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Mort
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Mort by Terry Pratchett - TT8 June BOM (starts 22 June)
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Date MPDQs start/end quote
22 Jun Angie (Moist) end: "'I want' he said firmly 'a very fast horse.'" (p52 / 19%)
23 Jun Sana (Ridcully) start: "Five minutes later, Mort was lost"
end: "Sooner or later, everyone remembered the magic word (p98 / 37%)
24 Jun Erin PBH(Sybil) start: "Keli had been to official functions..."
end: "Then Cutwell sighted carefully ... [spoiler removed]" (p151 / 58%)
25 Jun Audrey Jane(Rob)start: "The night shed its early casualties"
end: "'Now - are we going?'" (p200 / 76%)
26 Jun Eldarwen(DEATH) start: Albert sat on his narrow bed..."
page numbers taken from my lovely hardback edition
. It has little blocks between sections - as close to chapter breaks as possible, and I tried to use those for the DQ sections.Guidance for DQ setters
Aim for a reasonable number of questions: 4 - 5 is typical. Please don't post too many - any more than 7 gets unwieldy!
Use consecutive numbering of the DQs for your days. So, for example, if Day One is posted as questions 1-4, Day Two should start at number 5 etc.
Don't worry too much about your questions: you aren't being tested on how clever your questions are!
Hints and tips:
- Is there a quote that jumped out at you? Use that in a question.
- What about the characters - do they generate strong feelings? No feelings? - either way, we can explore that!
- What about that plot twist?!
- Explore the writing style: is there an unusual structure being used? what's the tone of voice like? or the point of view?
Want more information about how NBRC runs their Book of the Month discussions? Check out the information here
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(last edited May 26, 2021 09:10AM)
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Melinda (Vimes)
Jenny (Moist)
Lisa Aussie Girl (Carrot)
Cat (Dogbotherer)
Judith (Oook)
Lexi (Oook backup)
Audrey Jane (Rob)
E (DEATH)
Suzanne (Rince)
Jammin Jenny (Rob backup)
Jessica (Cheery)
Stacey (Carrot backup)
Erin PBH (Sybil)
Angie (Moist)
Federica (Ogg)
Sana (Ridcully)
Sophie (Granny)
Ilse (Ogg backup)
Ushashi (Sybil)
Dawn (Granny)
Judy (Ogg)
Lynne (Ridcully backup)
Tammie (Moist)
Andrea (Cheery)
(view spoiler)
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Team Sam Vimes here, volunteering to do DQs.
Moist volunteers for DQs!
Volunteering for DQ’s for Team Carrot.
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Back up for Team Oook
Volunteering for DQs (Team Rob).
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How could I not? ;-)
It'll be a reread for me but it's been quite a few years but I can't seem to remember all too much of it in the meantime, though it may all come (screaming) back to me soon enough hehe.
Eta: DQ too, of course.
I'm in for Rincewind and can write daily questions.
In for Cherry. and for DQs
I'll volunteer as backup for Carrot.
I’ve already got my copy reserved
I'm in and volunteer for DQ (Lady Sybil)
Volunteering for DQs (Team Moist)
Volunteering for DQs! (Team Nanny Ogg)
Volunteering for DQs (Archchancellor Ridcully)
Mod
Mort is one of the Kindle daily deal books today in the UK - 99p
Volunteering for DQs (Team Lady Sybil)
Also volunteering for Granny :) found a copy at my local library!
volunteering for DQs for Nanny Ogg :)
Volunteering as back-up for DQs (Ridcully)
Volunteering for DQs - Team Moist
Volunteering for DQs - Team Cheery
Mod
If you can't do your day and have a backup team member on the list they can take over; if you don't have a back up then the next unique team (under the spoiler) will be up
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Angie will be taking the DQs for team Moist on this one. She was a volunteer.Day 1.
I'm in the this read! Looking forward to this one :D
If it's not too much trouble, could someone pretty please tell me or add the % of when each Day ends? 😇 The sentences are a bit hard to find when you listen on audio haha.
Christina wrote: "If it's not too much trouble, could someone pretty please tell me or add the % of when each Day ends? 😇 The sentences are a bit hard to find when you listen on audio haha."I'll do that! Give me a few minutes and I'll post it. I couldn't find the audiobook, who did you get it through?
