring my own at times. It was also interesting to see her reaction to the Rough Music that follows the revengeful hoard. By putting a name to the frenzied activity Pratchett managed to make it more physically real somehow.

The Feegles Kelda Jennie plays a much bigger role in this book than she has in the past and it was nice to see yet another strong female character in addition to the Witches.

Perhaps the biggest theme in this book is the existence of a menacing evil force, in this book in the guise of the Cunning Man. The Cunning Man comes to embody the concept of witch hunts (both figurative and literal). The Cunning Man causes the people of the Chalk in general, and Roland in particular, to turn against Tiffany. At first this confuses her but with the help of assorted other witches she comes to realise that she has caused the Cunning Man to come after her, and now she must defeat him. I thought this was a perfect metaphor for taking responsibility for your own actions, a theme that has run through several of the Tiffany Aching stories.

Another theme of this book is living up to expectations. Not necessarily the expectations placed on us by those who see us most closely but rather the expectations put on us by society by virtue of our looks. Both Tiffany and Letitia, Rolands wife to be, are to a certain degree, victims of societies ideas of what one should be based on looks. This makes for an interesting discussion regarding physical appearances and actions, as well as our own prejudices.

As always the Feegles (and Horace and the Toad) are around to provide both support and comic relief, the cheese rolling incident had me rolling with laughter. In this book Tiffany is also joined by a new friend, Preston, of the Barons Guards, who is clever but poor. The addition of Preston was a perfect one I think. Tiffany and he are great together, he is smart but somehow very grounded in his way of thinking.

I also thought the change of necklace to be a genius one. Somehow the horse didn’t quite feel like Tiffany, it was more Roland, to high borne, whereas the hare, seems more earthy and witchy somehow.

Copyright ©2011 Zee from Notes from the North. This post was originally posted by Zee from Notes from the North. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.

TSS: Harry Potter Re-read: Part 1

As I mentioned yesterday one of my favourite series of all time is Harry Potter, both for the great story they provide and for the friendships they have provided me with. I had written that post before the excitement caused by the Pottermore website earlier this week and I am going to be featuring all things Potter over the next few weeks as I re-read all the books before the release of the final movie. Today I will be talking about the first book (which I just finished) but first I wanted to point you to a series of posts done by Matt Bird at Cockeyed Caravan on the Harry Potter books. Matt outlines what was good and what could/should have been done differently in the books if he had had a chance. It is a highly interesting read. Here are the links:

Books 1-3 

Book 4

Book 5

Book 6

Book 7

Thoughts on Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Now on to my thoughts on the first book, the book that started it all (you can read my review of the audio version here).

Overall I love the innocence of this book and generally I have few issues with it. It is a strong opening to the story. There is however one thing that has bothered me for AGES and that is the scene at Kings Cross Station when Harry meets the Weasley’s for the first time. Let’s take a look at the part that bothers me:

At that moment a group of people passed just behind him and he caught a few words of what they were saying.

“—packed with Muggles, of course—“

Harry swung round. The speaker was a plump woman who was talking to four boys, all with flaming red hair. Each of them was pushing a trunk like Harry’s in front of him—and they had an owl.

Heart hammering, Harry pushed his cart after them. They stopped and so did he, just near enough to hear what they were saying.

“Now, what’s the platform number?” said the boys’ mother.

“Nine and three quarters!” piped a small girl (91-92)

Now we know, from further on in the book, that the boys have two older brothers who have already graduated so Mrs. Weasley should have already done this drop off several times (10 to be exact as Bill was at Hogwarts 1982-1990 and this first book takes place in 1991-1992 (source HP Lexicon)). Plus she herself was a student at Hogwarts, why would she have to ask which platform the train was leaving from? I just. don’t. get. it.!

One thing I really love about this book is the description of the food at the opening feast. I recall reading somewhere that Rowling always felt that descriptions of food was left out of books and that is why she includes it, and as a foodie I have to say, I approve. Although it always makes me super hungry

Reading Up-date

Well, as I mentioned, I’ve finished the first book today. My reading speed isn’t great, mostly because I have a couple of other books I need to finish as well. I am going to need to start reading a bit faster if I want to finish in time for the final movie so the goal for this week is to get through The Chamber of Secrets, The Prisoner of Azkaban as well as making some headway in The Goble of Fire. I have two days off work mid week, plus I’m working evening two days so I am hoping to get some good reading in.

