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Loading... Wintersmith (Discworld) (original 2006; edition 2006)by Terry Pratchett
Work InformationWintersmith by Terry Pratchett (2006)
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. Hardcover ( ) I absolutely love the Tiffany Aching series of books. If you have not done so, do yourself a favor and read them (beginning with [b:The Wee Free Men|34494|The Wee Free Men (Discworld, #30; Tiffany Aching, #1)|Terry Pratchett|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1443764106s/34494.jpg|62580]), or even better listen to them on audiobook). I really haven't read a bad Terry Pratchett novel yet (seriously) and as a huge fan of the Discworld series I wondered whether his books aimed at a younger audience would still would entertain me. As my wife is a HUGE fan of the Tiffany Aching series, I took a chance and golly, I was blown away. I LOVE THE TIFFANY ACHING SERIES. I'm happy to say that the same energetic and lighthearted but deep storytelling is present in this book. The book tells the adventure of Tiffany Aching, a witch in training who accidentally gains the affection of none other than The Wintersmith himself and whilst fighting off the demi-God's ill attempts at romance must also cope with the local community who rely on witches to solve their everyday troubles. I love how Pratchett can affirm humanity and living in so many ways whether it is Tiffany telling The Wintersmith why he could never be human or Miss Treason's touching death and funeral (which seem strikingly similar to an Christian Orthodox funeral and prayers to saints) at age 111, though she gave it as 113, worrying the former sounded a bit too cutesy (and also like a certain Hobbit). Wintersmith continues the themes of A Hat Full of Sky, as Tiffany has to teach one of her fellow apprentices about what it means to be a witch. Honestly, the ostensible central conflict of the novel—about the Wintersmith—comes across as almost ancillary, but I didn't mind, because there's a lot of good stuff along the way. The climax to this one, though, is again a bit disappointing. I mean, I love the Feegles journeying into the afterlife, but Tiffany gets sort of left out in favor of them and Roland. (Though I did like Roland too.) But those are quibbles: much as the City Watch books work their way through the details of the intersection of violence and politics and law, the Tiffany books spend their time working out something even more basic, what it means to be a person who helps. It's serious work... but that doesn't mean it can't also be funny. A fun one. Tiffany takes on the Spirit of Winter, whom she accidentally causes to fall in love with her by stepping into a Dark Morris dance at an inopportune moment. That plot is interesting, particularly how Pratchett handles the powers and personality of a demi-god, and in Wintersmith's creation of a Frankenstein body to inhabit by using the folktale ideas from a song lyric. But what I enjoy most about this book (and the others in the series) is how Tiffany (age 13 now) matures and slowly settles into being a 'proper' witch. It's interesting how none of the senior witches (Miss Treason, Nanny Ogg, Granny Weatherwax) ever comes out and simply says "Here's what you should be doing". They lead by example, and through providing access to educational 'experiences' that gently guide Tiffany (and her other acolytes) in the right direction. That is to say, the witches build character and leave the rest to human nature. In this volume, she has to take care of the poor and wretched while simultaneously dealing with 'witch society' and helping the helpless Annagramma figure out the right ways to be a witch. It's particularly gratifying to see how the 'pig witch' Petulia Gristle is also maturing and coming into her own. I especially liked how the silver horse pendant acted as a plot device, and in particular, how it was lost and then found again. Of course, the book was made the more enjoyable through the voice work of Stephen Briggs, who makes it so three dimensional, and who does such a wonderful job characterizing the the Nac Mac Feegle, but everyone else as well. no reviews | add a review
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When witch-in-training Tiffany Aching accidentally interrupts the Dance of the Seasons and awakens the interest of the elemental spirit of Winter, she requires the help of the six-inch-high, sword-wielding, sheep-stealing Wee Free Men to put the seasons aright. No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)823.914Literature English & Old English literatures English fiction Modern Period 1901-1999 1945-1999LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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