sarakingdom Posted December 31, 2016 Report Share Posted December 31, 2016 What's this reading club all about, then? Lately we've had a lot of Discworld re-readers and new readers who weren't sure where to start, so we thought we'd start a book club. People struggle with where to start reading, because there are so many places you could start, and it's a fairly common opinion that the worst place to start is the actual first book. The books are all pretty self-contained, with a few exceptions that just work better if you know the characters, and there are so damned many, and everyone has a favorite and a totally different recommendation on where to start. So we thought we'd start the first three challenges with good starter books, introducing the major sub-series of the Discworld books: Challenge #55 (December) - Guards! Guards!, the most commonly recommended starting book, which introduces the hapless police force of Ankh-Morpork, Discworld's biggest city, one of the major sets of characters followed through the series. This is the book where people often feel the writing matured into something fully representative of the series that followed, and it introduces Sam Vimes, one of the major characters we follow through the books. Challenge #56 (January) - Wyrd Sisters, which introduces Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Magrat; a trio of witches in the rural Ramptops mountains, who carry another major subseries of the books. Granny Weatherwax lives in a town called Bad Ass, and it might as well be named for her. Challenge #57 (February) - Mort, which is the first major book in a series focusing on the Grim Reaper and the consequences of his questionable parenting decisions. Death is the third major character in the series. Challenge #58+: We'll take a vote to we see who's here and what they'd like to read next. So if you're curious about Discworld and couldn't figure out where to start, this is (still) for you. Any of these challenges will be a great place to start. All three would be a great intro to the major characters and themes of the series. If you find the holidays rough or winter depressing, these are fairly light, humorous action books with a solid core of human decency. They're good winter reading. If you've been away from Pratchett books too long and are looking for a re-read, this is your chance. (And we'd welcome a couple of old hands pitching in to keep discussion rolling. We've got a blackboard monitor for Wyrd Sisters - @Luciana Valerosa Culming will be modding for January - but we're muddling through on the rest.) (Future people reading the book two years from now, please feel free to use this thread for discussion. Just beware of possible spoilers as the thread goes on.) Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted December 31, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2016 Discworld Reading Club - Wyrd Sisters (Challenge #56) Terry Pratchett’s fantasy classic Wyrd Sisters, a novel in the Discworld series, is the story of Granny Weatherwax, the most highly regarded non-leader a coven of non-social witches could ever have; Nanny Ogg, matriarch of a large tribe of Oggs and owner of the most evil cat in the world; and Magrat Garlick, the junior witch, who firmly believes in occult jewelry, covens, and bubbling cauldrons, much to the annoyance of the other two. Generally, witches don't get involved in anything, mush less royal intrigue. but then there are those times they can't help it. As Granny Weatherwax is about to discover, it's a lot harder to stir up trouble in the castle than some theatrical types would have you think. Even when you've got a few unexpected spells up your sleeve. Granny Weatherwax teams with Nanny Ogg and Magrat Garlick in an unlikely alliance to save a prince and restore him to the throne of Lancre, in a tale that borrows — or is it parodies — some of William Shakespeare's best-loved works. The book should be in most libraries in book and quite possibly audiobook and ebook form. The Discworld audiobooks are really good, especially the later ones, so you can't go wrong if you prefer to listen rather than read. Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted December 31, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2016 I've found another "where to start reading Discworld" chart. Yeah, it's complicated. 3 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
Jarric Posted January 3, 2017 Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 No idea if I'll find time to re-read this this month, but will be following along for the discussion nonetheless. 1 Quote Level 21 Wood Elf Ranger STR: 16 - CON: 22 - CHA: 9 - SAN: 19 - INT: 17 IAgreeWithTank™ "Shit is going down, but I am not." - iatetheyeti Don't say "I don't have enough time", say instead "that's not a priority right now" and see how that makes you feel. Current Challenge: Downtime External: Epic Quest - Instagram - Strava Spoiler Previous Challenges: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 67 68 69 70 71 Old Stuff: Battle Log - My Introduction - 2017 Road Map - 2018 Road Map - 2019 Road Map - 2021 Road Map - 2022 road map/wrap-up Link to comment
