It was an abomination of a crime that I had committed against myself-- going without reading Terry Pratchett for so long. Pratchett is an awe-inspiring author. If Shakespeare and Wodehouse could ever decide that the world needs their combined protege, then he is it, but even better!
You need to read this book in the proper ambience. First of all, get yourself a steaming cup of English breakfast tea and gear up to read out loud in your posh-est British accent. (Try to imagine that you're the Queen in a top hat, that usually helps.) A word of caution: read this book away from people who might judge you for giggling, snorting and occasionally choking on your own saliva because you were laughing so hard.
Title: Wyrd Sisters-- #6 Discworld Series (First Published: 1988)
You need to read this book in the proper ambience. First of all, get yourself a steaming cup of English breakfast tea and gear up to read out loud in your posh-est British accent. (Try to imagine that you're the Queen in a top hat, that usually helps.) A word of caution: read this book away from people who might judge you for giggling, snorting and occasionally choking on your own saliva because you were laughing so hard.
Title: Wyrd Sisters-- #6 Discworld Series (First Published: 1988)
Author: Terry Pratchett
Genre: Fantasy, Historical fiction
Now where do I start from? The characters and the plot lines are all over the place and yet, tightly held together in this amazing creation. This gigantic monstrosity of an ensemble delivers everything from 'three witches' to 'divers alarums' (that last phrase is particularly discussed upon a lot in the book).
Long story short: The king dies, a duke arrives, the kingdom doesn't like the evil duke, and so three witches go about restoring the rightful heir to the throne. But the way they go about doing it, now that is a riot (or three, in this case). With numerous allusions to Shakespeare's Macbeth and Hamlet, and even to Shakespeare himself (there is a character named Hwel who is, surprise, a playwright); this piece of work is ingenious.
The title characters are none other than the three witches, and they completely alter any preconceived notion you have had about witches while managing to reinforce it all the same. So Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat Garlick are the three not-so-menacing witches whose sole mission seems to be to meet for copious amounts of tea (I approve of that) while trying their hardest not to get involved in the kingdom's politics. Throw in the king's ghost, a baby, a travelling group of actors, a potential love interest for the not-so-well-endowed youngest witch (a couple of peas are mentioned, that is all you are hearing from me); all that results in utter chaos, a fifteen-year time warp and a play.
Genre: Fantasy, Historical fiction
Now where do I start from? The characters and the plot lines are all over the place and yet, tightly held together in this amazing creation. This gigantic monstrosity of an ensemble delivers everything from 'three witches' to 'divers alarums' (that last phrase is particularly discussed upon a lot in the book).
Long story short: The king dies, a duke arrives, the kingdom doesn't like the evil duke, and so three witches go about restoring the rightful heir to the throne. But the way they go about doing it, now that is a riot (or three, in this case). With numerous allusions to Shakespeare's Macbeth and Hamlet, and even to Shakespeare himself (there is a character named Hwel who is, surprise, a playwright); this piece of work is ingenious.
The title characters are none other than the three witches, and they completely alter any preconceived notion you have had about witches while managing to reinforce it all the same. So Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat Garlick are the three not-so-menacing witches whose sole mission seems to be to meet for copious amounts of tea (I approve of that) while trying their hardest not to get involved in the kingdom's politics. Throw in the king's ghost, a baby, a travelling group of actors, a potential love interest for the not-so-well-endowed youngest witch (a couple of peas are mentioned, that is all you are hearing from me); all that results in utter chaos, a fifteen-year time warp and a play.
While I know that I have been blabbering on and on about the book, and yet not about the book, the truth is that it is definitely a non-transferable experience. The blatantly humorous lines and the subtle comedy that leaves one breathless, it's all there and you need to read it to believe it. I could wax poetic about this book for ages and it still wouldn't be enough. So, read it. Definitely read it. What are you waiting for, go get this book!
Rating: 5/5
No comments:
Post a Comment
Let us know what you think.