Wintersmith

I’m a father that feels like you gotta earn that title. I’ve been scoping out books for my daughter, who loves this genre, to have around for her at the right time.

If you like Pratchett, I don’t need to say much. If you don’t know him yet, you will probably like him. If you read the other books, then you’ll like this one.

I’m only reviewing here for a helpful hint for curious parents: This book deals with infatuation and somewhat with sex. I personally think it does so in a very healthy way (not explicit) and in farm country we are used to Pratchett’s approach. So- I’m not writing this to dissuade anyone but you may want to decide for yourself about the appropriate age. Farm girls and boys may breeze over the stuff in without noticing at age 9 or 10. Other kids may be more sensitive since pop culture hides both the gore and the true beauty of life in all the glitter and twerking and tittilation. Depends on how your kid processes the garbage thrown their way. This is a good cure for garbage, Tiff has her feet on the ground, but you gotta decide the right time.

This book is fun, the premise more interesting (to me) than the second book, and has some valuable context for ideas that will (whether you like it or not) be part of a pre-teen’s world. My 2 cents, if your reading reviews of a book for your kid you’re already a good parent and don’t need my bargle.

I love Pratchett’s Discworld books, and I particularly love the Tiffany Aching books, so it was a surprise to me that I apparently missed noticing Wintersmith for ten years. Well, at least it means a new-for-me Pratchett when I thought that opportunity was gone.

Tiffany Aching is an apprentice witch, currently living with a witch in the mountains, far from her beloved chalk hills. She’s taken as part of her training to watch a dance she didn’t know existed, the Dark Morris, which brings the beginning of winter as the Morris Dance we know brings the beginning of summer.

Since this is the Discworld, the dances really do bring the starts of those seasons.

Tiffany’s feet, unfortunately, get the better of her. She steps into the dance, and dances with the Wintersmith, and gets some of the traits and powers of Lady Summer tangled up in herself. The Wintersmith thinks he has fallen in love with her.

This is, of course, is a problem for everyone, especially when the Wintersmith wants to marry her and cause Summer to never come again. The Wintersmith has no real idea what being a person is all about, or why Tiffany is upset about the lambs dying when a blizzard hits too late in what should be spring, or why she doesn’t love the ice palace he’s made to lure her.

The second half is a Discworld take on Orpheus and Eurydice, and both Tiffany and the local lord’s son she rescued from the elf queen’s court previously, take a few more steps toward adulthood.

It’s a fine taste of Pratchett, and a nice surprise for me to find it, when I thought there wasn’t anything more.

Recommended.

I bought this audiobook.

The turn of the seasons seems like a dance orchestrated by nature to be both seamless and purposeful, but what if someone cuts in when she isnt supposed to? Wintersmith is the 35th book of Terry Pratchetts Discworld series and the third in the subseries featuring witch-in-training Tiffany Aching. Unfortunately for Tiffany she finds out that when you succumb to the rhythm of the music, you find yourself in a Story and have to see it through.

Tiffany has been training with 113-year old Miss Treason, who uses subtle special effects to impress people, when she is taken to witness the dark morris one night. The dance that welcomes the winter draws on Tiffany and she joins in, unfortunately she comes face to face with the Wintersmithwinter himselfand he falls in love with her believing she is the Summer Lady. The problem is as time progresses, Tiffany starts exhibiting traits of the Summer Lady while the Wintersmith believes to successfully woo her, he must become human. Unfortunately Miss Treason isnt able to help Tiffany through things as she passes away and Tiffany goes to train with Nanny Ogg as well has help Annagramma figure out how to be an actual witch in taking over for Miss Treason. In the end, Tiffany realizes she has finish things with the Wintersmith with a kiss to finish the dance.

Throughout last several books in the Discworld series, Pratchett has delved into various themes that touch upon real world issues except in the Aching books. Like the previous two books of Tiffanys subseries, Wintersmith focuses on characters, world-building, and plotting. Although a tad older Tiffanys continued development is seen throughout, Pratchett spends time growing the character of Annagramma while also enhancing the reputation of Granny Weatherwax. Even though this is the 34th book in the series, Pratchett is still able to world-build the Disc with elemental forces and psychological dispositions of people in various parts which are different and also the same. And finally the plotting which was well executed writing that began with a bang then suddenly took you to the quiet beginning of the story and progressing steady as you waited to find out how Tiffany was going to end the story.

The Tiffany Aching subseries is Pratchett giving young adults an introduction to the Disc with is interwoven strains of fantasy and humor. Wintersmith is a fun, easy read that gives even adults a fresh look at their favorite series.

What more can one say when your reviewing a book written by a master at the height of his craft? First off I have to say that I have yet to read a Discworld novel that I did not adore. Terry Pratchett was a treasure and has allowed me so so many hours of pleasure, laughing my way through book after book. I have read quite a few of his books more than once and enjoyed them each and ever time. I only have a few left that I have not read and have sorta put off reading all of them just because once I do there will be no more new ones. As for this book, starting with the Wee Free Men I have loved every one of the Tiffany Aching books. I think the feegles are awesome. This book was such an awesome take on the sort of myth that has been around jsut about forever. Told this time in Mr. Pratchett’s unique iconic style. Reading it was a rollercosater ride of thrills and fun and one I am sure I will enjoy again and again in the future!

A wonderfully captivating book feeding us folklore, mythology, headology with several other ‘ologies’ thrown in for good measure. The character development of Tiffany Aching is masterful as she adapts to the changes presented to her and her handling of the (almost) unwanted affections of an Ethereal entity; or a minor god in other words. There is comic genius, not just in the one line jokes; though there are still a few, but in the characters themselves. The adolescent fumblings of boy and girl, one trying to impress, the other unsure what to make of it all is very well observed. The wonderful Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax, as wise and entertaining as ever, the Nac Mac Feegle just as comic but behind it all is the struggle of Tiffany, Petulia, Annagramma and the rest of the coven to grow up trying to do the right thing, learning to understand human behaviour and emotions and finding their place in the world. It strikes me as incredibly accomplished that as a man TP could write so convincingly from a woman’s perspective – well at least convincingly to me, I often wonder what women readers think, is he as convincing as I think he is?

It certainly helps if you have a background understanding of the discworld and starting with the earlier novels helps build that foundation and familiarity quickly. I have not quite read them all (yet – lucky me) and certainly not in order, far from it in fact and it hasn’t diminished my enjoyment of the discworld but in this case it would help if you have read the earlier Tiffany Aching stories first to fully appreciate this book. Lastly I wish reviewers would stop comparing each discworld novel and rating it against the others, it serves no helpful purpose. That’s what TP has been trying to tell us all these years, we are all different, we will each relate to his stories differently dependent upon our own upbringing, opinions, outlooks and personalities. Every single one of TPs books will be someone’s favourite.
Sir Terry Pratchett rightly deserves his place in literary history for more than just the discworld creation but for his social commentary, his humour, compassion, inquisitive spirit and honesty in documenting our human nature. A sincerely missed writer, scholar and gentleman, oh, and not forgetting most noble wearer of hats and facial hair.

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