Pratchett, Terry - Equal Rites (Discworld #3) , Informal Buddy Read, Start Date Jan 4, 2016

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This topic is open for discussion about Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett



Book synopsis:
On Discworld, a dying wizard tries to pass on his powers to an eighth son of an eighth son, who is just at that moment being born. The fact that the son is actually a daughter is discovered just a little too late. The town witch insists on turning the baby into a perfectly normal witch, thus mending the magical damage of the wizard's mistake. But now the young girl will be forced to penetrate the inner sanctum of the Unseen University--and attempt to save the world with one well-placed kick in some enchanted shins!

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[Jen]

I'm super excited to continue the Discworld series! I'm collecting it, too. So far, I just have the first two books, but I'll be able to buy Equal Rites on Monday the 4th and I'll looking forward to reading it! :-)

[Jen]

Ang wrote: "Hello!

I thought you might enjoy this webpage about how to read the Discworld series. I'm not sure there is a right and wrong way as I am a Terry P. noob but they have it divided up into differen..."

Thanks, Ang! I'm a noob, too, and I'm just planning to read them in publication order. I feel like I'm safest by doing it this way. lol! ;-)

[Jen]

Ang wrote: "Hi. I finished The Light Fantastic and have Equal Rites checked out and ready to go!"

Great! I bought Equal Rites yesterday and am ready to go, too. I just have 60% of my current book left to read. I plan to read as much as I can tonight, and then tomorrow - finished or not - start Equal Rites. :-)

How did you like The Light Fantastic?

[Jen]

Ang, I'm starting it! I have my bookmark set at page one and I'm about to get off the computer and try to read it while watching a football game with my mom. Not sure how successful I'll be, but I should at least get a page or three read. lol! :-)

[Jen]

Ang wrote: "I thought The Light Fantastic was hilarious. I bookmarked a handful of quotes that were especially funny. I don't know why but I could not stop chuckling when the spell inside Rincewind's head says..."

We must have similar senses of humor, then, because I thought The Light Fantastic was fantastically hilarious, too. :-)

[Jen]

I'm about 36% into Equal Rites (page 96) and I'm very much loving this story. Esk's magic is great fun! I can't wait to see what it will be like when she's actually controlling it. :-)

When I started this book, I think I read the first five or so pages with a pretty constant smile on my face. There were just so many smile-worthy lines. :-)

I'm sad that I have to pause, but I have to get some sleep. The lines are beginning to swim in front of my eyes. :-(

[Jen]

While many lines in this book made me smile, none made me laugh out loud until this one (on page 229, about 86% into the story): "'I was born up in the mountains. I get seasick on damp grass, if you must know,' said Cutangle." ... lol! :-)

I finished this about an hour ago. I really loved this story. It was great to meet more (and new!) Discworld residents. I especially liked Granny's exchanges with Cutangle towards the end. :-)

[Jen]

Ang wrote: "Ah. That was a great read."

Yes, yes it was. :-)

All the quotes you shared are among the ones that brought a smile to my face. I love the humor Terry Pratchett infuses into these Discworld books. :-)

[Jen]

Ang, do you (or does anyone?) want to continue on and read book four, Mort? If yes, when?

[Jen]

Ang wrote: "Hi Jen,

I'll read Mort with you. I will have to get it from the library. It's not an available e-book. I will try tomorrow. If not tomorrow, then next week. When were you thinking?"

I can fit it in anytime. I bought it (and most of the other books in the Discworld series) the other day. lol I really should be reading other books (I have a plan and everything!) but if you want to read it tomorrow or next week, I'll make time for it. :-)

[Jen]

Ang wrote: "Jen - You pick the day. I have it now from the library."

How about Monday again? The 11th?

[Jen]

Ang, we have a new thread for book four now! I'm excited to read Mort with you. :-)

I asked for the date to be Jan 11 when asking for the thread, but we can start it whenever. Just let me know! (Either here or over there.)

Here's the thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Lindsey]

This is one of my favourite Pratchetts :) For Pratchett noobs, Pratchett himself suggested not to read the first book first (The Colour of Magic) - I think his later books are better, although it's interesting to see him develop his style if you read them in the order they were written.

Imho, the books he wrote with female protaganists are some of his best - Monstrous Regiment, The Wee Free Men: The Beginning, Maskerade, for example - but I might be biased :)

[Jen]

Lindsey wrote: "This is one of my favourite Pratchetts :) For Pratchett noobs, Pratchett himself suggested not to read the first book first (The Colour of Magic) - I think his later books are better,..."

That's interesting... The Color of Magic was my introduction to Discworld (and Terry Pratchett) and I really (REALLY) loved it. I thought it was absolutely hilarious and I resolved to buy up the whole series after finishing it. :-)

I'm reading them in publication order so I haven't yet read any of the ones you listed. I own them, though! I've been successful beyond my wildest dreams at collecting the series in January. I think I'm only now missing maybe one or three of the 41 books. :-)

I'll get to them eventually. I'm currently reading book four, Mort. :-)

[Lindsey]

I've been reading (and rereading) them in publication order as well lately, but I've only got the last few left and I've been dragging my heels. I really don't want to be done them all. I think they get better as they go on, so if this proves true for you, you're in for a great ride :)

You should definitely check out some of his non-Discworld writing as well. I've heard that some of his other works were not that great (I've only read a couple so far), but not sure I believe it. The Bromeliad Trilogy is on my list of "books everyone should read," and I'm reading A Slip of the Keyboard: Collected Non-Fiction an essay at a time; it's soul nourishment for me.

/end Pratchett fangirling (for now)

[Jen]

Lindsey wrote: "/end Pratchett fangirling (for now)"

Thanks for the recs, Lindsey! After I'm finished with Discworld, I'll probably read Good Omens: The Nice & Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, which he wrote with Neil Gaiman (and I bought before tackling the Discworld series but have yet to read). I don't think I'd heard of those others you mentioned, but I'll definitely add them to my TBR! :-)