Date MPDQs start/end quote22 Jun Angie (Moist) end: "'I want' he said firmly 'a very fast horse.'" (p52) = end 19%
23 Jun Sana (Ridcully) start: "Five minutes later, Mort was lost"
end: "Sooner or later, everyone remembered the magic word (p98) = end 37%
24 Jun Erin PBH(Sybil) start: "Keli had been to official functions..."
end: "Then Cutwell sighted carefully ... [spoiler removed]" (p151) = end 58%
25 Jun Audrey Jane(Rob)start: "The night shed its early casualties"
end: "'Now - are we going?'" (p200) = end 76%
26 Jun Eldarwen(DEATH) start: Albert sat on his narrow bed..." == 76% to end
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Trinia wrote: "I'll do that! Give me a few minutes and I'll post it. I couldn't find the audiobook, who did you get it through?"It's pretty easy to find on youtube
Judy wrote: "Trinia wrote: "I'll do that! Give me a few minutes and I'll post it. I couldn't find the audiobook, who did you get it through?"It's pretty easy to find on youtube"
Thanks! I'll check it out
Cat wrote: "Trinia, you're a superstar! Thank you so much for doing that :)"
No problem!
Trinia wrote: "Date MPDQs start/end quote22 Jun Angie (Moist) end: "'I want' he said firmly 'a very fast horse.'" (p52) = end 19%
23 Jun Sana (Ridcully) start: "Five minutes later, Mort was lost"
end: "Soon..."
Thanks so much Trinia, you're the best!! And like Judy said, we found it on yt after I had already looked for Equal Rites there hah 🙃
YW! And thank you for the tip … I found it on YouTube!
DQs Day 1: (end: "'I want' he said firmly 'a very fast horse.'"19% / Page 52)1. Mort is nothing if not determined. He refuses to give up on being a “prentice” until the last stoke of midnight. Then at the very last second, Death arrives for him. Do you think Mort was quick to take the apprenticeship perhaps from feeling humiliated at the days events or was it something that truly intrigued him? Would you have been willing to work for Death?
2. Death has a sarcastic tone during this first section. What do you think of his fawning over Mort to ensure he gets new clothes and food and Death eating with him like a regular guy? Is he up to something sinister or does he just want to make Mort comfortable?
3. Mort may be a bit gangly and lost in his own head at times, but he seems to have a lot of compassion. Upon realizing that he was talking to Death, he asked him to spare his Dad. Later he tries to intervene and warn the King that he was about to be killed and finally on that same trip he wanted to tell the King’s daughter not to trust the Duke. What did you think of all that? Are these normal reactions to someone who is the apprentice to Death? Do you think it will continue as Mort sees more and more of Death’s duty?
4. What is up with the constant utterance of “Mort” every time someone calls our MC anything other than Mort or Mortimer after arriving at Death’s House and meeting Yasbell? Is there some significance to this or is it just rather annoying?! Lol!
5. Mort, surprisingly, asked Death for an afternoon off. I think our dear Mort is growing up! He explains to Death that he wants to meet people for more than a few minutes. When he arrives in his own time and finds out where he is, he asks if he is near Sto Lat. He seems to have a plan when he says he wants a very fast horse. What do you think he intends? Will it work out like he plans?
Angie ☯ wrote: "DQs Day 1: (end: "'I want' he said firmly 'a very fast horse.'"19% / Page 52)..."1. Mort is nothing if not determined. He refuses to give up on being a “prentice” until the last stoke of midnight. Then at the very last second, Death arrives for him. Do you think Mort was quick to take the apprenticeship perhaps from feeling humiliated at the days events or was it something that truly intrigued him? Would you have been willing to work for Death?
I think Mort recognises he was being offered a dysfunctional job which appealed to him as he didn’t fit into anything conventional. He got bed and board and was wanted - chosen. Because Death saw him as he was searching the world.
2. Death has a sarcastic tone during this first section. What do you think of his fawning over Mort to ensure he gets new clothes and food and Death eating with him like a regular guy? Is he up to something sinister or does he just want to make Mort comfortable?
I didn’t think Death was being sarcastic or fawning at all, my feeling was that Death was a little anxious to make his new apprentice feel comfortable and at ease. He recognised that Mort had been dismissed by his family - the ‘new’ outfit was a demonstration of that.
3. Mort may be a bit gangly and lost in his own head at times, but he seems to have a lot of compassion. Upon realizing that he was talking to Death, he asked him to spare his Dad. Later he tries to intervene and warn the King that he was about to be killed and finally on that same trip he wanted to tell the King’s daughter not to trust the Duke. What did you think of all that? Are these normal reactions to someone who is the apprentice to Death? Do you think it will continue as Mort sees more and more of Death’s duty?
