Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Monstrous Regiment
Book Review: Breaking new ground
Summary: 4 Stars
Terry Pratchett tackles the whole realm of womens' equality in this novel and he does it much more obviously than he has tackled other issues in the past ...... he even signposts the whole theme of the book with the title !! This novel looks at the role of women in the army and how they pass as men (what you need apparently is a second pair of socks !!) and then uses this to examine the notion of true equality and the dangers of women becoming like the men rather than in being themselves. It is a challenging theme and Pratchett gives it a very good try with a lot of food for thought and an entertaining plot thrown in as well. I thought the appearance of Samuel Vimes was a bit gratuitous and the plot resolution a bit far fetched and not explained too well but on teh whole this is, as usual, an entertaining read and it is rather different from his other novels ..... not as good as Night Watch but then again, very little is !!!
Book Review: Not his best book, but still a good read
Summary: 4 Stars
My favourite Pratchett books are the Granny Weatherwax and Sam Vimes books, Rincewind comes bottom of my list, this one falls somewhere in the middle. It didn't make me laugh out loud, but I did get a few smiles and the occasional snigger. One thing I do miss about this book though is the different levels of humour. I most of his books you have the 'easy' puns and jokes for teenagers, slightly deeper jokes, and finally more obscure jokes and puns that you might not pick up until you read it a second time. There are not many 'easy' jokes in this book, I agree with some previous reviewers, this is a darker novel than the others. Having said that it is still a good read.Book Review: Now isn't that interesting?
Summary: 4 Stars
A Terry Pratchett, and more, a Discworld, that isn't automatically funny. There were none of those bizarre ideas or wry comments that characterized the earlier books, nor those hilarious little lines, as in Night Watch. A changing author... It is worth reading, it really is, even though not everyone may get the humour or the point of the story at once. If you're one of those people, I advise you to read it again. Not a five star, because it felt like he was still getting to grips with this new style, but worth four, because it was interesting and amusing. I just wish we knew what had happened to start this change...Book Review: Disappointed of Watford
Summary: 3 Stars
I'm a big fan of Terry Pratchett's yet latterly I've been disappointed with some of the later Discworld novels of which Monstrous Regiment is the latest and I have to say that I was a little disappointed with this too. The storyline is good and it's easy to see how Terry Pratchett has come up with it, looking at the world over the last few years. However the humour just doesn't seem to be there anymore. Maybe it's just me and I'm getting too old for this kind of stuff (Oh no, I hope not!). It did improve towards the end but it doesn't live up to Mort which is my benchmark.
Book Review: Pratchett's Current Events Commentary
Summary: 4 Stars
The latest Discworld novel from the legendary Terry Pratchett takes on the very topical issue of war, and certainly recent events have clearly had some effect on this tale.The book centres on a young woman named Polly who lives in the little-known state of Borogravia, a state that seems to be in a perpetual... well state of war. Polly goes in search of her brother who joined the army, and in doing so joins the army herself, but only by disguising herself as a boy.
The tale then recounts her squad, a collection of new recruits with secrets of their own, and their adventures in seeking to fight for Borogravia.
The book contains the usual Pratchett humour, but in many ways is a departure from many of his previous books, focusing on much more political issues. In a way this is a hark back to his early days and Equal Rites. He clearly is making comments not just about sexual equality, but also about homophobia. The presence of women in the military, where there should be none, alludes to the presence of gays in the military, and the 'don't ask, don't tell' approach.
The work also examines the role of governments in war, and its effect on citizens. The views and opinions of the squad and the irrepressible Sergeant Jackrum (a re-made Vimes/Sergeant Colon - a fact that Pratchett does not hide by the cameo appearance of Vimes) are an attempt to illustrate the position that members of the military find themselves in. They do not want to kill or attack other soldiers, people like themselves, but they still have to.
Pratchett also cleverly shows how the press can affect wars by looking at individuals, rather than sides or states in a war, turning opinion back home and potentially affecting outcomes.
Of course these comments remain the background, not affecting the reader's enjoyment of a good old yarn. The book centres on a new group of characters, a welcome event in any Pratchett book. The characters are reminiscent of the early days of the Watch as featured in Guards, Guards. Pratchett doesn't avoid the similarities, but promotes them by having Vimes and Angua present, representing the change that has happened since their first appearance, with the relative inexperience and bumbling of Sergeant Jackrum's squad.
All in all, as with all Pratchett's outings, a good story, but with an interesting and topical commentary on states and war.