Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Doubleday Childrens (2006), Edition: 1st, Hardcover, 400 pages
Description
When witch-in-training Tiffany Aching accidentally interrupts the Dance of the Seasons and awakens the interest of the elemental spirit of Winter, she requires the help of the six-inch-high, sword-wielding, sheep-stealing Wee Free Men to put the seasons aright.
User reviews
LibraryThing member fyrefly98
Summary: It's normal for a thirteen-year-old girl to start having boy problems. But Tiffany Aching is not a normal girl, and her boy problems are not about a normal boy. Okay, there is Roland, the son of the baron of the Chalk, who gets stammery around her, and writes her letters while she
Review: While I still enjoyed this book quite a bit, I don't think it lived up to either of its two predecessors, The Wee Free Men or A Hat Full of Sky. Partly, I think this was due to the structure; Wintersmith's first chapter starts in the middle of the crisis, then skips back in time, and the pacing throughout the rest of the story just felt a little bit off... spending a long time on some more tangential aspects of the plot while hurrying through others. Partly, it was due to the nature of the conflict; I didn't feel the Wintersmith was particularly menacing or dangerous (especially compared to the Faery Queen or the Hiver), and Tiffany never seemed that concerned about her problems. But mostly, I think, it was due to the comparative absence of the Feegles. Tiffany's a fine, multi-dimensional, and sympathetic protagonist, and the other characters that surround her are all interesting in their own right, but the Feegles are undeniably the stars of the show, and their screen time is somewhat reduced in this installment.
I want to reiterate that I did really enjoy this book. The Feegles, when they were around, got in some lines that made me truly laugh out loud, and the rest of the book manages a similar sly sense of humor throughout without feeling the need to be hi-larious every line. Even more, I really appreciate the worldview and sensibility that's present in these books. Although they're ostensibly for a YA audience, they don't talk down to kids, don't sugar coat the fact that the world isn't always a nice place, and just generally seem to have their head screwed on right about issues surrounding growing up, how people relate to each other and themselves, and what it takes to be yourself and do right by others. At the same time, it's not preachy, and wraps up its sensible opinions in a fun adventure in an interesting world, populated by bizarre witches, amusing normal folk, and hilarious little blue men. 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: Not quite as strong as the two that came before it, but still very much a worthwhile read if you're looking for YA fantasy that's not strictly for teens.
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continues her witch training. But someone else has fallen in love with Tiffany, and that someone is the Wintersmith - the god of winter itself! When Tiffany joins in the Dark Morris dance that marks the changing of summer to winter, she attracts the attention of the elemental god, and she begins to take the place of the Summer Lady, the Wintersmith's normal opposite and partner. Any attention from the gods is dangerous (not to mention disruptive to learning the practice of witchcraft), but when it's romantic attention, there's a whole extra layer of complications for Tiffany to sort out... along with her perennial allies, the Nac Mac Feegles.Review: While I still enjoyed this book quite a bit, I don't think it lived up to either of its two predecessors, The Wee Free Men or A Hat Full of Sky. Partly, I think this was due to the structure; Wintersmith's first chapter starts in the middle of the crisis, then skips back in time, and the pacing throughout the rest of the story just felt a little bit off... spending a long time on some more tangential aspects of the plot while hurrying through others. Partly, it was due to the nature of the conflict; I didn't feel the Wintersmith was particularly menacing or dangerous (especially compared to the Faery Queen or the Hiver), and Tiffany never seemed that concerned about her problems. But mostly, I think, it was due to the comparative absence of the Feegles. Tiffany's a fine, multi-dimensional, and sympathetic protagonist, and the other characters that surround her are all interesting in their own right, but the Feegles are undeniably the stars of the show, and their screen time is somewhat reduced in this installment.
I want to reiterate that I did really enjoy this book. The Feegles, when they were around, got in some lines that made me truly laugh out loud, and the rest of the book manages a similar sly sense of humor throughout without feeling the need to be hi-larious every line. Even more, I really appreciate the worldview and sensibility that's present in these books. Although they're ostensibly for a YA audience, they don't talk down to kids, don't sugar coat the fact that the world isn't always a nice place, and just generally seem to have their head screwed on right about issues surrounding growing up, how people relate to each other and themselves, and what it takes to be yourself and do right by others. At the same time, it's not preachy, and wraps up its sensible opinions in a fun adventure in an interesting world, populated by bizarre witches, amusing normal folk, and hilarious little blue men. 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: Not quite as strong as the two that came before it, but still very much a worthwhile read if you're looking for YA fantasy that's not strictly for teens.
