Book Log 34/2011 - Terry Pratchett: Unseen Academicals

34)  9/12/11
Terry Pratchett: Unseen Academicals – Discworld #39

I should have got round to reading this sooner, but football is not my favourite sport. Let's face it, sport is not my favourite sport. But this is Terry Pratchett and so, of course, it's not just about football.

What is it about? Race, tolerance, outsiders, mob psychology, bullies, fame, old rivalries. And it's about The Shove – the crowd – volatile, dangerous, a character in its own right.

Set in the Unseen University, it introduces some of the below stairs characters, Trev Likely and Mr Nutt, candle dribblers, whose job is to make sure that the sculptural waterfalls of old wax adorning the sconces are picturesque. We meet homely Glenda Sugarbean, pie maker extraordinaire, and beautiful Juliet Stollop, from the UU's kitchens. Plus, of course the usual assortment of Wizards including old favourites, the Librarian, Ponder Stibbons and Archchancellor Ridcully. And Vetinari, of course (next to Vimes, my favourite character.)

To retain a bequest the University must field a team in a goodwill march of foot-the-ball. Trev Likely, son of the famous foot-the-baller Dave Likely (deceased) is determined not to follow in his father's footsteps, but he has the talent for it. Juliet has the face for fame and stumbles into modelling dwarf armour and is an overnight success (though disguised behind a beard). The surprisingly well educated Mr Nutt and Trev form an unlikely friendship and Nutt takes on the training of the UU team. But the biq question throughout the book is who is Nutt or even, what is he? Vetinari knows and he's watching not only Nutt's progress, but also the progress of the rest of Ankh Morpork in relation to Nutt.

All is eventually revealed and resolved, of course. Highly recommended.

Book Log 34/2011 - Terry Pratchett: Unseen Academicals

34)  9/12/11
Terry Pratchett: Unseen Academicals – Discworld #39

I should have got round to reading this sooner, but football is not my favourite sport. Let's face it, sport is not my favourite sport. But this is Terry Pratchett and so, of course, it's not just about football.

What is it about? Race, tolerance, outsiders, mob psychology, bullies, fame, old rivalries. And it's about The Shove – the crowd – volatile, dangerous, a character in its own right.

Set in the Unseen University, it introduces some of the below stairs characters, Trev Likely and Mr Nutt, candle dribblers, whose job is to make sure that the sculptural waterfalls of old wax adorning the sconces are picturesque. We meet homely Glenda Sugarbean, pie maker extraordinaire, and beautiful Juliet Stollop, from the UU's kitchens. Plus, of course the usual assortment of Wizards including old favourites, the Librarian, Ponder Stibbons and Archchancellor Ridcully. And Vetinari, of course (next to Vimes, my favourite character.)

To retain a bequest the University must field a team in a goodwill march of foot-the-ball. Trev Likely, son of the famous foot-the-baller Dave Likely (deceased) is determined not to follow in his father's footsteps, but he has the talent for it. Juliet has the face for fame and stumbles into modelling dwarf armour and is an overnight success (though disguised behind a beard). The surprisingly well educated Mr Nutt and Trev form an unlikely friendship and Nutt takes on the training of the UU team. But the biq question throughout the book is who is Nutt or even, what is he? Vetinari knows and he's watching not only Nutt's progress, but also the progress of the rest of Ankh Morpork in relation to Nutt.

All is eventually revealed and resolved, of course. Highly recommended.

Book Log 35/2011 - Suzanne Collins: Catching Fire – Hunger Games #2

Suzanne Collins: Catching Fire– Hunger Games #2

This carries on a few months aftter The Hunger Games left off. Katniss Everdeen won the last-man-standing, fight-for-your-life games, but she cheated by bringing Peeta Mellark through with her and backing the controllers into a corner. Where there should only have been one winner the controllers were forced to accept two and they aren't happy.

So despite having all the privileges of a winner, a nice house for her family back in District 12 and a regular supply of food, Katniss much watch her step because she is the irritation around which the pearl of a revolution might well grow.

As a victor she should be out of the Hunger Games for the rest of her life but President Snow changes the rules and the all the previous victors including Peeta Mellark, find themselves pitted against each other in the arena. Katniss' drunken mentor, Haymitch, is once more their lifeline outside the Arena and Haymitch and Kat have sworn to make sure Peeta survives this time, which means Katniss will not.

This has a rinse-and-repeat feel to part of it. I wonder whether the author originally envisioned a trilogy when she wrote the first book. In part it's almost telling the same story again, except this time the cracks in society are more obvious, and Katniss has experience on her side. But so do the others. They are all survivors.

But plans are afoot and the games don't have the same ending as last time as the districts head towards revolution. This second volume in the trilogu certyainly keep s up the pace and the tension. I've seen other reviews that complain about the depth of the worldbuilding but for a YA I think this is about right, leaving the reader to fill in the blanks.

Book Log 35/2011 - Suzanne Collins: Catching Fire – Hunger Games #2

Suzanne Collins: Catching Fire– Hunger Games #2

This carries on a few months aftter The Hunger Games left off. Katniss Everdeen won the last-man-standing, fight-for-your-life games, but she cheated by bringing Peeta Mellark through with her and backing the controllers into a corner. Where there should only have been one winner the controllers were forced to accept two and they aren't happy.

So despite having all the privileges of a winner, a nice house for her family back in District 12 and a regular supply of food, Katniss much watch her step because she is the irritation around which the pearl of a revolution might well grow.

As a victor she should be out of the Hunger Games for the rest of her life but President Snow changes the rules and the all the previous victors including Peeta Mellark, find themselves pitted against each other in the arena. Katniss' drunken mentor, Haymitch, is once more their lifeline outside the Arena and Haymitch and Kat have sworn to make sure Peeta survives this time, which means Katniss will not.

This has a rinse-and-repeat feel to part of it. I wonder whether the author originally envisioned a trilogy when she wrote the first book. In part it's almost telling the same story again, except this time the cracks in society are more obvious, and Katniss has experience on her side. But so do the others. They are all survivors.

But plans are afoot and the games don't have the same ending as last time as the districts head towards revolution. This second volume in the trilogu certyainly keep s up the pace and the tension. I've seen other reviews that complain about the depth of the worldbuilding but for a YA I think this is about right, leaving the reader to fill in the blanks.