Copyright ©2011 Zee from Notes from the North. This post was originally posted by Zee from Notes from the North. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.

Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

Really? You thought I would choose ONE book? I didn’t think so

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I will never be able to choose ONE favourite book. I can rarely choose one book at a particular time, so choosing one of all time…ain’t gonna happen.

I will however feature a series that has meant a great deal to me:

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

I fell in love with this series at first read and over the years the books have provided me with comfort, laughs and above all a group of friends that I love. A group of friends with whom I went on holiday TWICE. First a general meet-up in Chicago where I laughed so hard I had a stomach ache for days afterward (Pot meet Kettle anyone). And then, in conjunction with the release of the last book (although when we first started planning we had no idea that it would be out then) a trip to London, the Scottish Highlands and Edinburgh, where we stood in line for hours to get our hands on the coveted final book. Without these friends I wouldn’t be who I am today. And they have stuck with me when I have been less than a friend (I have another group of friends that are the same and for those I am eternally grateful as well).

Although these books are far from perfect they will ALWAYS have a special place in my heart. Which brings me to the next project on this blog. My friend Roni challenged me (and herself and others) to read all 7 books before the release date of the next movie. Since I have already reviewed some of the books on here I won’t be doing reviews of them (I’ll save the rest of the books I have left to review in audiobook form). Instead I thought I would talk a bit generally every few days on how I am doing on reading them and my thoughts, with spoilers, on the books and what happens in them. So watch out for that in the next few weeks (I’ll also post some pictures from the above mentioned trip).

Copyright ©2011 Zee from Notes from the North. This post was originally posted by Zee from Notes from the North. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.

Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked

I honestly can’t think of a title that I liked and no one else did. I have such an eclectic taste in books that it is hard to imagine no one else liking the books I like. I know I was one of the few in my class that LOVED Brave New World back in the day.

And I LOVE Per Anders Fogelström’s City series and my dad HATES it. But at the same time I know plenty of people really love that series too.

Image credit

Conversely I’m no big fan of most of Jane Austen’s books and, well…they are wildly popular. 

As I said earlier in the series I have issues with the concept of hate. It is such a strong word.

 

Copyright ©2011 Zee from Notes from the North. This post was originally posted by Zee from Notes from the North. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.

Book Review: Wintersmith

Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett

Publisher: HarperCollins e-books

Category: YA Fantasy

Synopsis: Tiffany Aching is back, and this time she makes a mistake. Despite being told not to she joins in the dance at the changing of the seasons causing the Wintersmith to fall in love with her.

My Thoughts: This was probably my least favourite in the series. It was good, but it didn’t capture me quite the way the other books did. I felt confused at times, not quite sure where things were coming from or where they were going. Often the book felt a bit fractured, was he trying to focus on the Wintersmith storyline or the Annagramma storyline? I think this is what confused me the most.

I will say this though, Tiffany was still the same capable, intelligent and sensible girl from the previous books, just with a hint of teenager. She helps her “friend” even though she knows that she is sceptical to the motivations and scheming that necessitates the helping.

And as always the Nac Mac Feegles were hilarious, even if there wasn’t enough of them. Also Horace the cheese, I mean how can you not love a cheese in a tartan who joins in with the Feegles?

As always with Pratchett’s books there is a great deal of commentary on the human condition, often disguised as humour, as well as just humour. There was enough of what I love of Pratchett in this book for me to recommend it even though I didn’t love her.

Copyright ©2011 Zee from Notes from the North. This post was originally posted by Zee from Notes from the North. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.

Day 28 – Favourite title

Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett

It is just such a wonderful play of words considering the subject matter of the book. It makes me really happy just thinking about it.

Copyright ©2011 Zee from Notes from the North. This post was originally posted by Zee from Notes from the North. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.

Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending

I am rarely surprised by book endings or plot twists (mostly because I have a bad habit of reading the last few pages, I’m working on not doing it though). But I was super surprised by the plot twist in Tomorrow Pamplona by Jan Van Mersbergen just recently. I totally did not see it coming, and for once I’m not sure I should have. I just don’t know. I knew something wasn’t right but THAT! No I couldn’t believe it! (I won’t write more because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone else) It was such a punch in the gut!

Copyright ©2011 Zee from Notes from the North. This post was originally posted by Zee from Notes from the North. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.