A Hat Full of Sky

A Hat Full of Sky: The Continuing Adventures of Tiffany Aching and the Wee Free Men by Terry Prachett.

This book is hard to review because all I really want to say is "Terry Prachett is the bomb."

So, this is a Tiffany Aching book from the Discworld series (is series really the right world for Disworld? It doesn't quite fit, but I can't come up with a better one.) Tiffany's excited to start learning how to be a witch, but it turns out her apprenticeship has more chores than magic. The one bit of witch-y stuff she does get is flying, which makes her horribly ill. But, an hiver is after Tiffany. An hiver that possesses her and controls her body, and tries to take over her mind.

Seriously guys, Terry Prachett is the BOMB. He writes this quirky and hilarious books set in this crazy universe, but at the same time, raises really deep points and makes you contemplate the larger questions of the universe, all while laughing your head off.

In this book, I especially enjoyed the other apprentice witches and the high school girl dynamic you get with them and how Tiffany sees through it without seeming cynical or over-mature. Plus, lots and lots of MacFeegles trying to help and create as much mischief as possible.

I do recommend Discworld even to those who aren't fantasy readers. I only picked up my first one because it was assigned reading, and I'm so, so glad I did.

Must read more Discworld. MUST.

Book Provided by... my wallet

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Oh no! It's the pursin' o' the lips and the tappin' o' the foot!

Wintersmith Terry Pratchett

Ok, this is my first Tiffany Aching and, in fact, first Discworld book. While it was obvious it's the third in a series, I think it stands alone fairly well.

Tiffany is an apprentice witch who goes to see the Dance of the Seasons. She can't help herself, the music is in her feet, and she throws herself into the dance. As a result, Winter falls in love with her. Winter sets out to find what makes a man so that he can be human for her. Meanwhile, the world is trying to turn Tiffany into Summer, because Winter partners with Summer. Summer isn't overly happy about this.

Winter's attempts to woo Tiffany are disastrous to those Tiffany loves (it never stops snowing flakes that look like her, giant iceberg sculptures of her likeness cause ships to be lost) and his attempts are humanity always miss the mark.

But the Feegles are there to help and Tiffany won't let Winter bully her into never-ending cold.

Hilarious! I loved it (especially the Feegles). It's funnier than Nation (which I found to be really funny.) but still meditates on the fear of the unknown, the changing of the seasons and what makes a man. I've only read the two books by Pratchett, but am so impressed with his ability to have deeper meditations on the meaning of life and what makes us human while still making me shoot milk out my nose.

I'm so excited for Pratchett 2010 Reading Challenge!


Book Provided by... my local library

Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.