A Book Review: Carpe Jugulum by Terry Pratchett (Discworld #23)

Vampires suck. Yet, people are fascinated with them.

Mosquitoes also suck, but on a hot summer night, most people would find mosquitoes annoying than interesting.

Maybe people think vampires are "cool" because they are mysterious, exotic, yet dangerous; the protruding canines, the dark clothes they wear, their pale complexions, and don't forget, the gothic castles they live in. Those things are pretty cool.

But aren't vampires also scared of garlics? Is it cool to fear garlics? Anyway, vampires are usually associated with all the abovementioned things. The question, where will the vampires be without this list of traditions?

"But vampires will never be rid of these traditions", you said.

Well, you are thinking of earth, but I can talking about Discworld, a realm of many possibilities. In fact, on the Disc there is a story called Carpe Jugulum; it is all about the modern vampire's place in the society. Here is how it goes:

A time of enlightenment has descended upon Lancre. The king invited a family of vampires to the naming of the new born princess. The ceremony was to be conducted by a Omnian priest called Mightily Oats.

Hang on, did you say the king invited vampires to his daughter's naming? Who in their right mind would invite vampires?

Well, this vampiric family looked rather normal on the outside. They wore bright clothes, they filed their teeth, and they weren't even afraid of garlics and religious symbols!

But vampires will always be vampires, just because vampires stop living in gothic castles don't mean they won't suck. As soon as they arrived at Lancre, the count and his family cast a hypnotic charm on the whole kingdom so they can suck more (this is the further evidence that people are easily attracted to vampires). Ohhh, big trouble! Fear not, the formidable witches of Lancre, Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Agnes Nitt, will save the mountain realm from the vampiric suctions!

In Carpe Jugulum, Terry Pratchett satricited the vampire and gothic literature and the result is hilarious. If you have read, or seen, books and movies such as Twilight then you will appreciate the humor in Carpe Jugulum even more. What makes it even funnier is that this book came out in 1998, which was almost a decade before Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series achieved fame. As usual, Sir Terry's writings are superb, I think he mimicked Edgar Allen Poe's style to create the gothic vibe felt in vampire novels, but on the whole this book is a slapstick comedy. So you can imagine what this book is like. It is something out of this world and it is laugh-out-loud funny.

But every Discworld book is bigger and deeper than the comedy on its surface. Underneath this satire about vampire novels, Carpe Jugulum touched the engaging topic about religion, faith, and modernity. I found it very interesting that only two characters in this book, Agnes Nitt and Mightily Oats, were able to resist the vampire's hypnotic charms. How? I won't spoil it, read this book and find out for yourself.

Theme wise, this book is one of the heaviest in Discworld series. What is the main theme? I think it is about basic morality. Aside from the three witches, the fourth hero in this book is an Omnian priest called Mightily Oats, who entered the story as a priest who was doubting if his faith has a purpose. Initially, the three witches disliked Mr. Oats because his church order had a history of burning people who disagreed with them, witches included. But as the story progressed, Granny Weatherwax and Agnes gradually came to respect him for his decency (and the narratives respected him too). The dialogues between Mr. Oats and Granny Weatherwax were the most profound moments in this book. Eventually, Mr. Oats overcame his crisis of faith and was able to defeat a vampire at the pivotal moment, because Granny Weatherwax (an irreligious witch) reminded him that the problem was never his doubt in his religion, but it was his doubt in humanity and himself that was causing the problem.

However, this theme also raised further questions: Should people always do what their religions tell them to do, or should they do what their inner decnecy tell them to do? And is religious morality compatible with progress at all?

This book touched a handful of topics about religion that reminded me of my own exodus from Christianity; from the schisms within the church, the religious history, to the moral conflicts I always felt about the religious doctrines while I was a believer. But that is enough ranting from me. It suffices to say, while Carpe Jugulum is abundant with humors but it also philosophically heavy. I think this is an excellent book, and what a way for Terry Pratchett to end the witches sub-series.

Until the next time, happy reading!

P.S. "Carpe Jugulum" was thought by Terry Pratchett to mean, "go for the throat".

