Monday 31 March 2008

A Hat Full of Sky

Couldn't resist, I had to read the next Tiffany Aching book straightaway. No backbone that's my trouble! ;-) And so my second book for Carl's Once Upon a Time II challenge is A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett.



Tiffany is now eleven years old. She hasn't done much witching since the events of the last book but she has taught herself the 'see me' trick - the art of stepping outside her body to view her appearance. Unfortunately, that kind of magic attracts attention and sometimes it's of the unwelcome variety. Tiffany is to leave the farm, accompanied by Miss Tick, her destination being the home of the witch, Miss Level, to whom she will be apprenticed. Unbeknowns to Tiffany and Miss Tick the Unwelcome Attention is not far behind. What does it want? Well, it needs a body to take over and the more powerful the better. Very soon, Tiffany will have to fight for the right to inhabit her own mind. Thankfully, she will not be alone, Granny Weatherwax and the Wee Free Men are there to help but this is one tough fight and ultimately it might all boil down to Tiffany...

I think I actually liked A Hat Full of Sky more than The Wee Free Men. There's not much in it mind, both are great fun, but maybe A Hat Full of Sky was just a tiny bit more exciting and what happened to Tiffany this time a bit more intriguing. The introduction of the coven for apprentices and their spiteful leader, Annagramma, was another delightful extra, imo, and there was far more Granny Weatherwax, who is one of my favourite Discworld characters. Death makes an appearance too of course, always a joy... I thought he appeared in every book but for the life of me I can't remember him in The Wee Free Men. Anyway, wonderful... a complete page turner. Sadly, I can't read the third book, Wintersmith, straight off as I don't have it. I'll have to wait until I can get it from my daughter. Hmph.

Other reviews of this book:

chainletters

14 comments:

Ana S. said...

The Wee Free Men is actually the only Discworld book in which Death does not appear, if I'm not mistaken.

I think it was very wise of you not to even try resisting this one :P It's a great book, isn't it? Granny Weatherwax is great, and Tiffany quickly became one of my favourite characters as well.

DesLily said...

LOL well I hope your daughter is in a generous mood and quickly loans you the book !!

If not I have found that threats work ! hahaha~

Cath said...

Yes, Nymeth, 'resistance is futile' when it come to the wonderful Terry Pratchett. *g* I'm hooked now and have just started The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents. I can't wait to get hold of Wintersmith though...

Cath said...

Hi Pat. I called her this morning to make sure she knew I wanted to borrow it. She borrowed Mary Russell from me so she owes me. LOL! She's already up to Justice Hall in that series! Quick reader, unlike me.

DesLily said...

Or me for that matter! Justice Hall is sitting here waiting for me lol..

Cath said...

She couldn't get hold of O Jerusalem!, Pat so I assured her it wouldn't make any difference and she said it doesn't... Justice Hall follows on from The Moor. I'm planning to read A Letter of Mary this month.

Jill said...

I love Laurie King! And I'm glad to hear you enjoyed A Hat Full of Sky. Not surprised, though. :-)

I haven't read Wintersmith yet - I think I'm saving it so I can look forward to it for a while. I tend to do that with books, for some reason. I love knowing they're there, waiting for me.

Carl V. Anderson said...

Who needs backbone when it comes to reading? Dive in and enjoy is my motto! :)

Cath said...

Darla, I know excatly what you mean about saving books and liking to know they're there waiting for you. It probably accounts for why I have several series I started ages ago, unfinished. Pratchett's Night Watch series is a case in point. I still haven't read the wsixth book, Night Watch, nor the seventh, Thud! But they're there waiting for me for when I'm ready.

Carl, you are so right about backbone and books. There are so few things in life where you're not accountable to someone and I always think it's wonderful that reading is one of them.

Robin said...

I haven't read any Terry Pratchett, but have heard so much about his books! I recently picked up a copy of Wintersmith, thinking I would read it for Carl's OUAT challenge, but I didn't realize it was part of a trilogy. I would definitely like to read them in order, so I'll have to pick up and read the other two first! I enjoyed both your reviews, so I'm sure I'd enjoy the books! Thanks!

Cath said...

Robin, I resisted reading this trilogy for some time. In fact I resisted reading Terry Pratchett for years and years! My daughter eventually persuaded me to give him a go and I'm so glad I did. The Night Watch books are probably my favourites of all the Pratchett books, the first being Guards! Guards!

Framed said...

I listened to this on CD while traveling and it had me giggling all the time. I haven't read any more of Pratchett's books except for Good Omen which I loved. There are several wiaitng for me that I need to get to.

Anonymous said...

I loved your review. I hope you don't mind, but I've linked to it as part of my own.

Cath said...

Hi chainletters. Yes, please do add a link to my review, that's kind of you. I've added your link to mine too. I've just finished the third book in the Tiffany Aching series, Wintersmith, and will be reviewing that over the next few days as well.