Tag: Humor

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The Bookish Owl – House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones

House of Many Ways Diana Wynne Jones

Yep, new book. It’s House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones.

I loved the first book in this series, “Howl’s Moving Castle“, and since a friend gave me all the books for my birthday, I saw no reason not to get started on the sequel. Hopefully it holds up!

I’m trying to get a lot of reading done this summer, but I prefer to read outside if possible and the Danish weather is (as usual) rather bipolar. Right now it seems to have two settings: So windy that I have to bring a blanket or so hot and sunny that I last all of 10 minutes before being roasted.

Often both of these happen within a few hours of each other.

House of Many Ways
by Diana Wynne Jones

When Charmain Baker agreed to look after her great-uncle’s house, she thought she was getting blissful, parent-free time to read. She didn’t realize that the house bent space and time, and she did not expect to become responsible for an extremely magical stray dog and a muddled young apprentice wizard. Now, somehow, she’s been targeted by a terrifying creature called a lubbock, too, and become central to the king’s urgent search for the fabled Elfgift that will save the country. The king is so desperate to find the Elfgift, he’s called in an intimidating sorceress named Sophie to help. And where Sophie is, the great Wizard Howl and fire demon Calcifer won’t be far behind. How did respectable Charmain end up in such a mess, and how will she get herself out of it?

House of Many Ways Diana Wynne Jones

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The Bookish Owl – Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett

Wintersmith Terry Pratchett owl

Though I struggled a bit to get through my last book, I’m finally starting on Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett.

I’m looking forward to another Tiffany Aching book, especially because I was dragging my feet with my last read. Discworld is always a good palate cleanser and the Tiffany Aching subseries even more so. Sometimes you just need a not-quite-a-witch hitting things with a frying pan.

And if Granny Weatherwax is around to mess with people’s heads, all the better.

Oh, by the way, if you wanted a photo where you can see the cover artwork, I’m going to have to disappoint. I sat the bird down and then he would not move. Not sure what I did to deserve him freezing in a “Come at me, bro!”-stance like this…

Wintersmith
by Terry Pratchett

Tiffany Aching put one foot wrong, made one little mistake…

And now the spirit of winter is in love with her. He gives her roses and icebergs, says it with avalanches and showers her with snowflakes – which is tough when you’re 13, but also just a little bit… cool.

And just because the Wintersmith wants to marry you is no excuse for neglecting your chores. So Tiffany must look after Miss Treason, who’s 113 and has far too many eyes, learn the secret of Boffo, catch Horace the cheese, stop the gods from seeing her in the bath–

‘Crivens!’ Oh, yes, and be helped by the Nac Mac Feegles – whether she wants it or not.

But if Tiffany doesn’t work it all out, there will never be another springtime…

Wintersmith Terry Pratchett owl

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The Bookish Owl – Thud! by Terry Pratchett

Thud Terry Pratchett Discworld

I’m on a roll this week and already reading Thud! by Terry Pratchett.

I love this book, if for nothing else, then for the name. Thud!

Is it bad that I sort of want to hit someone in the face with it, just to see if that’s the sound it’ll make…?

THUD!

Another reason why this book is probably going to be awesome is because it’s part of my favorite Discworld subseries, the City Watch. Even if the last couple of books have taken a turn for the darker, Captain/Commander/Duke/Blackboard Monitor Samuel Vimes, Nobby Nobbs and the rest of Ankh-Morpork’s Finest will always have a special place in my heart.

(By the way, I can now say for a fact that the sound this book makes when knocked over by a tiny owl is, indeed, Thud!…)

Thud!
by Terry Pratchett

Koom Valley? That was where the trolls ambushed the dwarfs, or the dwarfs ambushed the trolls. It was far away. It was a long time ago.

But if he doesn’t solve the murder of just one dwarf, Commander Sam Vimes of Ankh-Morpork City Watch is going to see it fought again, right outside his office.

With his beloved Watch crumbling around him and war-drums sounding, he must unravel every clue, outwit every assassin and brave any darkness to find the solution. And darkness is following him.

Oh… and at six o’clock every day, without fail, with no excuses, he must go home to read ‘Where’s My Cow?’, with all the right farmyard noises, to his little boy.

There are some things you have to do.

Thud Terry Pratchett Discworld

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The Bookish Owl – Going Postal by Terry Pratchett

Going Postal Terry Pratchett

I’m already well into Going Postal by Terry Pratchett, so it’s about time you’re getting your owl/book photo.

This Discworld book is the first with the conman by the charming name of Moist von Lipwig. I haven’t quite made up my mind about dear Moist yet, but any book about Lord Vetinari messing with people is a good book. Also, I’m already a big fan of Adora Belle and her killer heels.

Going Postal
by Terry Pratchett

Moist von Lipwig is a con artist…

… and a fraud and a man faced with a life choice: be hanged, or put Ankh-Morpork’s ailing postal service back on its feet.

It’s a tough decision.

But he’s got to see that the mail gets through, come rain, hail, sleet, dogs, the Post Office Workers’ Friendly and Benevolent Society, the evil chairman of the Grand Trunk Semaphore Company, and a midnight killer.

Getting a date with Adora Belle Dearheart would be nice, too…

Going Postal Terry Pratchett

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The Bookish Owl – A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett

A Hat Full of Sky Terry Pratchett owl

I just started reading A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett!

I’m trying to consume as many books as possible before my LASIK surgery on Monday goes horribly wrong and I go blind. Just kidding… It’ll be fine.

…Probably.

But it is a fact that I’m going to be stuck at home for days while recovering without being allowed to read. Do you know what kind of hell it puts me in when someone tells me I’m not allowed to go to work, read books, play video games or even exercise?!

But back to the book (before I spiral into a pit of despair): ‘A Hat Full of Sky’ is the second book in the Tiffany Aching series of Discworld. I ended up really liking Tiffany after reading ‘The Wee Free Men’ and since I’m pretty sure that’s Granny Weatherwax with her on the cover of this one, I can only assume it’s going to be great.

A Hat Full of Sky
by Terry Pratchett

Tiffany Aching is ready to begin her apprenticeship in magic. She expects spells and magic—not chores and ill-tempered nanny goats! Surely there must be more to witchcraft than this!

What Tiffany doesn’t know is that an insidious, disembodied creature is pursuing her. This time, neither Mistress Weatherwax (the greatest witch in the world) nor the fierce, six-inch-high Wee Free Men can protect her. In the end, it will take all of Tiffany’s inner strength to save herself… if it can be done at all.

A Hat Full of Sky Terry Pratchett owl