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LibraryThing member pwaites
Tiffany Aching, the protagonist of The Wee Free Men and A Hat Full of Sky, is now almost thirteen and working for Miss Treason, a hundred and seventeen year old witch. When Miss Treason and Tiffany go to watch the dark Morris dance, where summer gives way to winter, the unprecedented happens:
“You danced into a story, girl, one that tells itself to the world every year. It’s the Story about ice and fire, Summer and Winter. You’ve made it wrong. You’ve got to stay to the end and make sure it turns out right.”
Wintersmith, like so many of Pratchett’s other witch books, is about the power of stories. Humans shape the world into stories we tell ourselves, but the witch stands outside the story. She shapes it, she changes it. The witch is the master of the story.
“People wanted the world to be a story, because stories had to sound right and they had to make sense. People wanted the world to make sense.”
In Wintersmith, Tiffany Aching, being so closely connected to the Chalk and the land, cannot help but dance to the changing of the seasons, and thus stumbles into a story she does not belong in. She made a mistake, and now she has to take responsibility for it.
I love Tiffany so much, and it’s a pleasure to see her grow up through the series. Terry Pratchett has a remarkable ability to get inside a young girl’s head. I recall reading Wintersmith when I was about fourteen, not so different in age from Tiffany, and I was absolutely amazed that Pratchett was able to capture so much of what I was thinking and feeling.
And there’s so much compassion towards all the characters. Just look at Annagramma – it would be so easy for Annagramma to fall into the “mean girl” stereotype, but instead she gets character development and sympathy. It’s so marvelous to find a series that has so many well written women, who work together and support each other.
“I’m the wicked ol’ witch, girl. They feared me, and did what they were told! They feared joke skulls and silly stories. I chose fear. I knew they’d never love me for telling ‘em the truth, so I made certain of their fear. No, they’ll be relieved to hear the witch is dead.”
There’s so much morality in the witch novels, so much on the importance of helping other people, even when they’re stupid or ungrateful. And it’s never written in a condescending or preachy way, it’s just embedded into the core of who Tiffany and the other witches are. They’re women who guard the boundaries and help those who cannot help themselves. They’re women who make choices and take responsibility.
“We make happy endings, child, day to day. But you see, for the witch there are no happy endings. There are just endings.”
I recommend Wintersmith to everyone, but if I could choose only one book to give a thirteen year old girl, it would be this one. This is truly a fantastic book.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
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Tiffany, for reasons she cannot explain, joins the dance. Now she’s attracted the attention of the personification of Winter himself, and she’s risked a winter that never leaves…“You danced into a story, girl, one that tells itself to the world every year. It’s the Story about ice and fire, Summer and Winter. You’ve made it wrong. You’ve got to stay to the end and make sure it turns out right.”
Wintersmith, like so many of Pratchett’s other witch books, is about the power of stories. Humans shape the world into stories we tell ourselves, but the witch stands outside the story. She shapes it, she changes it. The witch is the master of the story.
“People wanted the world to be a story, because stories had to sound right and they had to make sense. People wanted the world to make sense.”
In Wintersmith, Tiffany Aching, being so closely connected to the Chalk and the land, cannot help but dance to the changing of the seasons, and thus stumbles into a story she does not belong in. She made a mistake, and now she has to take responsibility for it.
I love Tiffany so much, and it’s a pleasure to see her grow up through the series. Terry Pratchett has a remarkable ability to get inside a young girl’s head. I recall reading Wintersmith when I was about fourteen, not so different in age from Tiffany, and I was absolutely amazed that Pratchett was able to capture so much of what I was thinking and feeling.
And there’s so much compassion towards all the characters. Just look at Annagramma – it would be so easy for Annagramma to fall into the “mean girl” stereotype, but instead she gets character development and sympathy. It’s so marvelous to find a series that has so many well written women, who work together and support each other.
“I’m the wicked ol’ witch, girl. They feared me, and did what they were told! They feared joke skulls and silly stories. I chose fear. I knew they’d never love me for telling ‘em the truth, so I made certain of their fear. No, they’ll be relieved to hear the witch is dead.”
There’s so much morality in the witch novels, so much on the importance of helping other people, even when they’re stupid or ungrateful. And it’s never written in a condescending or preachy way, it’s just embedded into the core of who Tiffany and the other witches are. They’re women who guard the boundaries and help those who cannot help themselves. They’re women who make choices and take responsibility.
“We make happy endings, child, day to day. But you see, for the witch there are no happy endings. There are just endings.”
I recommend Wintersmith to everyone, but if I could choose only one book to give a thirteen year old girl, it would be this one. This is truly a fantastic book.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
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LibraryThing member fred_mouse
Rough synopsis - Tiffany Aching, 'apprentice' witch, gets caught up in magic much larger than she is, which causes all kinds of interesting weather events to happen.