CourtnieMarie Posted January 3, 2017 Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 i'm still on hold for the ebook from my library! (been on hold since 12/19; grrr.) will join in when i can! 1 Quote Instagram | pinterest read harder challenge | Battle Log | NROLFW Challenges: 13-1 | 13-2 | 13-3 | 13-3.5 | 14-1 | 14-2 | 15-1 | 15-2 | 15-3 | 15-4 | 15-5 | 16-1 | 16-2 | 16-3 | 16-4 | 16-5 | 16-6 | 16-7 | 16-8 | 17-1 | 17-2 | 17-3 | 17-4 | 17-5 | 17-6 | 17-7 | 17-8 | 17-9 | 17-10 | 18-1 | 18-2 | 18-3 | 18-4 | 18-5 | 18-6 | 18-7 | 18-8 | 18-9 | 18-10 | 19-1 | 19-2 | 19-3 | 19-4 | 19-5 | 19-6 | 19-7 | current Link to comment
Luciana Valerosa Culming Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 I'll join next Saturday. I'm really busy at the moment and can't find a quiet enough spot in between activities. I'm very sorry for this. 1 Quote level 12 Hobbit Monk (respawned September 2016) STR 4 | DEX 15 | CON 16 | STA 15 | WIS 33 | CHA 24 | Halfling | Newbie | Fencer and Bookworm Introduction | Character | Daily Battle Log | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | # | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | #### | 17 | Current Challenge Spoiler I'm exercising, because I want to get my stamina and strength. I enjoy medieevil swordmanship, Tai Chi, yoga, aikido and fire spinning. I'm also a roleplaying nerd and a book worm. Let's fight the procrastination dragon! Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted January 4, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 3 hours ago, Luciana Valerosa Culming said: I'll join next Saturday. I'm really busy at the moment and can't find a quiet enough spot in between activities. I'm very sorry for this. No rush, the challenge doesn't start till next week. Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
Broba Fett Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 Still wrapping up Men At Arms and then I'll be diving in to this one. I may even take the time to figure out spoiler text so I can join in more discussion this time around. 2 Quote Spoiler Currently... Playing (Video Game): RDR2 DMing: Tyranny of Dragons. First session 11/29. Broba Fett tracks em down. Facebook (Personal) Facebook (Author Page) Past Challenges: 13,12,11,10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted January 5, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2017 1 hour ago, Broba Fett said: I may even take the time to figure out spoiler text so I can join in more discussion this time around. It's the button that looks like an eye, on the right. Just click that, and you get a little spoiler box. Like this: Spoiler Leonard of Quirm, am I right? Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
Jarric Posted January 5, 2017 Report Share Posted January 5, 2017 10 hours ago, Broba Fett said: I may even take the time to figure out spoiler text so I can join in more discussion this time around. What @sarakingdom said. As far as I can tell it doesn't work on mobile though, which is a bit of a bugger. Quote Level 21 Wood Elf Ranger STR: 16 - CON: 22 - CHA: 9 - SAN: 19 - INT: 17 IAgreeWithTank™ "Shit is going down, but I am not." - iatetheyeti Don't say "I don't have enough time", say instead "that's not a priority right now" and see how that makes you feel. Current Challenge: Downtime External: Epic Quest - Instagram - Strava Spoiler Previous Challenges: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 67 68 69 70 71 Old Stuff: Battle Log - My Introduction - 2017 Road Map - 2018 Road Map - 2019 Road Map - 2021 Road Map - 2022 road map/wrap-up Link to comment
Infinity.Creates Posted January 5, 2017 Report Share Posted January 5, 2017 (I'm sorry I've already finished it. I picked it up and forgot to put it down, and now the story is done) But oof the difference between his earlier and later books are so strange. 2 Quote they / them | half-orc paladin ( oath of the watcher ) -- lv 0 Challenge 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 ~ Battle Log ~ Epic Quest Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted January 6, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2017 10 hours ago, IAmInfinite said: (I'm sorry I've already finished it. I picked it up and forgot to put it down, and now the story is done) This is often the problem with Pratchett. But on the plus side, you've read a whole Pratchett book. 10 hours ago, IAmInfinite said: But oof the difference between his earlier and later books are so strange. Yeah, for sure. The change between books that are close to each other is gradual, and the tone is very much the same, but there are several places where the intricacy of the books starts picking up a lot, and books that are ten years apart start to show it a little. 1 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
