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A review by smiley_c
Nation by Terry Pratchett
4.0
He called himself the little blue hermit, scuttling across the sand in search of a new shell, but now he looks at the sky and knows that no shell will ever be big enough, ever.
A great standalone novel. You can always trust Terry Pratchett's stories to be freshly original. His writing style is unique: both beautiful and downright hilarious. I can't name anyone (yet) who better raises deep philosophical questions of belief, sense of self, meaning of life and death, choice and responsibilities... and combines humour that induces belly aching laughter, sometimes even in the same page. It's undoubtedly a good break from normal, dull reality of mundane life into a much needed exercise of the mind and the lungs. I was howling with laughter, waking up roommates, if I had any. The evocative messages will surely haunt you long after you finished the last page; the delightful descriptions will surely make you break out in a fit of giggles when they float up into your mind after days and months.
“It was, according to the history books, the fastest coronation since Bubric the Saxon crowned himself with a very pointy crown on a hill during a thunderstorm, and reigned for one and a half seconds.”
How about this one?
“They obeyed, as wise men do when a woman puts her foot down . . .”
I have to admit, his writing has a special kind of texture that needs a while to get used to. This is my third Terry Pratchett book, the first being Dodger followed by Amazing Maurice, which I needed several tries to understand what's going on. But every challenges come with rewards. The story takes a while to get into at first, but soon it transports you to another world, a parallel world like our own, albeit one set in the past (mentions of famous scientists remind me of Dodger) and action unfolding on an exotic tropical island, known as the Nation. That is, before everyone is killed by the Wave. Except Mau.
Mau's world is turned upside down... And it's going to be even more lopsided (wouldn't then it goes back in the right side? But what is right? What is wrong anyway?) when a pale ghost girl, who calls herself Daphne, turns out to be the sole survivor of a shipwreck -- unless you count the swearing parrot. With more people turning up, old enemies and friends arriving at the island, the story ends with a long anticipated scene, a twist and a bittersweet note.
And a lot of questions to ponder over on a train journey in the rain. Not that I'll experience that in the near future, but just how poetic that would be?
"...Whatever you choose, your choice will mean there are two new worlds. And perhaps sometimes, on the edge of sleep, we will see the shadow of the other world. There will be no unhappy memories."
"Yes, but --"
"No more words. We know them all, all the words that should not be said. But you have made my world more perfect."
I really love the characters. Daphne and Mau are the best!
PS I can't believe I finished it in 2 days! Wish I had read slower... But that wouldn't happen as you very well know... I'm too impatient to know what will happen next!
If you've made it down so far my review -- THANK YOU SO MUCH! I hope this persuades you to read the book, or comment so that I can hear your thoughts about it :D
A great standalone novel. You can always trust Terry Pratchett's stories to be freshly original. His writing style is unique: both beautiful and downright hilarious. I can't name anyone (yet) who better raises deep philosophical questions of belief, sense of self, meaning of life and death, choice and responsibilities... and combines humour that induces belly aching laughter, sometimes even in the same page. It's undoubtedly a good break from normal, dull reality of mundane life into a much needed exercise of the mind and the lungs. I was howling with laughter, waking up roommates, if I had any. The evocative messages will surely haunt you long after you finished the last page; the delightful descriptions will surely make you break out in a fit of giggles when they float up into your mind after days and months.
“It was, according to the history books, the fastest coronation since Bubric the Saxon crowned himself with a very pointy crown on a hill during a thunderstorm, and reigned for one and a half seconds.”
How about this one?
“They obeyed, as wise men do when a woman puts her foot down . . .”
I have to admit, his writing has a special kind of texture that needs a while to get used to. This is my third Terry Pratchett book, the first being Dodger followed by Amazing Maurice, which I needed several tries to understand what's going on. But every challenges come with rewards. The story takes a while to get into at first, but soon it transports you to another world, a parallel world like our own, albeit one set in the past (mentions of famous scientists remind me of Dodger) and action unfolding on an exotic tropical island, known as the Nation. That is, before everyone is killed by the Wave. Except Mau.
Mau's world is turned upside down... And it's going to be even more lopsided (wouldn't then it goes back in the right side? But what is right? What is wrong anyway?) when a pale ghost girl, who calls herself Daphne, turns out to be the sole survivor of a shipwreck -- unless you count the swearing parrot. With more people turning up, old enemies and friends arriving at the island, the story ends with a long anticipated scene, a twist and a bittersweet note.
And a lot of questions to ponder over on a train journey in the rain. Not that I'll experience that in the near future, but just how poetic that would be?
"...Whatever you choose, your choice will mean there are two new worlds. And perhaps sometimes, on the edge of sleep, we will see the shadow of the other world. There will be no unhappy memories."
"Yes, but --"
"No more words. We know them all, all the words that should not be said. But you have made my world more perfect."
I really love the characters. Daphne and Mau are the best!
PS I can't believe I finished it in 2 days! Wish I had read slower... But that wouldn't happen as you very well know... I'm too impatient to know what will happen next!
If you've made it down so far my review -- THANK YOU SO MUCH! I hope this persuades you to read the book, or comment so that I can hear your thoughts about it :D