I am reasonably enamoured of Pratchett's Tiffany Aching books (of which this is the 3rd), much more than I have been of many of
This book brings back the theme of the vaguely anthropomorphised deity, and the intermingling of the every day and the godly, that I have been noticing in recent Pratchett works. I'm thinking, say, of Small Gods, although that is a more focused look on belief than this. I quite like Pratchett's take on faith in both of these books - I can understand the immediacy of belief, and use it to inform my understanding of historical perspectives on religion. This probably indicates a failure of imagination on my part, that I require fantasy to explain history, but sideways thinking has never been a skill that I have much faith in.
As to my favourite four--characterisation, world-building, plot, writing--all of these get ticks for this book. The wide range of characters, from the young Tiffany, through the troublesome Rob Anybody of the Nac Mac Feegle, to the cantankerous but wily Granny Weatherwax, all capture the attention, with none of the major characters coming across as half realised. For all the existing world-building of the Discworld, I found this to be full of new details and ideas about what makes a world. The plot is well paced, grabbing my attention (and costing me sleep), and the writing, as ever, appears effortless. This was a pleasure to read
I am reasonably enamoured of Pratchett's Tiffany Aching books (of which this is the 3rd), much more than I have been of many of
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Pratchett's Witches books. This may be because his world building and writing have matured over the many years that he has devoted to the Discworld, or because I find her more comprehensible than the other Witches, but more likely a little of both. I also find that seeing the other witches through the eyes of Tiffany is a much more sympathetic viewpoint than the more removed perspective that I remember from the early ones. This book brings back the theme of the vaguely anthropomorphised deity, and the intermingling of the every day and the godly, that I have been noticing in recent Pratchett works. I'm thinking, say, of Small Gods, although that is a more focused look on belief than this. I quite like Pratchett's take on faith in both of these books - I can understand the immediacy of belief, and use it to inform my understanding of historical perspectives on religion. This probably indicates a failure of imagination on my part, that I require fantasy to explain history, but sideways thinking has never been a skill that I have much faith in.
As to my favourite four--characterisation, world-building, plot, writing--all of these get ticks for this book. The wide range of characters, from the young Tiffany, through the troublesome Rob Anybody of the Nac Mac Feegle, to the cantankerous but wily Granny Weatherwax, all capture the attention, with none of the major characters coming across as half realised. For all the existing world-building of the Discworld, I found this to be full of new details and ideas about what makes a world. The plot is well paced, grabbing my attention (and costing me sleep), and the writing, as ever, appears effortless. This was a pleasure to read
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LibraryThing member psiloiordinary
Pratchett does many things well. One thing he does very well indeed is witchcraft.
Yes, yes there is real magic on discworld, but the witches use something far more powerful to help care for and guide their flocks. They understand how people think, and the people of discworld are just like the
They understand that people would rather believe a good story than a boring one, that giving the impression of something is often stronger than being something and other strange things.
Headology is a big subject and even in this tale set for children (which is also great for bigger kids - like me) he gently walks us through some of the common human foibles when it comes to believing in things without taking away from the plot or characters.
A classic Pratchett plot of "anthropomorphism causes chaos" is told swiftly and surely by a master of his craft.
Another hit from Pterry.
Yes, yes there is real magic on discworld, but the witches use something far more powerful to help care for and guide their flocks. They understand how people think, and the people of discworld are just like the
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people of roundworld (earth).They understand that people would rather believe a good story than a boring one, that giving the impression of something is often stronger than being something and other strange things.
Headology is a big subject and even in this tale set for children (which is also great for bigger kids - like me) he gently walks us through some of the common human foibles when it comes to believing in things without taking away from the plot or characters.
A classic Pratchett plot of "anthropomorphism causes chaos" is told swiftly and surely by a master of his craft.
Another hit from Pterry.
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LibraryThing member Darla
How to write about a Pratchett book without it degenerating into incoherent fangirly squeeing? I'll try, but I'm not making any promises.
This is the 3rd Tiffany Aching book, which is a subset of the Discworld series. Tiffany is a young witch-in-training.
In Wintersmith, Tiffany turns 13, which is a
Then her current mentor, Miss Treason, announces that she'll be dying soon, and the race is on to decide who should take over her cottage. Tiffany is likely the best qualified, but Annagramma is older and more likely to be accepted by the locals.
Enter Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg. Granny manipulates things in her usual twisted way, and Nanny is her usual blend of practicality and earthiness. And of course there are the Nac Mac Feegles, who are just hilarious.
Wintersmith is a young adult novel, but that's mostly because the heroine is 13. The story is universal enough and complex enough to appeal to adult readers as well.
