Men at Arms by Terry Pratchett

Around 330 pages (Paperback) Fiction

Terry Pratchett has quickly moved up my list of favorite authors.  He tells interesting tales, to be sure, but this isn’t what makes it so great. He takes a story that isn’t new such as a murder mystery and then puts it this quirky world that he has created. Most of the books I have read focus on the city in the center of the world Anhk-Morpork. Discworld, as this world is known, is disk flying through space. It is inhabited by a strange collection of characters that combine fantasy, history, and science fiction all into one humorous place.

Men at Arms is the second book in the city watch series although they are not labeled in such a way. The books are independent of each other and though it might have some spoilers over all they could be read in any order. Captian Vimes is getting married. He is going to give up the life of a Nights Watch guardsmen and live the life of the rich with his new extremely wealthy wife. He only has to get through this week. Murder has occurred. This isn’t the normal murder you see. This isn’t a troll killing a dwarf because; you know…he’s a dwarf. But important people are getting killed, and no one is sure how it is being done.

Corporal Carrot knows that Vimes is busy getting prepared for marriage. With the new laws demanding appropriate ethnic representation on the Watch, Carrot is involved in making sure the new recruits are being trained. Soon more trolls, a werewolf, more dwarves and most unlikely, a woman, become members of the watch, but when you take a troll and a dwarf and make them partners bad things are bound to happen.

We are led through a light hearted murder mystery diving deep in the mysterious guilds of Anhk-Morpork and following a tale as funny as it is enjoyable.

3 Emotional/Intellectual – Even Pratchett’s bad guys are easy to fall in love with and the good guys are people you want to be friends with, except Nobby Nobbs.

5 Style/Readability – Both easy to read and filled with hilarious and entertaining reading Practchett is a fantastic writer.

3 Long Term Impact – Somehow I went for a long time without getting to read Prachett I really don’t understand why he isn’t more famous than he is.

11 out of 13. Anyone taking the time to read this post owes it to themselves to go out and read some of Pratchett’s books.  The city watch books are great I would start with Guards! Guards! and then continue with Men at Arms.

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Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

335 pages (Hardcover) Fiction

Lolita is considered a modern literary classic. It was originally published in 1955 and was considered scandalous from the first. My wife owned the book and having seen the movie by Stanley Kubrick I wanted to read it. The movie was released in the 50's as well, I admit I was surprised on the differences between the two.

Lolita is about a deranged man, Humbert Humbert. This Englishman has an unhealthy lust for young girls. The first part of the book talks about how at a young age he fell in love with a young girl and after one kiss was hopelessly attracted to girls of that tender young age. I have to admit to being uncomfortable with the book throughout the earlier parts as he describes his sexual thoughts in somewhat explicit detail.

The reader soon realizes that Humbert is in jail and is writing this as a confession of sorts after the fact. Humbert soon finds himself a lodger in a house with a woman that he despises. He agreed to this arrangement after meeting Mrs. Haze's daughter, the title character, Lolita. At this point in the book one almost starts to sympathize with Humbert as he truly loves this young girl. Through unlikely events Humbert and Lolita start to travel across the United States. Humbert wants to fulfill his detestable desires, but plans to keep Lolita wholesome by keeping her unaware.

Nabokov is world famous and considered among the greatest of authors. The writing in the book is fantastic and I was pleased with the use of language and flow. Although I found the subject matter to be off putting at first as the book went on this sexual taboo was lessened. This was because it became less about the lustful actions of the characters and more about the story and relationship. It also served as a portrait of America as seen traveling from coast to coast.

The book finishes with a word from Nabokov after the book had been published. He talks about attempting to get it published and the barriers that it met. There seemed to be two sides to the rejections. Some would not publish it because it bordered on pornography. Those willing to publish such writing thought it wasn't explicit enough. The book doesn't detail sexual relations really at all. Things are mostly implied and talked about "off camera" as it were. Though even the suggestion when related between a older man and a young girl is at least, uncomfortable.

3 Emotional/Intellectual - Seeing things from Humbert's point of view gives the reader a sense of acceptance in his actions. I would say in many ways this is what makes this book so successful. Of course, the actions are also off putting.

5 Style/Readability - Take the subject matter of this book and have it written by a poor to mediocre author and it would have never gone anywhere. In the hands of a fantastic author even with the objectionable subject the writing makes it well worthwhile.

4 Long Term Impact- It is already considered one of the greatest books of all time. I can not argue with that.

12 out of 13. No one could read this and say it is poor writing. Only the subject could turn you off. If you are looking for beautiful prose you should read this book.

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