I think I would have done the same if I was in Mort’s shoes. At that stage I don’t think Mort fully appreciated what he was expected to do and Death didn’t explain the why just said this is how it’s done. I always need to know why something is - not just accept ‘because’ as a reason
4. What is up with the constant utterance of “Mort” every time someone calls our MC anything other than Mort or Mortimer after arriving at Death’s House and meeting Yasbell? Is there some significance to this or is it just rather annoying?! Lol!
I absolutely SO related to this. My name is Sally and I hate it being shortened to Sal - I will always correct someone who calls me Sal. In Mort’s case it was even worse - he was just called Boy as if he was of no consequence. By insisting on his name, Mort was saying that he WAS of consequence- he was Mort not just a nameless boy
5. Mort, surprisingly, asked Death for an afternoon off. I think our dear Mort is growing up! He explains to Death that he wants to meet people for more than a few minutes. When he arrives in his own time and finds out where he is, he asks if he is near Sto Lat. He seems to have a plan when he says he wants a very fast horse. What do you think he intends? Will it work out like he plans?
Mort most definitely has a plan - Sto Lat is where the King was killed and he tried to warn the Princess. I think he’s off to contact the Princess.
Mod
1. Mort is nothing if not determined. He refuses to give up on being a “prentice” until the last stoke of midnight. Then at the very last second, Death arrives for him. Do you think Mort was quick to take the apprenticeship perhaps from feeling humiliated at the days events or was it something that truly intrigued him? Would you have been willing to work for Death?
He's present as a boy with an enquiring mind, so I think there was definite interest there. For myself, much as I love Death, no!
2. Death has a sarcastic tone during this first section. What do you think of his fawning over Mort to ensure he gets new clothes and food and Death eating with him like a regular guy? Is he up to something sinister or does he just want to make Mort comfortable?
He's doing what he intellectually understands he should do for an employee, but is Death, so is not the best at human behaviour...
3. Mort may be a bit gangly and lost in his own head at times, but he seems to have a lot of compassion. Upon realizing that he was talking to Death, he asked him to spare his Dad. Later he tries to intervene and warn the King that he was about to be killed and finally on that same trip he wanted to tell the King’s daughter not to trust the Duke. What did you think of all that? Are these normal reactions to someone who is the apprentice to Death? Do you think it will continue as Mort sees more and more of Death’s duty?
They are certainly human reactions - not to want to see people hurt. As this is a reread I'll not "guess" ;-P
I do like Death's outrage when Mort accuses him of killing people - it's a really interesting point. That and the insistence that many of Pratchett's best characters have of seeing things as they really are, not as we want them to be. Granny W uses that in her use of Headology, Carrot and Vimes in their pursuit of justice and Death in viewing the habits of mortals.
4. What is up with the constant utterance of “Mort” every time someone calls our MC anything other than Mort or Mortimer after arriving at Death’s House and meeting Ysabell? Is there some significance to this or is it just rather annoying?! Lol!
He's trying to maintain his own identity as a person, especially in the face of Ysabell being particularly annoying towards him!
5. Mort, surprisingly, asked Death for an afternoon off. I think our dear Mort is growing up! He explains to Death that he wants to meet people for more than a few minutes. When he arrives in his own time and finds out where he is, he asks if he is near Sto Lat. He seems to have a plan when he says he wants a very fast horse. What do you think he intends? Will it work out like he plans?
Not going to answer this one, as I know.... #spoilerssweetie
1. Mort is nothing if not determined. He refuses to give up on being a “prentice” until the last stoke of midnight. Then at the very last second, Death arrives for him. Do you think Mort was quick to take the apprenticeship perhaps from feeling humiliated at the days events or was it something that truly intrigued him? Would you have been willing to work for Death?Aside from the fact that it was the very last moment so he was of course going to grab at whatever came his way, I think there was also an element of curiosity.
2. Death has a sarcastic tone during this first section. What do you think of his fawning over Mort to ensure he gets new clothes and food and Death eating with him like a regular guy? Is he up to something sinister or does he just want to make Mort comfortable?
I don't think he was being sarcastic. Death was trying to behave in a way he thought was expected, but he struggles a little (or a lot...) with human behaviours. There's a lot of this throughout the book and the series. He is a nice guy really! :)
3. Mort may be a bit gangly and lost in his own head at times, but he seems to have a lot of compassion. Upon realizing that he was talking to Death, he asked him to spare his Dad. Later he tries to intervene and warn the King that he was about to be killed and finally on that same trip he wanted to tell the King’s daughter not to trust the Duke. What did you think of all that? Are these normal reactions to someone who is the apprentice to Death? Do you think it will continue as Mort sees more and more of Death’s duty?