Tiffany takes responsibility for a serious mistake--she gets advice and help along the way, but ultimately, she has to fix the problem herself.
She also has to bite the bullet, swallow her pride, and focus on what's best for everyone in the long run rather than what makes her happy now.
Both of those are lessons that aren't limited to young people--they're not easy for us grown-ups, either.
*sigh* Instead of squeeing, I ended up synopsizing. Sorry about that. It's a great book. I'd recommend reading Wee Free Men and A Hat Full of Sky first, and maybe a couple of the Discworld witch books too, so you're familiar with Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg, but you probably don't have to.
This is the 3rd Tiffany Aching book, which is a subset of the Discworld series. Tiffany is a young witch-in-training.
In Wintersmith, Tiffany turns 13, which is a
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difficult enough time in any girl's life. But Tiffany's not just any girl, so things are exponentially more difficult. Her biggest problem starts when she (unintentionally, to be sure) steps into the dance between the Wintersmith and the Summer Lady, resulting in her taking on some of the attributes of the Summer Lady, and in the Wintersmith falling in love with her.Then her current mentor, Miss Treason, announces that she'll be dying soon, and the race is on to decide who should take over her cottage. Tiffany is likely the best qualified, but Annagramma is older and more likely to be accepted by the locals.
Enter Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg. Granny manipulates things in her usual twisted way, and Nanny is her usual blend of practicality and earthiness. And of course there are the Nac Mac Feegles, who are just hilarious.
Wintersmith is a young adult novel, but that's mostly because the heroine is 13. The story is universal enough and complex enough to appeal to adult readers as well.
Tiffany takes responsibility for a serious mistake--she gets advice and help along the way, but ultimately, she has to fix the problem herself.
She also has to bite the bullet, swallow her pride, and focus on what's best for everyone in the long run rather than what makes her happy now.
Both of those are lessons that aren't limited to young people--they're not easy for us grown-ups, either.
*sigh* Instead of squeeing, I ended up synopsizing. Sorry about that. It's a great book. I'd recommend reading Wee Free Men and A Hat Full of Sky first, and maybe a couple of the Discworld witch books too, so you're familiar with Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg, but you probably don't have to.
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LibraryThing member surreality
Plot: Fast-paced and a good foundation for brilliant scenes. It's got the sideplots that could easily become a book on their own, it's got the twisting and turning into unexpected directions, it has an ending that comes after a proper build-up and delivers what it promises.
Characters: Tiffany
Style: Pratchett at his best. The quirky scenes, the one-liners, the footnotes, the running jokes, the sheer bizarreness of the whole situation. It's a book that works on several layers.
Plus: The witches. Tiffany and Roland become a little older and can do more as characters. Occasional absolute insanity.
Minus: The Feegles are at times hard to understand when you're not a native speaker.
Summary: Solid Discworld novel, well done and highly enjoyable.
Characters: Tiffany
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works well as a central character, and it's interesting to see her development from the first book. She manages to hold her ground in comparison to established characters, which is an achievement given that those characters are Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg, who are up to standards. Side characters are lovingly sketched, and there is no truly boring character around. Style: Pratchett at his best. The quirky scenes, the one-liners, the footnotes, the running jokes, the sheer bizarreness of the whole situation. It's a book that works on several layers.
Plus: The witches. Tiffany and Roland become a little older and can do more as characters. Occasional absolute insanity.
Minus: The Feegles are at times hard to understand when you're not a native speaker.
Summary: Solid Discworld novel, well done and highly enjoyable.
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LibraryThing member Antheras
Thirteen-year-old Tiffany Aching is a trainee witch, but not just any witch. Tiffany comes from the Chalk and gained from her talents from her Gran. When she was 9, Tiffany went up against the Fairy Queen before she had any training. When she was 11, she had to battle an evil that steals bodies.
Granny Weatherwax sent Tiffany out as apprentice to Miss Treason, one of the scariest witches around, and her training is going well until the night she joins the Dark Dance (the transition from summer to winter) and draws the attention of the Wintersmith.
Now it’s snowing miniature representations of Tiffany and the Wintersmith is in love for the first time. Can Tiffany fix things or will it be winter forever?
Some of Terry Pratchett's best books are the ones where he takes on fairy tales, perhaps because all of them feature Granny Weatherwax. These books have an imposed structure (the original tale which provides the outline) and theme within which Pratchett works his magic. Granny provides the necessary acerbity to counter the arch sweetness of fairy tales, although Pratchett's versions are much darker than the originals.
Wintersmith is closer to the earthy fairy tales of old, touching on Tiffany's burgeoning sexuality. Since Tiffany is no ordinary witch, it makes sense that her first sensual adventure would be with the embodiment of winter.
