learnteach: (Default)
learnteach ([personal profile] learnteach) wrote2006-06-10 08:32 am

Wintersmith, by Terry Pratchett.

Tiffany Aching has a problem. She went to the dance, and danced. Now she needs to deal with the attention of the other dancers. It's hard, being 13!


It's always hard, when you're a good witch. Not good in the sense of wearing white, and never cackling, and making transportation out of future soup. But hard in the sense of hard work, good for the soul.

Remember, you can clean a floor by just waving your arms. Bend over and put a scrub brush in your hands, and it'll be just like magic.

******
Tiffany Aching, Granny and Nanny, why witches visit, the power of Boffo, the two sides of morris dancing, and the power of stories all combine to make being 13 even more difficult than normal.

I got the book last night at 6 PM and spent much of the evening visiting with old and new friends. I finished last night anyway. It's got a lot of subtlety, and a lot of philosophy. What does it take to make a man? Why are there spaces in the dance? What is the true qualites of a witch (by which, I surmise, are the true qualities of an adult?) All of these questions are asked and answered multiple times, from being shouted throughout full chapters to being whispered at in tales.

I love Terry Pratchett books!

[identity profile] cvirtue.livejournal.com 2006-06-10 03:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Oooh! Must acquire!

The book isn't due out until September

[identity profile] learnteach.livejournal.com 2006-06-10 03:48 pm (UTC)(link)
But ARC (Advanced Reading Copies, marked "Advance Reader's Edition Not For Sale") are available on Ebay. Since the book is published from uncorrected proofs, there are some interesting errors, but nothing that detracts truely from the story.

I'd loan you this copy, but there's already 10 people queued up for it. Including me for 3 rereads!

Re: The book isn't due out until September

[identity profile] cvirtue.livejournal.com 2006-06-10 04:09 pm (UTC)(link)
"not for sale" yet on eBay, eh?

Ah, well.

[identity profile] dame-cordelia.livejournal.com 2006-06-10 04:17 pm (UTC)(link)
OMG. Another Pratchett book is here! Yaaaaay!

[identity profile] light-hands.livejournal.com 2006-06-10 04:22 pm (UTC)(link)
So, would *my* 13 year old enjoy it? She's an avid reader...

Dunno.

[identity profile] learnteach.livejournal.com 2006-06-10 04:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Start her with "The Wee Free Men", then "Hat Full of Sky", then this one. You can borrow the first two from me.

BTW, hello to Aaron, Risa brought the Borax. Ask her tomorrow at Phlip's thing!

Where to start reading

[identity profile] dame-cordelia.livejournal.com 2006-06-11 04:33 pm (UTC)(link)
There's also the Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, which had me laughing out loud. (This is not an uncommon reaction for me when reading Pratchett.)

[identity profile] noressa.livejournal.com 2006-06-12 05:44 pm (UTC)(link)
I feel so behind the times. :( I'm only just finished with THUD! now... And working on A Dirty Job (Moore) with Practical Demonkeeping next. (Thought I had all the early books...)