DIVING INTO DISCWORLD, HYPED FANTASY, AND GREAT NONFICTION ~ reading wrap up

[@hollym7878]

My favourite Discworld book is Small Gods. It's such a beautiful balance between silliness and incredibly intelligent social commentary. Also, Terry Pratchett does not let a joke die.

[@Jess_Reads]

Sam Vimes has PHENOMENAL character development through the City Watch series. He’s one of my favorite characters ever.

[@KFoxtheGreat]

I think Guards! Guards! is the silliest of the watch books and as that series goes it becomes more clever and focused on commentary, but I think that also applies to all of Discworld. Some fans aren't big on later Discworld because it isn't as silly and is more pointed with its social commentary, but most of my favorite in the series are from the latter half. If you want to stick with The Watch series and give it another go, I think you'll enjoy each book more and more. However, as a few others have already said, I also think you might enjoy The Witch series. The silly humor is often more subtle in those and while The Watch series was my favorite as I was growing up, The Witch series is overtaking it as I get older. Either way, I'm really excited to see where your Discworld journey goes!

[@agohl85]

I was a Russian Studies minor in college and I absolutely loved The Girl in the Tower and the rest of the series by Katherine Arden....It really brought me back.

[@MLLatUtube]

I love Discworld! My favorite books feature the witches, especially the third one (Witches Abroad) on. I also love the ones featuring Death, especially Hogfather.

[@Stargazerlost]

I second this. Witches Abroad and Maskerade are my top Discworld books.

[@StephanieKoathes]

Same! Wyrd Sisters was great. Granny Weatherwax is my girl.

[@MonteGruhlke]

Fair thoughts about Diskworld. Terry Pratchett is my favorite author (or is it favourite because British?) and I have enjoyed the books moreso than not. Yes, it's hard to hit a home run with every book, and he's had like 41, you always feel immersed in the Diskworld and familiar with the characters. I remember at times asking the book store if the new one has come out yet.

[@bmoforever5562]

Echoing others, but do give Good Omens a try if you haven't already. It's made me want to start Discworld series. I loved the Winternight trilogy as a whole; the scenes where Vasya is riding to the monastery had me stressed 😭 I loved her relationships with her siblings and Solovey. The 3rd book had me weeping

[@thehollyalderson]

I enjoyed Guards! Guards! but my favorite is still Going Postal. I love the characters in that one.

[@mbranche4234]

Nelson Mandela reminds us that if one man can make a change, consider what each one of us can do? Kindness is free so share it with everyone.

[@TimeTravelReads]

Thank you for featuring the Mandela book. I'm not sure if I'll get to it but it sounds amazing.

[@giantcupofcoffee]

I have such a soft spot for Addie Larue. It was a great entry point to fantasy when I was getting back into reading during the covid uncertainty. A Study in Drowning is excellent. Her prior book Juniper and Thorn is also great, and it’s adult so it has more horror elements.

[@OnlyTheBestFantasyNovels]

I also started off Discworld with Guards! Guards!. I feel like the Witches arc might be a better starting point for you though, that starts with Equal Rites. Do you plan to continue on to Men at Arms?

[@tonkabeanicecream5698]

The night watch series gets better and better. I also really love the Moist Von Lipwig series. I tried all the other series reading all of the books in "The wizards/Rincewind" series and enjoyed them but not enough to reread them, I read half of the witches series and didn't love them, same with the other series. You do however get more and more worldbuilding the more you read of each series as they all tie in together.

[@nazimelmardi]

At the end of Guards Guards hits one of the strongest criticism… when the Dragon speaks to our villain. And he just says the easiest way to resolve the situation is to ask the people to sacrifice one of them voluntarily and the Dragon can’t believe that humans are so cruel to each other.

[@ulrikchristiansen]

You should have a go at "Good Omens" by Pratchett and Gaiman :)

[@racheldavis122]

Huge fan of DiscWorld here. My favorite books are Men at Arms, Feet of Clay, and Monstrous Regiment. But I enjoy so many of his books and reread them often. But you’re right, you’ll enjoy some better than others, for sure.

[@MaryRose86]

The winter night trilogy was fantastic! The winter of the witch was immaculate

[@AliRichter]

Discworld is my favorite series, and I reread the Night Watch books a lot. But not Guards! Guards! Or the earlier books, really. Discworld started as satire on the typical sword and sorcery books of the late 70s and 80s. The social commentary comes as the series grows. I hope you continue with Discworld.

