This novel tells the story of a bunch of female soldiers, who aren't supposed to be soldiers because having females serve in the army of their mythical country is an abomination unto their god Nuggan. Beyond that I'm not going to say any more about the plot because I don't want to spoil it for those who have yet to read this book. But what I will say is this book is indeed funny in parts, it's very enlightening in parts, and it's very entertaining in parts but it's about 150 pages too long. I know Terry Pratchett is huge, I know he sells a lot of books, I know he's beloved by millions of ardent admirers, but holy hell, the man needs an editor to tighten his books up, especially this one. Having written a couple of novels, one good one and one very bad one, I know you want to keep piling hardships on your hero but after awhile it just get tedious and maddening to the reader.All in all thought it's a good, if too long read. I recommend it and I'll be staying away from Prachett books for a bit because I don't want to get burned out on them too soon.
I found The Orchid Thief to be very good at times and not so good at other times. Ms. Orlean is very scatter shot in her telling of her tale about orchids and the people who obsess over them. What's she's done, in my opinion, is try to meld two stories together. The story of the title character, the quirky obsessive orchid thief could well have stood alone in it's own book but Orlean chose to pad that story with a lot of history about orchids and the people who hunt and collect them. I liked both sides of the story but weaving them together as she did shortchanged the impact of both of them.But even with that flaw it's still a very good read and I highly recommend it.
And now I must make a confession. I confess that I love the various adaptions of the novels of Charles Dickens but I have a hard time reading the original novels themselves. I tried reading A Tale of Two Cities and Hard Times but both left me cold. I found the style too off putting to really get into them. However, if you put a BBC/PBS adaption of them on, I'm all in. Heck, I'm all in on the ones the British film studios made in the 1940's and '50's. I'll even watch Oliver! but hand me the novels they're based on, and I'll hand them right back to you.I know, I know, I'm a Philistine. And I've learned to live with it.
9 comments:
You don't like reading Dickens? Oh my. Have you ever read Bleak House? It's one of the most amazing novels ever written in English, in my 'umble opinion. But then I love Dickens generally.
Makes sense, the further we get removed from something, the harder it is to relate to it, even in just the writing style or words used. It was a REALLY different time.
But, when interpreted for a film or something, we can use more than just our brain to make the words come to life. We can see and hear it all happening. Easier to comphrend.
Unlike my comment here, which I think I lost my track on.
Hey, it's Friday!
I "read" all the classics in school, and then I READ all the classics from the Norwegian Library when it was on my own terms. I liked them better that way...
Dickens is kind of dry.
There's a 40's-era English film version of Nicholas Nickleby (and I love the book) that's fantastically powerful. Cedric Hardwicke as the icy villain just breathes evil out of his pores. And you can call it formulaic (because it was), but Dickens knew what he was doing when his story lines dealt so often with lovable orphans in constant peril. Gripping on the page and on the screen.
Speaking as a recovering English major, I can't stand Dickens. His stories are great, but I have never liked the way he tells them.
That being said, I really enjoyed "Bleak House." It really is his best work. Too bad it is almost as impenetrable to the casual reader as James Joyce's "Ulysses".
I agree, Monstrous Regiment was too long. Still hilarious, though.
You should try Small Gods or Going Postal, next. Those are 2 of my faves...
I read Going Postal at the beach Megan. I liked it.
I had a few English professors who would agree with you. I can't say that I've read all of his novels, but the few I did read in high school I did enjoy. Something tells me I might not like them the second time around, though.
Try David Copperfield if you want to like Dickens. I never get tired of that book.
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