In Wintersmith, readers meet some of the other young witches-in-training - perhaps setting the stage for future books in the "Witches" series (Lords and Ladies, Witches Abroad)? Wintersmith is the 3rd Tiffany Aching adventure, following Wee Free Men and A Hat Full of Sky.
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And then there’s the little matter of the Nac Mac Feegles - the little blue pictsies who consider it their duty to keep watch over Tiffany and consider her to be their “big wee hag.”Granny Weatherwax sent Tiffany out as apprentice to Miss Treason, one of the scariest witches around, and her training is going well until the night she joins the Dark Dance (the transition from summer to winter) and draws the attention of the Wintersmith.
Now it’s snowing miniature representations of Tiffany and the Wintersmith is in love for the first time. Can Tiffany fix things or will it be winter forever?
Some of Terry Pratchett's best books are the ones where he takes on fairy tales, perhaps because all of them feature Granny Weatherwax. These books have an imposed structure (the original tale which provides the outline) and theme within which Pratchett works his magic. Granny provides the necessary acerbity to counter the arch sweetness of fairy tales, although Pratchett's versions are much darker than the originals.
Wintersmith is closer to the earthy fairy tales of old, touching on Tiffany's burgeoning sexuality. Since Tiffany is no ordinary witch, it makes sense that her first sensual adventure would be with the embodiment of winter.
In Wintersmith, readers meet some of the other young witches-in-training - perhaps setting the stage for future books in the "Witches" series (Lords and Ladies, Witches Abroad)? Wintersmith is the 3rd Tiffany Aching adventure, following Wee Free Men and A Hat Full of Sky.
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LibraryThing member Kavinay
“The human body only has so much air in it. You have to make it last. One plate of beans can take a year off your life. I have avoided rumbustiousness all my days. I am an old person and that means what I say is wisdom!”
"Sooner or later, every curse is a prayer."
This isn't really a children's
"Sooner or later, every curse is a prayer."
This isn't really a children's
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book which actually makes it the perfect book for children. Terry Pratchett's touch with the ongoing education of young witch Tiffany Aching is clever and delightful. Show Less
LibraryThing member SimonW11
This seemed Pratchett's best for a while. Heinlein said that one has to write better when writing for children and Pratchett seems to have taken this to heart. It is witty, well written and has quite a complex structure. Tiffany Aching is growing ever more formidable and is wise beyond her
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years.Then and then,well it all runs down. It needs a more definate ending, threads are left dangling and the resolution seems false. My ebook version was americanised which jarred on occasion. Show Less
LibraryThing member aemurray
This was listed on ALA's Notable teen books and it sounded intriguing. I read it before reading the prior two stories by Pratchett in the Tiffany Aching Witch series and ended up enjoying it. The accents of the Wee Free Men were thick at first, but it became charming. Good fantasy for younger
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LibraryThing member -Cee-
This snowy, icy, windblown story of the ancient winter/summer dance was refreshing to read in the current summer heat. Tiffany Aching, the main character, gets into romantic trouble with the Wintersmith who finds he is infatuated with this 13 y/o girl. He makes Tiffany-shaped snowflakes and
The sub plot woven throughout - "how to be a good witch" - raised a few important questions, e.g., If you kill your enemy, how will they know you won??? Love it! This YA book has a hefty amount of humor and fun. Recommended for the young and young-at-heart Terry Pratchett fans.
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icebergs. If he has his way, the world will freeze over and never see Spring. Not to worry! Tiffany has many magical friends to save her and the world. The sub plot woven throughout - "how to be a good witch" - raised a few important questions, e.g., If you kill your enemy, how will they know you won??? Love it! This YA book has a hefty amount of humor and fun. Recommended for the young and young-at-heart Terry Pratchett fans.
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LibraryThing member akfarrar
At 113 years old, Miss Treason, a witch, knows about the connection between age, beans, fresh fruit and 'letting out wind'!
Tiffany, only 13 years old, with a 'he's not my boyfriend!' (even if he does send her letters with SWALK on them), is learning witchcraft from Miss Treason. She discovers there
Like most teenage girls, Tiffany has a will of her own - and even if she was told to stay still and just watch, why can't she join in the dance - especially when there is an empty space just waiting for her?
Months latter, with the snow falling thick, burying the newborn lambs, with a young brother missing and with her father begging her to help, she understands why.
This is one of Terry Pratchett's books for 'all children, aged 12 and above' - meaning anyone who is or once was 12!
It has a thumping good story line - strong characters, awful jokes and moments of danger: Perfect for the Christmas stocking.
