Hogfather by Terry Pratchett Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Hogfather
Book Review: It has it all...
Summary: 5 Stars
By far, this book is the best of the Discworld series and in my top 5 favorite books. It had me cracking up just purely by the writer's style. It was truely enjoyable.
All in all, I think this book would make an excellant movie, if done properly.
Book Review: Keen observations with a story wrapped around them
Summary: 3 Stars
This is a book about Hogswatch and the Hogfather, which are the Discworld equivalents of Christmas and Santa Claus. There is a crisis brewing, when it is discovered that the Hogfather is missing in action as Hogswatch is quickly approaching. Death fills in while an assortment of characters try to unravel the mystery of the whereabouts of Hogfather. The trail leads through a jumbled plot involving Assassins and the Tooth Fairy, and the zany factor is quite high and mostly enjoyable. More interesting are the many subtle observations about the human need for order, belief and tradition, in a scary universe. As one insight reveals, only humans could create dullness in a universe that lacks any such concept. But as Pratchett so effectively argues in his stories, it is really humanity that supplies the most colorful miracles of all. They are found in our unfailing ability to cope. There is plenty of color in this book, and a strange but definite comfort in the end. The story is okay. But I found some of the parts to work better than the whole.Book Review: Loved it!
Summary: 5 Stars
Can't help wondering what happened to Susan's young man from "Soul Music" though...Book Review: My First Trip to Discworld
Summary: 5 Stars
"Hogfather" is the first Terry Pratchett book that I read, based on a strong and enthusiastic recommendation. I am sorry I did not discover Pratchett earlier. His writing is filled with laugh-out-loud moments and peppered with sharp insights into the ways humans function. He has created a marvelously warped, but awfully familiar universe with his Discworld. "Hogfather" is largely a satire about Christmas and the way that we celebrate it; but it is more importantly about the beliefs that shape who we are and the strength those beliefs have over us.
The basis for "Hogfather" is that the Hogfather has been "killed" and Death must take over the reins in order to ensure that the sun will rise the next morning, as well as to try to bring back the Hogfather. As he crisscrosses the world on Hogswatch Eve, he is startled by the lack of belief that he encounters in his interactions with humans. Surely something is wrong in the universe if humans don't belief in the Hogfather and it is Death's task, along with others, to try to set things right.
The novel includes a wide cast of characters who are believable and add to the rich tapestry of Pratchett's yarn. We are allowed to see the story from various vantage points as we discover what is the cause behind this lack of belief. We laugh out loud at the escapades of the Oh-God of Hangovers and the other various 'gods' who have strangely gained entrance into Discworld. Yet the best storyline involves Susan Sto-
Helit; as Death's grand-daughter, she would like nothing more than to live a normal life as a governess, but inevitably finds herself wrapped up in the plot to save the Hogfather and restore order to Discworld.
Pratchett is a highly entertaining author. He balances the wit and humor of his story with sharp (and sometimes biting) observations about life. I look forward to more trips into Discworld.
Book Review: My favorite Pratchett book (so far...)
Summary: 5 Stars
This story is on one level the very funny story of Death (one of Pratchett's many reoccurring characters) having to fill in for the Hogfather as he tries to make people *believe* in Hogswatch (kind of a Christmas except with, well, um, hogs). On another level it is an exploration of the modern commercialized "Christmas", and the ancient myths from which it sprang. Silly and thoughtful, this book is a classic of fantasy. Though it would help to read "Mort", "Reaper Man" and "Soul Music" first, the book can be read on it's own, though it is funnier if you have the background of at least some of the earlier books.