[@Psittacus_erithacus]

I also fail to consistently enjoy the sort of humor described regarding the latter half of Guards! Guards! Nevertheless, Discworld books _in general_ are still some of my all-time favorite reads. I only vaguely remember reading Guards, so it wasn't one that particularly stuck with me as especially good or bad. That said, I've been reading Pratchett off & on for 20 years and what *does* stick with me is mainly short bits of story or quotes that illustrate some cheeky inversion or genuine insight. Pratchett wasn't really a character writer or a narrative/plot wizard imo. The characters aren't simple necessarily, but they are generally written to fill out concepts rather than as believable (or especially relatable) people. The stories are either direct parodies of other properties (movies/Shakespear/etc.) or just a way to move pieces around in service of some point he's trying to get to or a broader satire. In short neither the character work or plots are all that likely to impress imo. Sir Terry was, however, an amazingly sharp observer of humanity and the world. As well as a real life language wizard. He was also, as you noticed, capable of brilliant clever humor. It's the observations and the genuine insights that elevate Pratchett's work (as a collection) so high imo; even as individual books and plots tend to fade into a blurry mush, there's plenty of value that sticks with you. Consequently I think of Discworld novels as lightweight, easy reads to blast through while keeping a canny eye out for the glint of Sir Terry's clever gems-which are sprinkled throughout. Whether or not that sounds like fun probably varies a great deal from reader to reader. Having read more than two dozen Pratchett novels though, I can say that one won't likely find a lot of deep emotional character moments or awe inspiring plot twists. Hopefully some of that helps anyone on the fence about whether or not to read more Discworld. As a final note, I'll just say that the vast majority aren't a major commitment. They are breezy reads that can be knocked out in a day or two if you have the free time. I often jump into them while on vacation for precisely that reason. *Low ask, enjoyable reading that glides merrily along but nevertheless rewards you with surprisingly meaningful tidbits.* _Tidbits that accumulate quietly in you over time until you look back one day and realize a significant part of your humor and worldview have been shaped (for myself, clearly improved) by Pratchett's sharp eye, clever work & generous spirit._

[@Psittacus_erithacus]

This response is already _embarrassingly_ self-indulgent (three paragraphs! In a yt comment!). But I can't not put an example here. This is a popular one, but still one of my favorites: The Hogfather nodded at Death, as one craftsman to another, and then at Susan. She wasn’t sure if she was being thanked-it was more of a gesture of recognition, of acknowledgment that something that had needed doing had actually been done. But it felt like thanks. Then he shook the reins and clicked his teeth and the sleigh slid away. They watched it go. “I remember hearing,” said Susan distantly. “That the idea of the Hogfather wearing a red and white outfit was invented quite recently.” NO. IT WAS REMEMBERED. Now the Hogfather was a red dot on the other side of the valley. “Well, that about wraps it up for _this_ dress,” said Susan,. “I’d just like to ask, just out of academic interest … you were sure I was going to survive, were you?” I WAS QUITE CONFIDENT. “Oh, _good_ .” I WILL GIVE YOU A LIFT BACK, said Death, after a while. “Thank you. Now … tell me … ” WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF YOU HADN’T SAVED HIM? “Yes! The sun would have risen just the same, yes?” NO. “Oh, come _on._ You can’t expect me to believe _that._ It’s an astronomical _fact._ ” THE SUN WOULD NOT HAVE RISEN. She turned on him. “It’s been a long night, Grandfather! I’m tired and I need a bath. I don’t need silliness!” THE SUN WOULD NOT HAVE RISEN. “Really? Then what would have happened, pray?” A MERE BALL OF FLAMING GAS WOULD HAVE ILLUMINATED THE WORLD. They walked in silence for a moment. “Ah,” said Susan dully. “Tickery with words. I would have thought you’d have been more literal-minded than that.” I AM NOTHING IF NOT LITERAL-MINDED. TRICKERY WITH WORDS IS WHERE _HUMANS_ LIVE. “All right,” said Susan. “I’m not stupid. You’re saying humans need … fantasies to make life bearable.” REALLY? AS IF IT WAS SOME KIND OF PINK PILL? NO. HUMANS NEED FANTASY TO BE HUMAN. TO BE THE PLACE WHERE THE FALLING ANGEL MEETS THE RISING APE. “Tooth fairies? Hogfathers? Little-” YES. AS PRACTICE. YOU HAVE TO START OUT LEARNING TO BELIEVE THE _LITTLE_ LIES. “So we can believe the big ones?” YES. JUSTICE. MERCY. DUTY. THAT SORT OF THING. “They’re not the same at all!” YOU THINK SO? THEN TAKE THE UNIVERSE AND GRIND IT TO THE FINEST POWDER AND SIEVE IT THROUGH THE FINEST SIEVE AND THEN SHOW ME ONE ATOM OF JUSTICE, ONE MOLECULE OF MERCY. AND YET- Death waved a hand. AND YET YOU ACT AS IF THERE IS SOME IDEAL ORDER IN THE WORLD, AS IF THERE IS SOME … SOME _RIGHTNESS_ IN THE UNIVERSE BY WHICH IT MAY BE JUDGED. “Yes, but people have got to believe that, or what’s the point-” MY POINT EXACTLY. She tried to assemble her thoughts. THERE IS A PLACE WHERE THE GALAXIES HAVE BEEN COLLIDING FOR A MILLION YEARS, said Death, apropos of nothing. DON’T TRY TO TELL ME _THAT’S_ RIGHT. “Yes, but people don’t think about that,” said Susan. "Somewhere there was a bed … " CORRECT. STARS EXPLODE, WORLDS COLLIDE, THERE’S HARDLY ANYWHERE WHERE HUMANS CAN LIVE WITHOUT BEING FROZEN OR FRIED, AND YET YOU BELIEVE THAT A … BED IS A NORMAL THING. IT IS THE MOST AMAZING TALENT. “Talent?” OH, YES. A VERY SPECIAL KIND OF STUPIDITY. YOU THINK THE WHOLE UNIVERSE IS INSIDE YOUR HEADS. “You make us sound mad,” said Susan. A nice warm bed… NO. YOU NEED TO BELIEVE IN THINGS THAT AREN’T TRUE. HOW ELSE CAN THEY BECOME? -- Terry Pratchett (from Hogfather) ~-----~ And one last one with a different tone, written in back in 1999, but perhaps especially pertinent to our times: "There are, it has been said, two types of people in the world. There are those who, when presented with a glass that is exactly half full, say: this glass is half full. And then there are those who say: this glass is half empty. The world belongs, however, to those who can look at the glass and say: What's up with this glass? Excuse me? Excuse me? This is my glass? I don't think so. My glass was full! And it was a bigger glass! Who's been pinching my beer? - Terry Pratchett (from The Truth)