At the heart of it is Tiffany's growing sense of identity - she has to cope with establishing who she is in a world of strong personalities (none stronger than Granny Weatherwax - control freak leader of the witches - who don't have a leader), deal with Death - and loss (someone has to clean up after the funeral, and milk the goat, and hide the Boffo), and ward off the unwanted attentions of a love-struck adolescent elemental.
This might be Discworld - but the emotions and themes are of this world.
The clear lines of the plot, the straightforward language and the characters all make this an attractive read for younger teenagers - but straight forward doesn't mean without depth.
As with many of his other books, Pratchett taps into age-old myths - fictional expressions of the fears and hopes, the irrational explanations of what it is to be human.
Here we have the Persephony myth entangled with Morris Dancing; Orpheus and the 'Wee People' working together; Celtic Ironsmiths crossed with the Greek pantheon.
This gives the story much greater significance - it is for the proto-adult in the child as much as for the vestigial child in the adult.
Yes, I smile when I see Morris Dancers prancing around in the concrete shopping centres of our towns - but having read this book, I will now see a dance which touches on the very turning of the seasons.
It is a Carry On meets The Golden Bough sort of experience!
Tiffany, only 13 years old, with a 'he's not my boyfriend!' (even if he does send her letters with SWALK on them), is learning witchcraft from Miss Treason. She discovers there
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is lot of hard work, cleaning around the cobwebs and polishing the skulls, chasing after the cheese - called Horace, a rather single-minded blue cheese - oh, and a strange tingling feeling behind the eyes when Miss Treason, who is blind, uses you as a mirror.Like most teenage girls, Tiffany has a will of her own - and even if she was told to stay still and just watch, why can't she join in the dance - especially when there is an empty space just waiting for her?
Months latter, with the snow falling thick, burying the newborn lambs, with a young brother missing and with her father begging her to help, she understands why.
This is one of Terry Pratchett's books for 'all children, aged 12 and above' - meaning anyone who is or once was 12!
It has a thumping good story line - strong characters, awful jokes and moments of danger: Perfect for the Christmas stocking.
At the heart of it is Tiffany's growing sense of identity - she has to cope with establishing who she is in a world of strong personalities (none stronger than Granny Weatherwax - control freak leader of the witches - who don't have a leader), deal with Death - and loss (someone has to clean up after the funeral, and milk the goat, and hide the Boffo), and ward off the unwanted attentions of a love-struck adolescent elemental.
This might be Discworld - but the emotions and themes are of this world.
The clear lines of the plot, the straightforward language and the characters all make this an attractive read for younger teenagers - but straight forward doesn't mean without depth.
As with many of his other books, Pratchett taps into age-old myths - fictional expressions of the fears and hopes, the irrational explanations of what it is to be human.
Here we have the Persephony myth entangled with Morris Dancing; Orpheus and the 'Wee People' working together; Celtic Ironsmiths crossed with the Greek pantheon.
This gives the story much greater significance - it is for the proto-adult in the child as much as for the vestigial child in the adult.
Yes, I smile when I see Morris Dancers prancing around in the concrete shopping centres of our towns - but having read this book, I will now see a dance which touches on the very turning of the seasons.
It is a Carry On meets The Golden Bough sort of experience!
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LibraryThing member atreic
I think I might have read too many Witch books in quick succession...
This is the 'dating is difficult' installment in Pratchett's stories about teenage Tiffany Aching. She sees a cool gap in the dark morris, impulsively dances into it, and has to live with the consequences of her actions - in this
I think I like the subplots even better. Anagramma, with her airs and lack of any practical skills, being saved and rallied round, and losing some of her corners (and being part of Granny's 'show how great she and Tiffany are' games). Miss Treason, and her boffo, and the ideas of looking the part and being the part, to get respect and get power. Little snippets of Ronald dealing with his father's illness and his evil aunts. And Horace, the cheese full of personality.
Tiffany gives Granny a kitten. That's cute :-)
This is the 'dating is difficult' installment in Pratchett's stories about teenage Tiffany Aching. She sees a cool gap in the dark morris, impulsively dances into it, and has to live with the consequences of her actions - in this
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case, that the Wintersmith falls for her, instead of Summer, and follows her around with deadly blizzards etc. It's a good story, although if you squint too hard there are messages that I would not 100% endorse - Nanny Ogg's relaxed 'ah, he's stalking you, but you should make him frightened of you and make him show you some respect' and the whole 'kissing him to melt him to save the world' resolution. I think I like the subplots even better. Anagramma, with her airs and lack of any practical skills, being saved and rallied round, and losing some of her corners (and being part of Granny's 'show how great she and Tiffany are' games). Miss Treason, and her boffo, and the ideas of looking the part and being the part, to get respect and get power. Little snippets of Ronald dealing with his father's illness and his evil aunts. And Horace, the cheese full of personality.