A Book Review: Maskerade by Terry Pratchett (Discworld #18)

There is a phantom in the opera house!

What phantom? You mean, Gaston Leroux's novel, The Phantom of the Opera?

No no, I am not talking about the phantom in France. I am talking about the phantom who is murdering people in the opera house of Ankh Morpork! Oh, you haven't heard of this one yet. In that case let me tell you a little bit about a book called Maskerade. It is the 18^th installment in the Discworld series. Speaking of which, can we have some dramatic organ music? It would be even more atmospheric to have ever-rising female vocalizations in the background. Oh yes, play the soundtrack from the movie, The Phantom of the Opera. Ah ha, now we have the right ambience.

What is the story about? I don't want to spoil the book too much. Let's just say, in the buzzing city of Ankh Morpork an ex-owner of a cheese factory bought a majestic opera house. To his mind, running an opera house is just letting some people sing on the stage while he sits back and collects the money. How hard can that be, right? Well, this poor man doesn't know, within the walls of the opera house echoes the legend of a phantom, who not only brings luck to the actors and the actresses but also kills people. More recently, this resident phantom is setting loose a murdering spree. It sounds pretty grim, heh? Worry not, because Discworld's greatest witches, Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg, are coming into town for a night of fun and detective works that will make Agatha Christie proud.

Maskerade parodied The Phantom of the Opera, it poked fun at the world of opera and the high societies. I think this is the funniest (and my favorite) book out of all the Discworld novels featuring the witches. Every bit in this book is comical. Its eccentric characters and their dialogues tickled my funny bone. It is slapstick and I couldn't stop laughing with the story. The previous Witches books were all structured as quest stories set in the countryside, but this book took the shape of a crime thriller set in Ankh Morpork. The worldbuilding in Maskerade is rich and vibrant. This novel reminded me of the City Watch series, which are my favorite books of Discworld.

This book also expanded the character of Agnes Nitt, whose debut in Lords and Ladies was a minor role. I like Agnes and her story. Sir Terry used Agnes' character to touch on the issue of female body image in the entertainment industry. Speaking of the themes, we can always expect a Discworld novel is more than just a parody. In the case of Maskerade, while this book is not as philosophically complex as Small Gods, but it still explores very interesting questions. For example, I particularly liked the theme about masks – like the actors on the stage, we all wear masks to face our surroundings, and each time we face a different situation we put on a different mask. When is the mask on? When is it off? And who is the real you? In this book, I think Nanny Ogg is the only character who doesn't wear any mask. This is also why I like her the best.

Makerade has both style and substance, it reminded me why I fell in love with Discworld at the first place; the humor, the sharp observations about life, and the thought-provoking questions. This book is very different to the Witches book that came before it, and it has to be my top 10 favorite Discworld books.

Until the next time, happy reading.

A Book Review: Lords and Ladies by Terry Pratchett (Discworld #14)

Have you ever heard of elves?

“Yeah of course, who hasn't?” You said, “Check out The Lord of the Rings, the Elves are beautiful and lovely; the elves are so much better than us and they are like... Lords and Ladies”.

But how do you know the elves are lovely? Have you met them? What if the elves are evil, sadistic bastards?

Ah ha, I see questions in your eyes. There is a book called Lords and Ladies, it is written by Terry Pratchett and it is also the 14^th installment in the Discworld series. What is this book about? On a hot Midsummer Night, the elves broke the barriers of imagination and stepped into the reality. Everyone thought the elves would be nice, but they turned out to be evil, sadistic bastards who like to torture people for fun. After the elves showed up, things quickly went pear-shaped and spooky. Luckily, Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Margrat Garlick, three witches who met every Tuesday night, they stood up and took on the elves. But I won't tell you anymore of the story lest I spoil it.

You said, “But Daniel, both The Lord of the Rings and this book are fictions. Elves are fictions. So, what is the point?”

Elves are fictitious, you got that right! Look, aside from the fact that Lords and Ladies is well written, witty, and humorous, but I also think Sir Terry was trying to tell us a thing or two about the danger of myth and the attraction to the unreal. After I read it, I thought the book is trying to tell us that we ought to be more earthy, like Granny Weatherwax, who always plants her foot on earth, then we will discover what appears to be the mundane and the normal in the everyday life are in fact, miracles already and they are worth celebrating; life won't become more fulfilling from chasing the unseen stuff, when we chase air we only end up with more air.