I think it's perfectly normal. Who wouldn't try to prevent death and pain? I've read this book about a half dozen times, so I won't spoil what happens after this.
4. What is up with the constant utterance of “Mort” every time someone calls our MC anything other than Mort or Mortimer after arriving at Death’s House and meeting Yasbell? Is there some significance to this or is it just rather annoying?! Lol!
There are few things more annoying than people willfully getting your name wrong or insisting on calling you something else when you've made it clear you don't want them to. I'm with Mort on this one!
5. Mort, surprisingly, asked Death for an afternoon off. I think our dear Mort is growing up! He explains to Death that he wants to meet people for more than a few minutes. When he arrives in his own time and finds out where he is, he asks if he is near Sto Lat. He seems to have a plan when he says he wants a very fast horse. What do you think he intends? Will it work out like he plans?
Again, re-read, so keeping quiet ;)
Angie ☯ wrote: "DQs Day 1: (end: "'I want' he said firmly 'a very fast horse.'"19% / Page 52)1. Mort is nothing if not determined. He refuses to give up on being a “prentice” until the last stoke of midnight. T..."
1. Mort is nothing if not determined. He refuses to give up on being a “prentice” until the last stoke of midnight. Then at the very last second, Death arrives for him. Do you think Mort was quick to take the apprenticeship perhaps from feeling humiliated at the days events or was it something that truly intrigued him? Would you have been willing to work for Death? I don't think that taking the apprenticeship had anything to do with humiliation. I feel that he didn't want to disappoint his father, or go home empty handed. Once Mort considered the offer it seemed intriguing to him but I think he made his decision based on opportunity. If death is not required, then yes, I think my curiosity would demand that I say yes to this opportunity. Mort eluded to this being his reason also when his father asked if Mort wanted to take the apprenticeship.
2. Death has a sarcastic tone during this first section. What do you think of his fawning over Mort to ensure he gets new clothes and food and Death eating with him like a regular guy? Is he up to something sinister or does he just want to make Mort comfortable? I think that Death wants something from Mort and therefore Death is courting Mort. By making Mort more comfortable, Death can gain Mort's trust. But, I do not think it is sinister.
3. Mort may be a bit gangly and lost in his own head at times, but he seems to have a lot of compassion. Upon realizing that he was talking to Death, he asked him to spare his Dad. Later he tries to intervene and warn the King that he was about to be killed and finally on that same trip he wanted to tell the King’s daughter not to trust the Duke. What did you think of all that? Are these normal reactions to someone who is the apprentice to Death? Do you think it will continue as Mort sees more and more of Death’s duty? I think it is human to want to preserve life. Mort will need to change his perspective to be an apprentice to Death. It also seems a comment on our inability or unwillingness to accept death. I do think that it will continue, at least for a time. I hope that Mort comes around eventually.
4. What is up with the constant utterance of “Mort” every time someone calls our MC anything other than Mort or Mortimer after arriving at Death’s House and meeting Yasbell? Is there some significance to this or is it just rather annoying?! Lol! I love that Mort is constantly, almost automatically, saying his name every time someone calls him boy. He is asserting his identity. But, I think there is more to it. It is showing an insecurity as well. Yasbell insists that Mort is a servant and calls him boy to assert this idea. Mort rejects this idea and shows it by repeating that his is Mort, not boy. It eludes to him thinking that being a servant is less. But, Mort does notice that Albert addresses Death as an equal. I think there is something there.
5. Mort, surprisingly, asked Death for an afternoon off. I think our dear Mort is growing up! He explains to Death that he wants to meet people for more than a few minutes. When he arrives in his own time and finds out where he is, he asks if he is near Sto Lat. He seems to have a plan when he says he wants a very fast horse. What do you think he intends? Will it work out like he plans? Yes, he has a plan, why else would he want a fast horse? I think that he is going to talk to the new queen. Maybe warn her about the Duke.
DQs Day 1: (end: "'I want' he said firmly 'a very fast horse.'"19% / Page 52)1. Mort is nothing if not determined. He refuses to give up on being a “prentice” until the last stoke of midnight. Then at the very last second, Death arrives for him. Do you think Mort was quick to take the apprenticeship perhaps from feeling humiliated at the days events or was it something that truly intrigued him? Would you have been willing to work for Death?
I think Mort took it for both of those reasons. He clearly is different than his father but wants to be useful. He was willing to stay to the strike of midnight, just in case. Plus, he wasn't scared by Death. I don't know if I would. I really think I wouldn't have waited that long.