[@jones3887]

I'm so pleased you enjoyed The Girl in the Tower. I agree with your points, much more enjoyable sequel. The Winter of the Witch was even more memorable for me, personally. I'm looking forward to hearing what your thoughts will be on TWOTW in the future.

[@BookishChas]

Yay I’m so happy you read Girl in the Tower! One of my favorite series. 😊

[@GusTeasPlants]

I’ve heard mixed reviews on ADDIE L.R … but not enough positive to pick it up and you’ve helped me to not really pick it up all in all haha thank you

[@pinkhornet8737]

Guards Guards! was the first Discworld novel I read. I devoured it in one night and fell in love with it. I have gradually been reading all of them.

[@robertawalsh2995]

I really enjoyed the Discworld series so I was really disappointed that you were starting with Guards! Guards! My favorites are the ones featuring Death but I would generally tell people to start with the witches. My husband read the series before I did and let me know that I didn't have to read them in order.

[@laurenschenck5355]

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue I love this book so much love the story and the cover is gorgeous 🩵🩷🌹🌹🩷🩵💞❣️💝💝💙💙🪻🌈🪻❤️❤️💛💛💜💘📙🫶🏻💕💕📚📙📙💚💓📚📙💘🌼❤️🪻💝❣️💙🩵📖🌹🌹🩵💞💞🌹💝💝🌈🌈💛💛💓💓💓🫶🏻📚

[@keshinilt]

Hey El. I love wrap ups named like this so I can reference a video if I'm looking for something specific.

[@starlightarcher1534]

With Discworld, I really like The Colour of Magic

[@naginoriette7857]

I'm first! I hope everyone has a lovely Saturday 🥰

[@catsandbats77]

I love the Witches books and Death books from Discworld. I actually haven't read any of The Watch books but one of my friends really loves them and I keep thinking I need to read them. I also recommend Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. I loved Addie LaRou. There definitely were some hard-hitting moments in it. I'm also trying to make my way through some of my series this year. I finished one in January and I'm almost done with another. I absolutely adore The Winternight Trilogy. I love the blending of real history and fantasy with the folklore.

[@spcyfic68]

I read Guards guards! a few years ago and felt the same about the humour. I didn’t continue but i’m still willing to, just don’t know whether I should read them in order (publication order I mean) or whether I should stick with a series.

[@alannapenner37]

Thank you SO much for breaking down Guards Guards the way you did here. I read it a couple years ago and I wasn't sure why I found some parts funny and other parts not. I think I gave it 3 stars but felt like I missed something because everyone sings this books praises.