Infinity.Creates Posted January 6, 2017 Report Share Posted January 6, 2017 10 hours ago, sarakingdom said: This is often the problem with Pratchett. But on the plus side, you've read a whole Pratchett book. I read all of his books (the ones published before 2014) in a month. One of the best and worst decisions of my life. 4 Quote they / them | half-orc paladin ( oath of the watcher ) -- lv 0 Challenge 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 ~ Battle Log ~ Epic Quest Link to comment
Jarric Posted January 6, 2017 Report Share Posted January 6, 2017 1 hour ago, IAmInfinite said: I read all of his books (the ones published before 2014) in a month. One of the best and worst decisions of my life. That's seriously impressive - I think if I only stopped to sleep and read continuously the rest of the time I still wouldn't get through them in a month! Did you have time to enjoy them still? Quote Level 21 Wood Elf Ranger STR: 16 - CON: 22 - CHA: 9 - SAN: 19 - INT: 17 IAgreeWithTank™ "Shit is going down, but I am not." - iatetheyeti Don't say "I don't have enough time", say instead "that's not a priority right now" and see how that makes you feel. Current Challenge: Downtime External: Epic Quest - Instagram - Strava Spoiler Previous Challenges: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 67 68 69 70 71 Old Stuff: Battle Log - My Introduction - 2017 Road Map - 2018 Road Map - 2019 Road Map - 2021 Road Map - 2022 road map/wrap-up Link to comment
Infinity.Creates Posted January 6, 2017 Report Share Posted January 6, 2017 15 minutes ago, Jarric said: That's seriously impressive - I think if I only stopped to sleep and read continuously the rest of the time I still wouldn't get through them in a month! Did you have time to enjoy them still? I read roughly 3 a day, just at lunch and break and on the bus and when I got home. I read quick It was fantastic, and I remember falling in love with his books then, but I remember having such a headache afterwards And I didn't read his books for 2/3 years - till now because of it 1 Quote they / them | half-orc paladin ( oath of the watcher ) -- lv 0 Challenge 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 ~ Battle Log ~ Epic Quest Link to comment
Jarric Posted January 6, 2017 Report Share Posted January 6, 2017 1 hour ago, IAmInfinite said: I read roughly 3 a day, just at lunch and break and on the bus and when I got home. I read quick It was fantastic, and I remember falling in love with his books then, but I remember having such a headache afterwards And I didn't read his books for 2/3 years - till now because of it Wow, you really are a quick reader. I don't know if I've ever finished one book in a day! Quote Level 21 Wood Elf Ranger STR: 16 - CON: 22 - CHA: 9 - SAN: 19 - INT: 17 IAgreeWithTank™ "Shit is going down, but I am not." - iatetheyeti Don't say "I don't have enough time", say instead "that's not a priority right now" and see how that makes you feel. Current Challenge: Downtime External: Epic Quest - Instagram - Strava Spoiler Previous Challenges: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 67 68 69 70 71 Old Stuff: Battle Log - My Introduction - 2017 Road Map - 2018 Road Map - 2019 Road Map - 2021 Road Map - 2022 road map/wrap-up Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted January 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 We are officially on! I think @Luciana Valerosa Culming is on vacation for part of this challenge, but she will be by to lead this one (which is incredibly kind of her, RL is just eating me alive lately). My favorite thing about this book is that there is not one great female lead, but three, and they're all awesome in their own ways. It's rare enough to get one in most books, but the Witches books, man, they are loaded with amazing women who will kick your ass in their own way. 2 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
CourtnieMarie Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 yay! can't wait until the book is available at my library. just started the audiobook of the carpet people though to tide me over. 1 Quote Instagram | pinterest read harder challenge | Battle Log | NROLFW Challenges: 13-1 | 13-2 | 13-3 | 13-3.5 | 14-1 | 14-2 | 15-1 | 15-2 | 15-3 | 15-4 | 15-5 | 16-1 | 16-2 | 16-3 | 16-4 | 16-5 | 16-6 | 16-7 | 16-8 | 17-1 | 17-2 | 17-3 | 17-4 | 17-5 | 17-6 | 17-7 | 17-8 | 17-9 | 17-10 | 18-1 | 18-2 | 18-3 | 18-4 | 18-5 | 18-6 | 18-7 | 18-8 | 18-9 | 18-10 | 19-1 | 19-2 | 19-3 | 19-4 | 19-5 | 19-6 | 19-7 | current Link to comment
ChrisWithaStick Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 I may be joining in for this one. I'm finishing up another book, and will need something to occupy the time. I tend to binge read Pratchett, so slowing it down should be fun. 1 Quote Human | Plays with Sticks | Monkish Leanings | Rangerish Overtones Occasionally Updated Facebook Link to comment