Tiffany gives Granny a kitten. That's cute :-)
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LibraryThing member InitiallyNO
It’s been a while since I’ve read a Pratchett book. Read a load in my teen years though. Always good for a laugh and fun fantasy plotline.
I felt like I was indulging myself in some childish reading endeavour, but you know, I enjoyed it. Pratchett is sort of on the pantomime side of theatre, if
The horn of cornucopia (a magical horn that can produce any food item), had a particularly good scene where the white kitten rubs up against it during the night, going, ‘Meep’ wishing for chicken. So all night the horn creates chickens so the house is full of them.
Good plot line, inventive characters, and play upon old sayings like, ‘Just a lot of boffin.’ In this book Boffin is a catalogue witches can order scary stuff like cobweb making machines, skulls, green face masks and warts.
I’ve lost track of the Pratchett’s shelf, since reading most of his books prior to 1990, I suspect he’s written a dozen more since then. This one is a fairly recent 2006 publication with great illustrations by Paul Kidby at the beginning of each chapter. It also has an occasional change of font use within the text. I’m thinking that this sort of graphical insert in books is becoming more prevalent since updates in computer programs. A writer can insert a symbol or warped wavy text into the book without a problem. And in this case it adds a bit of fun to a book, that is ostensibly just a bit of fun. But when you think of the amount of work that goes into a book like this, you’ve got to have huge admiration for such an inventive and prolific author.
Something that has me wondering though, is there some Scottish myth about little blue men called Feegles?
I felt like I was indulging myself in some childish reading endeavour, but you know, I enjoyed it. Pratchett is sort of on the pantomime side of theatre, if
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his books were to be produced as theatrical productions.The horn of cornucopia (a magical horn that can produce any food item), had a particularly good scene where the white kitten rubs up against it during the night, going, ‘Meep’ wishing for chicken. So all night the horn creates chickens so the house is full of them.
Good plot line, inventive characters, and play upon old sayings like, ‘Just a lot of boffin.’ In this book Boffin is a catalogue witches can order scary stuff like cobweb making machines, skulls, green face masks and warts.
I’ve lost track of the Pratchett’s shelf, since reading most of his books prior to 1990, I suspect he’s written a dozen more since then. This one is a fairly recent 2006 publication with great illustrations by Paul Kidby at the beginning of each chapter. It also has an occasional change of font use within the text. I’m thinking that this sort of graphical insert in books is becoming more prevalent since updates in computer programs. A writer can insert a symbol or warped wavy text into the book without a problem. And in this case it adds a bit of fun to a book, that is ostensibly just a bit of fun. But when you think of the amount of work that goes into a book like this, you’ve got to have huge admiration for such an inventive and prolific author.
Something that has me wondering though, is there some Scottish myth about little blue men called Feegles?
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LibraryThing member veracite
I'd been thinking that it would be keen to read some stories about Granny Weatherwax's youth. Then I realised I was, only with added grown up Granny to boot.
LibraryThing member Narilka
"You danced into a story, girl, one that tells itself to the world every year. It’s the Story about ice and fire, Summer and Winter. You’ve made it wrong. You’ve got to stay to the end and make sure it turns out right."
Crivens! That was such a good read. Wintersmith is the 35th Discworld book
Of course, the Nac Mac Feegles are right there to help their Wee Big Hag no matter whether she wants them to or not!
I'm always impressed with how much Terry Pratchett can pack into a seemingly simple tale. Wintersmith is about the power of stories and how humans shape the world with the stories we tell ourselves. It is such a deeply profound idea with so many layers to it that I think it's right up there with Small Gods as one of my favorites. As Wee Billy Bigchin says, "A metaphor is a kind o' lie to help people understand what's true." I highly recommend this book, though you'd likely want to read the previous two Tiffany Aching books first.
Crivens! That was such a good read. Wintersmith is the 35th Discworld book
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and the 3rd in the Tiffany Aching sub-series. Tiffany is a trainee witch under the scary Miss Treason. Every year the region observes the Dark Dance, where summer transitions to winter, and Tiffany, for reasons she can't explain, joins the dance. Now she's attracted the Wintersmith himself and Tiffany's forced to face the consequences of her actions: the fact that there may never be another springtime. Of course, the Nac Mac Feegles are right there to help their Wee Big Hag no matter whether she wants them to or not!
I'm always impressed with how much Terry Pratchett can pack into a seemingly simple tale. Wintersmith is about the power of stories and how humans shape the world with the stories we tell ourselves. It is such a deeply profound idea with so many layers to it that I think it's right up there with Small Gods as one of my favorites. As Wee Billy Bigchin says, "A metaphor is a kind o' lie to help people understand what's true." I highly recommend this book, though you'd likely want to read the previous two Tiffany Aching books first.