Does this book sound good to you? I think Lords and Ladies is both entertaining and interesting. Read, think, and form your own conclusions. I recommend this book to those who like novels but also looking for something more than just the stories. By the way, Lords and Ladies is also a parody to the Shakespeare’s A Midsummer's Night's Dream. Before you read Lords and Ladies though, you should read the three books preceding it; Equal Rites, Wyrd Sisters, and Witches Abroad. Enjoy!

A Book Review: Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett (Discworld #12)

Among the stars that decorate the vast universe swims A'truin the great turtle. Four elephants stand on the turtle's back, carrying a giant disc. Now, don't let any theologian fool you into thinking the world is round! No, instead you should trust the scientists who say the world is as flat as a disc. Indeed, Discworld, the marvel of marvels, is a realm most wondrous, not just on this side or that side of the galaxy, but on all sides of the galaxy!

“Preposterous!” You said.

Well, sorry Mr., Mrs, and Ms, but I beg to differ. You see, I think the proposition about the Discworld is quite possible. Haven't you heard a wise man once said, “If I find myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world”. So, there you go - Since I find myself desiring the marvels of a flat world carried by 4 elephants standing on the back of a giant star turtle, a desire that no experience in this world can satisfy, so the most probable explanation is that I was made for Discworld (i.e. my true home is not this world but the Discworld, it is only intuitive!).

All right, since we have established the reality of Discworld with my intuition and imagination, so it's time to tell you more about it. On the Disc, many things are possible; this is a place where the stories about witches and mirrors are not fairy tales but facts. Indeed, witches, mirrors, and traveling witches, are the stars in Sir Terry Pratchett's novel, Witches Abroad, which is also the 12^th installment in the Discworld series.

Witches Abroad is the 3^rd outing for Terry Pratchett's beloved characters; Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Margrat Garlick. This book parodied the traditional fairy tales, but it also raised the questions - We often tell “stories” to describe the happenings in this world. But stories also turn people into archetypes and branding people according to “sides”. Furthermore, stories give life scripts and then dictating where we should go or what we should do. In other words, can stories account for the individuals? And what happens when a person embraces the power of story too much and subsumes into the identity of an archetype? These are thought-provoking questions, and Terry Pratchett successfully transported his ideas across through this book. Let's just say, he got me thinking.

In terms of storytelling, I found Witches Abroad suffered from an uneven pace. The first half of the book narrated the witches' journey to their destination, which consisted of numerous parodies and references to the classic fairy tales such as; the sleeping beauty, Snow White, Rapunzel, werewolves, and vampires. Sir Terry made sure to add a witty twist to each of these traditional fairy tales and it is quite funny, but I found the first half of the book a bit slow. It was only in the third act of the book when the story suddenly picked up its pace. The book did provide a satisfying conclusion, and I also found the sophisticated theme, about every story must have an ending, to be very powerful.

I have now read three Discworld novels featuring the witches (others being Equal Rites and Wyrd Sisters). Currently, out of the three witches novels, I like Witches Abroad the most. I think this book captured what is great about Discworld; it's about the imaginations, the humors, and how these books are challenging the paradigm of our worldviews.

A Book Review: Origin by Dan Brown

Dan Brown, the king of conspiracy thrillers, is back with his new book, Origin. This is the fifth novel featuring Robert Langdon, Harvard Professor of symbology and religious iconology. Dan Brown requires little introduction because his books are controversial and he sold 200 million copies. So, what is Origin about? There will be no spoiler in my book review but I will tell you the premise. Are you ready? In Origin, Edmond Kirsch, a billionaire and a futurist, made a scientific discovery, and then he told a Bishop, a Rabbi, and a Mullah that the days of religion are numbered.

