Kell Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 I now declare this reading circle thread OPEN! Hogfather by Terry Pratchett It's the night before Hogswatch. And it's too quiet. There's snow, there're robins, there're trees covered with decorations, but there's a notable lack of the big fat man who delivers the toys...He's gone. Susan the governess has got to find him before morning, otherwise the sun won't rise. And unfortunately her only helpers are a raven with an eyeball fixation, the Death of Rats and an oh god of hangovers. Worse still, someone is coming down the chimney. This time he's carrying a sack instead of a scythe, but there's something regrettably familiar...Ho, Ho, Ho, - it's true what they say. 'You'd better watch out...' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dididave Posted December 5, 2006 Share Posted December 5, 2006 Got it, read it a million times and could probably do this from memory anyhow! Anyone else love the irony of Death as "The Hogfather" with the bah humbug Albert in tow as the oldest elf in history? I love the darkness of this . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acesare* Posted December 5, 2006 Share Posted December 5, 2006 This is on Sunday 17th December, Sky 1. Can't remember the time, I'm afraid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted December 5, 2006 Author Share Posted December 5, 2006 It's a two-parter on Sky 1: Sunday 17th December & Monday 18th December @ 8pm. Am now a little disappointed, because it was originally supposed to be on Xmas Day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz Posted December 6, 2006 Share Posted December 6, 2006 Yeah, I'm a little disappointed as well. It would have been great if they had shown it on the 25th. Although, if it's a two-parter, it must be fairly long. I'm really looking forward to this now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted December 6, 2006 Author Share Posted December 6, 2006 They could have done it over Xmas Eve/Xmas Day - that would have been perfect! Waaahhh! Still, I'm looking forward to it, despite the fact that i've heard they've changed quite a bit of the plot (why? why? why?????) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sugar Posted December 6, 2006 Share Posted December 6, 2006 They could have done it over Xmas Eve/Xmas Day - that would have been perfect! Waaahhh! They are probably hoping that it will make more people get Sky+ then it can be saved for Xmas Eve/Day.....! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted December 6, 2006 Share Posted December 6, 2006 I had actually forgotten how funny Terry Pratchett is, 'Hogfather' is brilliantly dark! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted December 6, 2006 Author Share Posted December 6, 2006 I love how Pratchett's Discworld characters all have a basis in "Round World" history. In the case of the Hogfather, he's obviously done a lot of research into old Pagan beliefs & practices - the same basis from which we ended up with Santa Claus, just leaving it a step or two behind where we're currently at. Pratchett does this with many of his main characters - i think it's part of why his books appeal to so many people - there's a realism there that gets under our skin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dididave Posted December 6, 2006 Share Posted December 6, 2006 I love how Pratchett's Discworld characters all have a basis in "Round World" history. In the case of the Hogfather, he's obviously done a lot of research into old Pagan beliefs & practices - the same basis from which we ended up with Santa Claus, just leaving it a step or two behind where we're currently at. Pratchett does this with many of his main characters - i think it's part of why his books appeal to so many people - there's a realism there that gets under our skin. Aye I think that is what a lot of people who do not read Pratchett fail to understand. Yes IT IS a world with witches and stuff but it very closely parodies our own and the witches and werewolves suffer the same problems we do. Susan having an embarassing Grandfather for example (Who just so happens to be DEATH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted December 6, 2006 Author Share Posted December 6, 2006 I also love Susan's no-nonesense approach to things. For example, her employer asks how one should address the third cousin of a Queen, she replies, "We call him Jamie" (if I remember correctly!). Also, how she handles the kids smacks of how my Grandad used to be - I was never told there were no such things as monsters & ghosts - mostly because there are such things! And The Poker was something my Gramps would threaten to use on any bogeyman who tried to scare his granddaughters! The first time I read that whole section, I almost creased myself laughing - especially the "Susan picked a Bogey by it's nose!" She's like most people - someone trying to live a normal life under extraordinary circumstrances. i think we can all relate to that in some way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted December 6, 2006 Share Posted December 6, 2006 I have a strange sense of humour, so some of the things I love are the random discussions.. like the one about whether a banana is actually a fish. (I also love Eddie Izzard's random style.) This book is actually growing on me.. there are some really clever ideas etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted December 6, 2006 Share Posted December 6, 2006 Sky's web site is pretty slow, but you may want to have a look here... http://www.skyone.co.uk/hogfather/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renniemist Posted December 7, 2006 Share Posted December 7, 2006 The Hogfather is a very enjoyable and witty book. I have not read any Terry Pratchett books before so the whole Discworld and all the characters are new to me. It is a great book to read at this time of the year. I loved the scene in the toyshop. I will try to watch The Hogfather when it is on TV