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LibraryThing member MikeFarquhar
Last for the month (so far, still a couple of days to go I suppose) is Wintersmith, Terry Pratchett's new Discworld book. This one is the third in the sub-series, aimed more nominally at kids, starring trainee witch Tiffany Aching and the Nac Mac Feegle. The plot this time has Tiffany accidentally
Reading a new Pratchett book after Gaiman's new collection is a refreshing breeze; where Gaiman labours over his repetitive theme, Pratchett still manages after all this time to write new Discworld books that return to familiar themes, but do so with an energy that keeps you reading. Pratchett writes the sort of jokes that you find yourself laughing at, and then groaning at yourself for having done so, but it's all fun.
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getting entangled in the Dark Morris dance at the transition between summer and winter, having the elemental spirit of winter fall in love with her, With Dark Consequences, and having Tiffany and the Feegle have to sort the whole mess out.Reading a new Pratchett book after Gaiman's new collection is a refreshing breeze; where Gaiman labours over his repetitive theme, Pratchett still manages after all this time to write new Discworld books that return to familiar themes, but do so with an energy that keeps you reading. Pratchett writes the sort of jokes that you find yourself laughing at, and then groaning at yourself for having done so, but it's all fun.
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LibraryThing member chibimajo
If you read fantasy, Terry Pratchett is one of those must-reads. He’s simply fantastic, especially if you like funny stuff. Wintersmith is the third in the Tiffany Aching …. um… branch of the Discworld series. Tiffany is a bit older now than she was in the first two books, and as all girls
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tend to do, she gets herself into a spot of trouble with a boy. So along come the Nac MacFeegles again to try and help her out. It was very fun, humorous, and with a little hint of romance. I enjoyed it immensely. Show Less
LibraryThing member bimrich
Delightful, clever, quirky, Tiffany Aching, Nac Mac Feegles (along with an especially lively cheese named Horace) are directly in the fray protecting their "big wee hag" along with Annagramma, Granny Weatherwax, Miss Tick, Miss Treason (who dies), Tiffany dances, but summer must come, lambs dying,
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snowflakes and icebergs shaped like her, several mentions of "boozin" Show Less
LibraryThing member Coobeastie
Not one of Pterry's worst, but not one of his best either. Although I am a rampaging Nac Mac Feegle fan, and they're very well used in this one. There's also bits in it that might make more sense if you're familiar with/live in Scotland (for example 'Scheemie' is a real Scottish word). Enjoyable
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read, but not outstanding. Show Less
LibraryThing member Tudorrl
Hmmmmm. A decent enough book - but not as good as I had hoped to be honest.
It raised a few laughs and it kept me reading but I can't say I was too entranced.
I hope the next one about the Tiffany and the Nac Mac Feegles raises the bar somewhat.
It raised a few laughs and it kept me reading but I can't say I was too entranced.
I hope the next one about the Tiffany and the Nac Mac Feegles raises the bar somewhat.
LibraryThing member Lyn.S.Soussi
Another excellent escapade by Terry Pratchett. Tiffany is growing older and wiser and the Nac Mac Feegles are as loyal a nuisance as ever. Funny, as always, but with some powerful glances into the traditional stories about the changing seasons.
LibraryThing member birdy47
The third story about Tiffany and the Nac Mac Feegles. I love them and enjoyed this book enormously.
LibraryThing member saucyhp
I really enjoyed the first Tiffany Aching book but I wasn't as impressed with this one. Tiffany is still a great character, and I've always liked Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax.
LibraryThing member TW_Spencer
Teri Akin is a great character. this is the best so far of the series that keeps getting better. but don't expect anything less from terry pratchett.
Subjects
Awards
Locus Award (Finalist — Young Adult Novel — 2007)
Mythopoeic Awards (Finalist — Children's Literature — 2016)
BCCB Blue Ribbon Book (2006)
USBBY Outstanding International Book (Grades 6-8 — 2007)
Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing (Nominee — 2008)
Colorado Blue Spruce Award (Nominee — 2009)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Selection — 2007)
Notable Children's Book (2007)
Rise: A Feminist Book Project for Ages 0-18 (Selection — 2007)
Language
Original publication date
2006-09-21
Physical description
400 p.; 9.21 inches
ISBN
0385609841 / 9780385609845
Local notes
Tiffany Aching, now 13 years old, is training with the witch Miss Treason. But when she takes Tiffany to witness the secret dark morris, the morris dance that welcomes in the winter, Tiffany finds herself face to face with the Wintersmith—winter himself—who mistakes her for the Summer Lady.