It would be a lie to say that I did not enjoy reading Origin. This book was a blast to read. It was a page-turner and I read it in the space of 24 hours. Origin is fast-paced and addictive. Pringle's catchphrase describes this book the best, "once you pop, you can't stop". Let me just say, the puzzles in this book intrigued me, and I could not put this book down until I reached the answers to all the mysteries. Having said this, I don't think Dan Brown has improved his writings. He still does that "tourist guide" thing where he drops wikipedia-styled paragraphs in mid chapters and disrupting the narratives. Yet, Dan Brown's strength was never in his writings, but in the sense of mystery that he invoked through the puzzles and the conspiracy theories.

Not many authors can beat Dan Brown at creating puzzles and weaving conspiracy theories, this is his forte and he is as unbeatable as Mike Tyson in his prime. In this book, I was very impressed by Dan Brown's ability to fabricate mysteries and conspiracy theories by stringing together pieces of European arts and scientific theories. This book gave me a feeling that I was reading something that I shouldn't read, it gave me an illusion that I became smarter, a connoisseur of arts and history, from reading it; and I think that is why Dan Brown's novels are continuing to attract millions of readers – his books give you a real sense of suspense and mystery. You can say whatever you want about Dan Brown, but you have to tip your hat to this man for his powerful imaginations.

Structure wise, Origin followed the same formula as its predecessors; Robert Langdon rescued a damsel in distress and together they set out to uncover a secret that will destroy religion. However, Origin is not about pitting science against religion. Instead, the book's main theme is about the role of technology and its impact on the human civilization (which includes religion). This also means, where Dan Brown's previous books were about history, his new book is more about the future. Make no mistake, in Origin Robert Langdon still ran around in cathedrals and underground tombs to decipher codes, so if you are craving for this type of action then this book will give you plenty of it.  

In my opinion, while Origin may not trump Angels and Demons (which is my favorite Dan Brown book), but it is far better than The Lost Symbol and Inferno. In fact, I would go as far as saying that I prefer Origin to The Da Vinci Code. As an entertainment, this book is a success, but it is also asking an interesting question about technological progress, while enquiring about religion's place in a world where science continues to shed light into the deep mysteries previously answered only by religion. Perhaps in the near future, instead of asking "where do we come from and where are we going", we will be asking "where does religion come from, and where is religion going?" 

Origin is unputdownable and it is fun. A word of caution, prepare to lose sleep if you open this book.

A Book Review: The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

In September, my book club read "The Light Between Oceans". This is an Australian historical fiction novel, written by M.L. Stedman. In 2016, the book was adapted into a movie, but I have never heard of this book or the movie. The story is set in Western Australia in the 1920s, and its background is romance and drama. Admittedly, I would have never read this kind of book by my own accord if it weren't for my book club. However, this book surprised me and I ended up liking this book, a lot. I guess this is one of the benefits of joining a book club; it expands our horizons by making us read good books that we don't usually read.

Synopsis:

A newly wed couple, Tom and Isabel, arrived on Janus Rock. It is a lonely island surrounded by the sea. The couple was to be the new keepers to the island's lighthouse, but they were also the island's only residents. Tom and Isabel dreamed of a beautiful future. However, two miscarriages and one stillbirth sent Isabel into endless grief.

One day, the wind carried a baby's cries to Tom and Isabel; the sea brought onshore a boat, and it bore a dead man and a living baby.

My thoughts on this book:

The story is set on a fictitious Australian island called Janus Rock. In ancient Roman religion, Janus, is a god having two faces. He resembles duality, and he looks into the future and the past. So what significance does the name, "Janus Rock", bear in the story? I think it is a metaphor for saying that, when we set aside the biases, then we discover there are two sides to a story, and this is indeed the book's main theme.

In this book (minor spoiler ahead), Tom and Isabel decided to keep the baby without notifying the officials. Was it morally wrong, or right, for them to do so? This book created a situation, where what you do to one side will inevitably cause sufferings to the other. The book provided a rounded portrayal for every character; it explored their feelings, their thoughts, the circumstances, and what motivated them. The more I read about these characters' stories, the more I sympathized with them. I was torn in half, and I became very reluctant at pointing a finger and say who was right or wrong. This is a moving story, but it is also thought-provoking. At the book club, we had a very interesting discussion around the book's main theme.

