PTerryness.

[nny]

I slept last night. Which, for those of you that might hang around on street corners YM! will know, was a novelty. Mmmm, sleep. I'm pretty sure I had good dreams, too, and they were probably surreal, but I have no idea what they were other than happy.

Had my test on Pronunciation of English yesterday, and I think I did pretty well- at least on the translation and transcribing. This is due, in part, to copperbadge, whose Snupin I was transcribing phonetically all morning. Cheers Sam. Though I was giggling quite a lot when I was translating...

Just finished reading Monstrous Regiment.


I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it yet. I should probably read it again before making judgements... but, y'know, screw it.

Over all, I did enjoy the book. It had a good story, some genuinely chilling, thrilling parts, and a few bits that made me shove a hand in my mouth to prevent myself exploding with laughter at 4am. (The ornithology footnote, anyone?)

I cheered when Otto appeared. I loved the Truth, and I was genuinely excited that they were in the book. And, naturally, any Vimes completely makes my day. I was disappointed that there wasn't *more* Vimes- the Watch books are my favourites as a set, and Night Watch would probably be my overall favourite book. Initially I was a major fan of all of the Vetinari/Vimes interaction, but over the books Vimes has been become more and more fleshed out... I just adore his character. Even though he was only briefly in MR, the scenes he had counted.

But... there was something a little empty about it, for me. I may change my mind over further readings, but... it didn't have the immediate emotional impact of other books by PTerry. Possibly it's because I was having a little trouble keeping everyone's names straight at the beginning. As they were being referred to by first names, surnames and nicknames by turns, I got slightly confused. It'll make more sense on another reading.

It also doesn't help that I haven't seen Platoon, Apocalypse Now, or whatever else PTerry happened to be referencing. I've never been a major war film fan.

It rang a little hollow. I wanted to be amazingly moved by the part where Polly finds Paul, and he's drawing. I felt like it should be a moment where I teared up. There *was* a feeling of vague happiness, but largely I was just feeling... meh. It seems a shame, because other Discworld books- "In this time, and in this place..." for instance- I was biting my lip, pain in my chest, as I tried not to well up. I wish I had cared more about the characters, but I really didn't.

So all round, I remain unconvinced. It's a genuinely good book, and I will read it again, of course. But it won't be one of my favourites.

Oh, and I thought Maladict should've been a boy.


I'd be interested in hearing what anyone else has to say about it, because I've never had anyone to discuss Discworld with just after I've finished a book, before. *g*

Comments

[villainny.livejournal.com]

It's not just you- they're definitely getting a lot darker. The whole scene in the armoury in MR, with the old patched armour and "threeparts", various fairy tale aspects of Wee Free Men (frankly I'm very much afraid of the bumble bee women), and yes, Night Watch... there's more depth to them, I think. You can tell that Pterry's always learning, constantly improving at his craft, and that's one of the things that I like most about Discworld. It seems to be growing *with* me, so that as I grow older and appreciate more, so the books have more to offer me- the later ones have more than the early ones. I suppose it's because the characters have become more complex as their relationships and interactions have evolved through the books.

Definitely re-read Night Watch, though. I'm hoping that *someone* will be inspired to V/V... *g*