over the Christmas period. I do think I may have enjoyed it more if I had read some of the previous books- just to get a feel for some of the characters. However the book is so full of humour that you can Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilgrim Posted December 9, 2006 Share Posted December 9, 2006 I also love Susan's no-nonesense approach to things. For example, her employer asks how one should address the third cousin of a Queen, she replies, "We call him Jamie" (if I remember correctly!). Also, how she handles the kids smacks of how my Grandad used to be - I was never told there were no such things as monsters & ghosts - mostly because there are such things! And The Poker was something my Gramps would threaten to use on any bogeyman who tried to scare his granddaughters! The first time I read that whole section, I almost creased myself laughing - especially the "Susan picked a Bogey by it's nose!" She's like most people - someone trying to live a normal life under extraordinary circumstrances. i think we can all relate to that in some way. I'm only about a 10th of the way through but Susan's a wonderful creation. In dealing with Twyla, one of her little charges, "What have I told you about trying to sound ingratiatingly cute..." as part of her no-nonsense approach. Thanks for getting me away from mysteries for a while. Are there even any spoilers in this? It seems as if the narrative, and as you said earlier, the basis in Round World, is the message and it's fantastic. Also phrases like "the members of the Guild of Assassins...knew the value of human life. To a penny, in many cases." I've just passed the descriptions of the underworld thugs and how Teatime negotiates. I'll never pronounce tea time the same again...not that I use that expression very often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted December 9, 2006 Author Share Posted December 9, 2006 I'll never pronounce tea time the same again...not that I use that expression very often. i used to work in an office full of Pratchett fans & come 10:30am & 3:00pm every day, someone would announce very loudly, "Stop working everyone - it's Te-ah-ti-meh!" & we'd all have a cuppa - LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilgrim Posted December 10, 2006 Share Posted December 10, 2006 Kel, what a wonderful office! The name "Ankh-Morpork" sounds as if it has a history to it and I may be missing something obvious or already mentioned. The only thing I could come up with is an exclamation involving hogs. I'd like to see the show and I noticed on the cast at IMDb that Terry Pratchett has a part. And "Ho, Ho, Ho, Cower Brief Mortals" is a great way to deliver gifts. What a likeable character - so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz Posted December 11, 2006 Share Posted December 11, 2006 I'd like to see the show and I noticed on the cast at IMDb that Terry Pratchett has a part. Yes, he's playing the Toy Maker (although, he does only make a brief appearance). Watched a "Making Of" programme on The Hogfather tonight. Looks as though this could be quite good. They've taken a long time making the sets, so hopefully it will look like it's from the Disc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilywhite Posted December 14, 2006 Share Posted December 14, 2006 I can't wait for this on Sunday, I have nearly finished the book too. Great story and I'm glad I read it now coming up to Christmas, it has so much more meaning when you're in the festive mood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 I finished 'Hogfather' last night and having being away from Terry Pratchett for some time, I have to say I absolutely loved 'Hogfather', the story was brilliant and very apt of course for this time of year. Death and Albert are such a great comedy duo don't you think? Susan trying to find her place in the grand scale of things. It was a great read, a brilliant choice for the book of the month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilgrim Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 Well, I just read a tad more last night because what an exhausting week but am now 50% of the way through the book and the month. I like Death too. Good to know that Death and Albert are certainties til the end - like death and taxes. And Lilywhite! You're the mom of two of Teatime's ragtag band! The brainless one that has taken to following Teatime around like a puppy and his brother who was exceedingly mean til Teatime showed up on the scene and now, by comparison, just a member of the team. Though I believe someone says if she were still around she'd be a match for Teatime. I've set the book down where I can't find it for the moment but as soon as I clean some clutter, I'll be back and I'll block the sad fact that can't watch this on Sunday. I'll bet Pratchett was in the "Making of The Hogfather". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilywhite Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 I do like that.... good old ma Lilywhite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogmatix Posted December 17, 2006 Share Posted December 17, 2006 I'm enjoying my own read this month but I have to say after reading this thread I think I really missed out on The Hogfather. This book sounds hillarious. Funny I usually try to participate in the BOTM. I'll definitely be looking into this book at some point in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angel Posted December 17, 2006 Share Posted December 17, 2006 I confess that I've never tried a Terry Pratchett book before, so I thought that I would give this a go. It sounds good - I was listening to Pratchett discussing it with Jonathon Ross on the radio yesterday - it sounded good, although fantasy doesn't usually rock my rock! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted December 17, 2006 Share Posted December 17, 2006 I'm just watching the 'Making of..' and it's looking rather good! I can't wait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.