The book told the story at a consistent pace. It may not be a page turner, but it will grab you with its powerful story and memorable characters. The worldbuilding in this book is rich, the author successfully created the atmosphere of Australia in the 1920s. Personally, I could not find any fault with the story itself. However, a member from my book club shared that she thought the main character's behavior was unrealistic. For me, I am very good at suspending my disbelief, and so I did not find this character's behavior unbelievable. Meanwhile, I will not spoil who was this character or what was this behavior. I leave the would-be readers to decide for themselves if the story is credible. 

The Light Between Oceans is a good book. This is not the type of book I would read normally, but I was surprised that I liked it. The story is powerful, and it reminded me that life is not black and white; verily, when there are two sides to a story, the best way forward is with love and compassion.

A Book Review: The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafón (The Cemetery of Forgotten Books #3)

The Prisoner of Heaven is the third installment in Carlos Ruiz Zafón's gothic masterpiece, The Cemetery of Forgotten Books. This mystery novel, set in Barcelona, is a a direct sequel to both The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel's Game. In comparison to its two predecessors, The Prisoner of Heaven is a relatively short book of 300 page. Does its short length make this book better, or worse, than the previous books? Before I discuss this book, let me first provide a synopsis for the story.

Synopsis:

It was the Christmas of 1957, white snow decorated the city of Barcelona into a winter palace. For the Semepere family, it was a time of joys and celebrations; Daniel and his wife Bea welcomed the arrival of their baby, while their best friend, Fermín Romero de Torres, was finally tying the knot with a wonderful lady.

The mood of celebration evaporated, on the day when a dark stranger stepped into the Semepere bookshop. This mysterious man brought with him, a terrible old secret from the early days of General Franco's reign. It is a secret that dragged Fermín and Daniel into a lethal game of exposing Barcelona's forbidden history.

My thoughts on this book:

The Prisoner of Heaven was a delightful read. The writings were superb and the worldbuilding is top notch. This is a rich tale about undying love, revenge, and literature. Zafón's prose brought the city of Barcelona vividly to life. Every description and every scene was oozing with the gothic theme. The Prisoner of Heaven is also partial historical fiction. With a historical backdrop in General Franco's regime, the book explored the question, about what moral actions are acceptable during a war and after the war. The narrative style is non-linear. The majority of the story is told in the first person narrative, from Daniel's perspective. However, certain plot revelations used flashbacks and were narrated in the third person. While the storytelling is non-linear, but the chapter-to-chapter transition was surprisingly smooth. This book moved at a very fast pace and it was unputdownable.

A handful of beloved characters from the previous two books returned in The Prisoner of Heaven. It was very good to revisit Daniel, Bea, and Fermín. This book also shed more light into David Martin's fate after the events in The Angel's Game. My favorite character in this series is Fermín, whom the book described as a little man, witty and brave. In many ways, this book is actually about Fermín and I was reminded of why he is my favorite character in the series. I laughed at his jokes, and I was moved by his brevity and unwavering dedications to his best friend Daniel.

Earlier on I mentioned, The Prisoner of Heaven amounts to only 300 pages. This is about half the length of the previous books. Most of the time, the short length of a novel is not necessarily a demerit. However, in this case, I couldn't help but feel, The Prisoner of Heaven could have benefitted from a longer length and more story expositions. Let me just say, this book feels rushed, and I was disappointed when Zafón ended it with a cliffhanger. I mean, sure, we know there is a fourth (and the final) installment coming to the series, but The Prisoner of Heaven ended in an abrupt manner and it was not very satisfying.

Will I recommend The Prisoner of Heaven? Yes, absolutely. Despite its abrupt ending, this is still a beautifully written book and its story is mesmerizing. If you have read The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel's Game, then you cannot afford to miss out The Prisoner of Heaven. Meanwhile, if this is the first time you've heard of The Cemetery of Forgotten Books and you are a book lover, then you owe it to yourself to read The Shadow of the Wind. It won't disappoint. As for me, I heard the fourth book will conclude this series. Apparently, it is still being translated from Spanish into English and it will be released next year. This is very exciting news and I cannot wait to find out, what is in store for Daniel and Fermín.

Until the next time, happy reading!