[@redvalkyrie84]

I love Discworld - the nights watch books are brilliant. They start off as police procedural type stories but become about ethics and gender and doing the right thing regardless of whether its easy or not

[@Viksbelle]

While I don't have in depth knowledge of Mandela, I do remember when a lot of that was in the daily news.

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

I love that copy of Addie. Mine is the black version 👀

[@prpunkskater1]

2023 was my year of finishing series. I finished 5 that I had started. In 1 year I read nothing but sequels 😂

[@fishbowlwoman]

I liked The Girl in the Tower more than The Bear & the Nightingale too. And I honestly think there’s a Discworld book for every taste! I hope you find yours.

[@thewitchyreader6131]

Great Video!

[@KittyAndTheBooks]

I haven't read it myself, but I have heard really good things about the memoir of Winnie Mandela. Maybe a good read to follow up on Mandela's own.

[@still-reading]

Oh, you just validated my feelings about Guards, Guards! I loved the first half but felt oddly let down by the time I got to the end. I really like the Witches series, including the Tiffany Aching books, which are great. I also love Going Postal and Mort. (Also, sometimes Pratchett lectures too much for me, and I don't enjoy those books as much.) I'll definitely look for the Nelson Mandela book - he was on tv a lot when I was growing up. Your videos are always refreshing and fun. Thanks for sharing.

[@FreeLatveria]

I had really mixed feelings about Guards Guards. I think part of the problem is it was over sold and just couldn't live up to the reputation. Then, because i had such mixed feelings about one of the "best" vooks, it made me really worried to read anymore. So i didnt for a long time. Then inspired by a Fable read a long i read Colors of Magic not long ago and really liked it. Maybe because it was talked down so hard to me that the bar was practically underground.

[@natasagajic1061]

I have a video suggestion, if it sounds fun for you to do 😊 A few days ago, yearly Reddit Fantasy Bingo 2024 was announced, and the prompts for this year are quite fun, but also some seem quite hard to fulfil. So I thought it would be fun if you, as someone who has read so much and even if you are not interested in participating in the challenge itself, would maybe make a recommendations video for each of the prompts (especially for the hard mode)? 😊

[@meredithcplans]

The witches are the best Discworld series in my opinion. I love Equal Rites.

[@craigrideout490]

Based on your review of "Guards!Guards", I would recommend reading "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." One of the best witty humor mixed with important social commentary out there.

[@mischarowe]

I stopped reading it because I didn't feel it but I do need to finish the Discworld series.

[@ayidas]

Do you have a compilation of “older” fantasy, like from the 80s or 90s? And if not would you consider making one? 🙂

[@phroz3n]

100% agree about the Marvel humor. I hate it and it ruined so many otherwise serious or touching moments. It's like that friend that just doesn't know when to shutup and stop joking around. This is why I can't stand Taika Waititi.

[@oxjuliaaaxo]

Discworld gave me hella Elf vibes 😂

[@billhinshillwood2670]

I really enjoyed bear and the nightingale, but was pretty bored with books 2 and 3 of the series. Changing the setting from the distant forest to a city really changed the vibe of the series. Plus I love when political fantasy is crafted well, and I did not think the political aspects of the story were executed very well.

[@poodlemuffin]

Guards Guards is really early in the series when he was still straddling parody and satire. It improves, so stick with it!!

[@lesyablackbird]

you are referencing american shows when its really more monthy python. and its more absurdist humor than anything else.

[@fcsolis]

Put away that bowl of chopped red onions already. Jeez.

[@jilliannoble00]

I felt very similarly with Addie LaRue. The second half almost felt like a different book, not necessarily in a good way. I also found her personality very flat and boring

[@blackforge1374]

I like Terry Pratchett, but his writing can be hard for me to follow. Some of the jokes are a little too long-winded; I get distracted before returning to the normal story again, which just throws me off again. Like other commenters here, the stories with the witches are my favorite. Death is also great.

[@laurenschenck5355]

I love this book so much Long walk to freedom I love Nelson Mandel so much I felt a deep connection with it 🌈🌹🧡🧡🌹🌈🌹🪻🪻🤍🫶🏻💙💓📖📖📙📙💖💖💕❣️💜🌸💘🩵🫶🏻💓💓🌈💞🌹🌹🪻🩷🩷💝📖📖💕❣️📚📚📚❤️‍🩹💚❤️💖💖📖💖❣️💚💚❤️‍🩹📙📚📚📚📚💛💜💜🫶🏻💞🌈🌈💝💞💓📖📙❣️📙❤️🪻💝🌸🌸💙🧡🤍🩵🩵