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Mar. 8th, 2006 01:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
swatkatThe much delayed Going Postal review (read: set of disjointed thoughts). I'd have posted this sooner, but then I got slightly distracted by Wicked (have you read this book? why haven't you read this book?).
There's something about the mood of this book that reminds of Pyramids. Oh, it's darker – as all the later book are – and Moist isn't Teppic and Adora isn't Traci and it's probably not right to compare. But there's *something* about the book that reminds me of Pyramids - I don't think I can explain.
Despite the darker themes, this is one of Pterry's 'light & bright & sparkling' books – it's just one great ride, from start to finish. I like Moist, although I don't quite *love* him. He's your usual charming rogue – we're all familiar with the figure. It's Pratchett's brilliant handling of the character that makes him so real. The same goes for Adora, whom I like a little more than I like Moist (definitely a new addition to my People to Slash Angua With list) – she too is figure fairly common in lit and movies. But Pratchett makes her *work*, as a character, not as just 'insert female character here'.
How awesome is Lord Vetinari? Seriously.
I liked the insight that we got into the golems. And they die – they really are alive, no matter what the common opinion goes. Anghammarad's death is, as far as I'm concerned, the most poignant moment in the book.
Speaking of Moist/Adora – I continue to be in awe of Pterry's ability to convincingly do sweet, genuinely *sweet*, the kind that leaves you smiling and not in a diabetic coma. He's one of those very rare authors who can manage this.
As much as I like Going Postal, it's also a further proof of why the Watch books always work the best for me. There's Sam Vimes, of course – that goes without saying. Vimes can pull the weight of an entire book by himself (Night Watch, which is pretty much all Vimes all the time *hearts*). But what makes the Watch books so special is the ensemble cast – Carrot, my girl Angua, Colon, Nobby, Detritus, Cheery, Reg… every one of them are *human* (not in the species sense, of course) and fallible. Together, they're the perfect combination. *loves*
There's something about the mood of this book that reminds of Pyramids. Oh, it's darker – as all the later book are – and Moist isn't Teppic and Adora isn't Traci and it's probably not right to compare. But there's *something* about the book that reminds me of Pyramids - I don't think I can explain.
Despite the darker themes, this is one of Pterry's 'light & bright & sparkling' books – it's just one great ride, from start to finish. I like Moist, although I don't quite *love* him. He's your usual charming rogue – we're all familiar with the figure. It's Pratchett's brilliant handling of the character that makes him so real. The same goes for Adora, whom I like a little more than I like Moist (definitely a new addition to my People to Slash Angua With list) – she too is figure fairly common in lit and movies. But Pratchett makes her *work*, as a character, not as just 'insert female character here'.
How awesome is Lord Vetinari? Seriously.
I liked the insight that we got into the golems. And they die – they really are alive, no matter what the common opinion goes. Anghammarad's death is, as far as I'm concerned, the most poignant moment in the book.
Speaking of Moist/Adora – I continue to be in awe of Pterry's ability to convincingly do sweet, genuinely *sweet*, the kind that leaves you smiling and not in a diabetic coma. He's one of those very rare authors who can manage this.
As much as I like Going Postal, it's also a further proof of why the Watch books always work the best for me. There's Sam Vimes, of course – that goes without saying. Vimes can pull the weight of an entire book by himself (Night Watch, which is pretty much all Vimes all the time *hearts*). But what makes the Watch books so special is the ensemble cast – Carrot, my girl Angua, Colon, Nobby, Detritus, Cheery, Reg… every one of them are *human* (not in the species sense, of course) and fallible. Together, they're the perfect combination. *loves*
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Date: 2006-03-08 12:54 pm (UTC)I only have very faint memories of Carpe Jugulum, unfortunately, but I was thinking of the way Pratchett has Granny be willing to sacrifice herself, her mind, her reputation and anything else that might come in handy in order to save Lancre/whoever/whatever she's trying to defend. Lords and Ladies is the story that really springs to mind in this vein - it's such a sad story, and that's what stays with me about Vimes's stories - they're never very happy ones, although he/good may triumph by the end of the book.
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Date: 2006-03-08 04:11 pm (UTC)Carpe Jugulum is the one with the vampires. Is Lords and Ladies after that? I haven't read that one either (which, in a way, is a good thing, because i've got good books to look forward to *g*).
Swatkat
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Date: 2006-03-11 10:00 pm (UTC)