Luciana Valerosa Culming Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 I'll be staying in bed to cure my cold. So there is plenty of time for reading. I'm looking forward to rereading this storyline. I really liked how the charakters developed until Lords and Ladies. @IAmInfinite you could read Witches Abroad next or Equal Rites, that we skipped. @ all The same rules aply as last time. Please use spoiler tags. We'll be talking open about the whole book in week four. CU Quote level 12 Hobbit Monk (respawned September 2016) STR 4 | DEX 15 | CON 16 | STA 15 | WIS 33 | CHA 24 | Halfling | Newbie | Fencer and Bookworm Introduction | Character | Daily Battle Log | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | # | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | #### | 17 | Current Challenge Spoiler I'm exercising, because I want to get my stamina and strength. I enjoy medieevil swordmanship, Tai Chi, yoga, aikido and fire spinning. I'm also a roleplaying nerd and a book worm. Let's fight the procrastination dragon! Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted January 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2017 19 hours ago, Luciana Valerosa Culming said: @IAmInfinite you could read Witches Abroad next or Equal Rites, that we skipped. I think we'd be helping IAmInfinite more if we helped them not read Pratchett. Or at least read more slowly. SLOW DOWN, YOU'LL HURT YOURSELF. 1 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
Infinity.Creates Posted January 13, 2017 Report Share Posted January 13, 2017 14 hours ago, sarakingdom said: I think we'd be helping IAmInfinite more if we helped them not read Pratchett. Or at least read more slowly. SLOW DOWN, YOU'LL HURT YOURSELF. ALL THE BOOKS!! No I took a break by reading all 5 books in Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn books. Many words but so good! 1 Quote they / them | half-orc paladin ( oath of the watcher ) -- lv 0 Challenge 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 ~ Battle Log ~ Epic Quest Link to comment
Raincloak Posted January 14, 2017 Report Share Posted January 14, 2017 Wyrd Sisters was the first Discworld book I read (thanks Grandma!) and is still one of my faves, although a certain relative made off with my copy and left it somewhere so I don't have it anymore. I think it's the best at showcasing Granny Weatherwax, although the other books featuring her are pretty good too, they get quite a bit darker and grimmer, like the ones about Vimes. What's kind of remarkable about Magrat, at least to me, is how oddly accurate Pterry is at getting into the mind of a dreamy but shy young woman who has the best intentions and isn't dumb at all, but hasn't quite wrapped her brain around the dirt and cynicism of the world. (Yes, I have a Magrat streak.) Her personality gets better defined in later books, but it's not bad already in her first appearance I wonder who he used as a character model for her. 1 Quote Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future. Hylian Assassin 5'5", 143 lbs. Half-marathon: 3:02It is pitch dark. You are likely to be eaten by a grue. Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted January 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2017 4 minutes ago, Raincloak said: although the other books featuring her are pretty good too, they get quite a bit darker and grimmer, like the ones about Vimes. They definitely get darker. Heck, the next Witches book, Witches Abroad... holy shit, she's dark in that book, when you stop to think about what she does. And the whole book is unexpectedly dark for a Disney parody. (I find Lords and Ladies sort of charming, though, especially Granny.) 7 minutes ago, Raincloak said: What's kind of remarkable about Magrat, at least to me, is how oddly accurate Pterry is at getting into the mind of a dreamy but shy young woman who has the best intentions and isn't dumb at all, but hasn't quite wrapped her brain around the dirt and cynicism of the world. (Yes, I have a Magrat streak.) Magrat is delightfully real. That's the thing about all the witches, they each may or may not be women you'd want to spend time with, but they are spectacularly real. With all the flaws and annoyances and views of real people. That's rare in any characters, but especially in female leads, and most especially in three totally different ones at once. Even when I don't love the plot of a Witches book (and I confess, Wyrd Sisters is not my fave on that front), the characters are so refreshing. 3 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
Luciana Valerosa Culming Posted January 17, 2017 Report Share Posted January 17, 2017 I really enjoy reading about the witches. They are so different and still they manage to accomblish so much, when they work together. Who's your favorite witch? Quote level 12 Hobbit Monk (respawned September 2016) STR 4 | DEX 15 | CON 16 | STA 15 | WIS 33 | CHA 24 | Halfling | Newbie | Fencer and Bookworm Introduction | Character | Daily Battle Log | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | # | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | #### | 17 | Current Challenge Spoiler I'm exercising, because I want to get my stamina and strength. I enjoy medieevil swordmanship, Tai Chi, yoga, aikido and fire spinning. I'm also a roleplaying nerd and a book worm. Let's fight the procrastination dragon! Link to comment
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