It's book review and Face the Nation time

[vovat]

Two weeks ago (well, okay, actually thirteen days ago), I checked out two books from the library, namely Dave Barry's Money Secrets and Terry Pratchett's Wintersmith. They're both due back tomorrow, and I've finished reading both of them, so I might as well say a few words on them while I still have them in my possession.

Especially at this point, I think Dave Barry's main flaw is repetition. A lot of the jokes in Money Secrets were ones he'd done almost exactly the same way in earlier writings. Many of them were still funny, but they were obviously much funnier the first time around. Still, he's able to come up with truly hilarious segments and chapters even now, like the political campaign commercials in Hits Below the Beltway. The funniest chapter in Money Secrets is the one where he summarizes Donald Trump's book, How to Get Rich.

Wintersmith is the third book in the Tiffany Aching sub-series, which takes place on the Discworld and features familiar characters, but is written with a young adult audience in mind. I was glad to see quite a few references to the main series in this one. Not only do both Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg have significant roles, but there are cameo appearances by Assistant Postmaster Groat (Going Postal) and the goddess Anoia, and Rob Anybody reads Where's My Cow? at one point. I can't think of anything specific to say about the story itself, but I did think Miss Treason was an interesting new character. Now I'll have to go back into the discworld community, and read the Wintersmith posts that I skipped the first time around.

By the way, there's a character in the Tiffany books named Roland de Chumsfanleigh, which is said to be pronounced "Chuffley." I think my subconscious must have associated with with Sir Chuffrey, the rather nondescript nobleman who marries Glinda in Wicked. I had a dream last night where the Nac Mac Feegle were seeking out Chuffrey.

And speaking of dreams, a few nights ago, I had another one where I had bought a four-pack of pumpernickel loaves, with each one a different flavor. I was opening the third one, which was called "Mineral Things," and thinking it sounded pretty gross.

Elections are coming up and I'm going to be voting in a new state for the first time. Maybe I should bring the registration notice I got with me when I go, so as to avoid any potential complications. I know that, the first time I tried to change my registration, it apparently didn't take.

Comments

[dragonxbait.livejournal.com]

I am voting in a new state for the first time also, MA, for governor and I have *no* idea who to vote for. It's MA, so even the republican's are socially progressive but they're all just so...slimy, or crazy in the case of Christy Mihos ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT9Xp0P9eOo&mode=related&search= ).

[rockinlibrarian.livejournal.com]

Someday, I, too, will be able to read all those old posts about the books I haven't read yet! Like yours on The End! ;)

You're not missing much with the PA election-- the gubernatorial race is sucky: it's the current governor, who sucks, up against a celebrity who's decided to take up the current Republican cause but seems very likely to be little more than a puppet for the worst of the Republicans to influence; so basically it's a no-win situation. On the other hand, the Senate race is sort of interesting-- it's one of the few politicians in the world I actually sort of like running against the current senator, who sucks.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

On the other hand, the Senate race is sort of interesting-- it's one of the few politicians in the world I actually sort of like running against the current senator, who sucks.

Is that the Casey/Santorum race? I don't really know much about Casey Jr. (hey, isn't that the train in Dumbo? {g}), but I definitely want Santorum out of there. His insistence that gay marriage would inevitably lead to people marrying dogs puts him well into the minus column, and I know he's said other things that I found reprehensible as well. Was he the one who was praising Strom Thurmond a few years ago, or was that some other Pennsylvanian politician?

Sure, it would be NICE to be able to vote FOR certain candidates rather than AGAINST others, but the two-party system can make that a bit difficult at times.

[rockinlibrarian.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Santorum sucks, but I don't remember too many details of how I came to that conclusion. But the little I do know about Casey Jr (which is totally the train in Dumbo) convinced me that he was-- or, is, I guess-- a decent guy and not just a grovelling reelect-me-now POLITICIAN; I also like the fact that he's been known to vote for things HE believes in even if it's not what the other Democrats believe in (for example, last I checked he was one of the few Pro-Life Democrats out there-- and, basically, I was raised by Pro-Life Democrats, so I'm all for that!) -- proving that he's not a mindless party-slave like so many politicians. His dad was the same way, and I'm a bit biased that way I guess because MY dad always admired his dad, even when he wasn't very popular-- and since my dad works for the State and sees a lot of Inside stuff, seemed a good indicator, you know?

But I also think Rendell sucks (proving that I am not a Democrat), but that Swann won't do any better, so maybe I'll just, like, write in a protest candidate.

[colleenanne.livejournal.com]

No, Rob Anybody read "Where's my coo!" hehe.

I just finished it last night. I really liked it. It's taken me some time to really get into the Tiffany Aching stories, but I think I'm sold now.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

In some ways, the young adult Discworld books strike me as being more serious than the regular ones. I guess the series as a whole has sort of been heading away from pure comedy, but the philosophy and social commentary in the young adult books are somewhat less fettered by satire.