2. Death has a sarcastic tone during this first section. What do you think of his fawning over Mort to ensure he gets new clothes and food and Death eating with him like a regular guy? Is he up to something sinister or does he just want to make Mort comfortable?
I like Death! I do think he is trying to make Mort comfortable, and maybe trying to find a partner for he daughter.
3. Mort may be a bit gangly and lost in his own head at times, but he seems to have a lot of compassion. Upon realizing that he was talking to Death, he asked him to spare his Dad. Later he tries to intervene and warn the King that he was about to be killed and finally on that same trip he wanted to tell the King’s daughter not to trust the Duke. What did you think of all that? Are these normal reactions to someone who is the apprentice to Death? Do you think it will continue as Mort sees more and more of Death’s duty?
I think that these are normal reactions for a new human apprentice to Death. Has Death ever had an apprentice before? I do think that Mort will start to understand his role as Death does. Not sure if there will be special cases though.
4. What is up with the constant utterance of “Mort” every time someone calls our MC anything other than Mort or Mortimer after arriving at Death’s House and meeting Yasbell? Is there some significance to this or is it just rather annoying?! Lol!
I think he just wants to be seen as a person. I think it would be annoying for folks to just call you 'hey you' all the time as if you were insignificant.
5. Mort, surprisingly, asked Death for an afternoon off. I think our dear Mort is growing up! He explains to Death that he wants to meet people for more than a few minutes. When he arrives in his own time and finds out where he is, he asks if he is near Sto Lat. He seems to have a plan when he says he wants a very fast horse. What do you think he intends? Will it work out like he plans?
He definitely wants to talk to the Princess and try to keep her safe from her uncle. No idea how it will work out.
DQs Day 1: (end: "'I want' he said firmly 'a very fast horse.'"19% / Page 52)1. Mort is nothing if not determined. He refuses to give up on being a “prentice” until the last stoke of midnight. Then at the very last second, Death arrives for him. Do you think Mort was quick to take the apprenticeship perhaps from feeling humiliated at the days events or was it something that truly intrigued him? Would you have been willing to work for Death?
I think Mort is definitely intrigued, and he probably knows himself well enough to know that any of the more "normal" jobs open to him where he lives would not necessarily be any more successful than his attempts to be useful at home.
2. Death has a sarcastic tone during this first section. What do you think of his fawning over Mort to ensure he gets new clothes and food and Death eating with him like a regular guy? Is he up to something sinister or does he just want to make Mort comfortable?
DEATH just isn't very good at human behaviour - as Cat and Sammy said, he's doing what he thinks he should for a new employee. He means well.
3. Mort may be a bit gangly and lost in his own head at times, but he seems to have a lot of compassion. Upon realizing that he was talking to Death, he asked him to spare his Dad. Later he tries to intervene and warn the King that he was about to be killed and finally on that same trip he wanted to tell the King’s daughter not to trust the Duke. What did you think of all that? Are these normal reactions to someone who is the apprentice to Death? Do you think it will continue as Mort sees more and more of Death’s duty?
Mort hasn't understood yet that DEATH doesn't kill anyone - he's just there when they die - an understandable misconception. It's completely natural to want to save people. I'm rerereading (not even sure how many times I've read this one), so won't speculate on what happens.
4. What is up with the constant utterance of “Mort” every time someone calls our MC anything other than Mort or Mortimer after arriving at Death’s House and meeting Yasbell? Is there some significance to this or is it just rather annoying?! Lol!
He's just trying to keep his identity. With Ysabell, it's more a status thing - she's trying to intimidate him and boss him around, and Mort is insisting on his name to substantiate his claim of not being a servant.
5. Mort, surprisingly, asked Death for an afternoon off. I think our dear Mort is growing up! He explains to Death that he wants to meet people for more than a few minutes. When he arrives in his own time and finds out where he is, he asks if he is near Sto Lat. He seems to have a plan when he says he wants a very fast horse. What do you think he intends? Will it work out like he plans?
It would be very unlikely for things to work out as planned...
Nothing But Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
Scythe (other topics)The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate: Discoveries from a Secret World (other topics)
The Light Fantastic (other topics)
Mort (other topics)
Death comes to us all. When he came to Mort, he offered him a job.
After being assured that being dead was not compulsory, Mort accepted. However, he soon found that romantic longings did not mix easily with the responsibilities of being Death's apprentice...
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nominated by: n/a
official page count: 320 pages