Nation

[Patrick Mahon]

I finished reading Nation last night (well, early this morning, in fact, but I'd started on the last 100 pages at 11pm Sunday). I must say that I really enjoyed it. It's quite a departure for Pratchett, not being a Discworld novel. But I thought he explored this new storyworld brilliantly. The trademark wit was still there, but I found the humanity of the characters totally wonderful.

If you've not read Nation yet because you were unsure about it, not being set in Discworld, I'd recommend you get a copy - well worth the time.

[Ella]

I'm surprised there are no responses to your thread. Well, I loved Nation as did my daughter and a couple of friends. It was so different but still a fantastic page turner. It's now being staged at the National Theatre in London so we've bought tickets. Let's hope it's a good representation of the book.

[Steffi]

I read Nation, when I bought it I didn't realise that it was for children but being a big kid myself I loved it because it was different but still an excellent read

[Trafalgar]

I thoroughly enjoyed it - and it contains one of the best Pratchett lines ever -

'There are no gods. There is only hard work.'

Oh, how true!

[digs]

I'm so out of the Pratchett loop that I didn't even know about the existence of this book. Non-Discworld, you say? Does it still have that chaotic Discworld vibe? Adding it to my wishlist...now!

[Thadlerian]

I thought Nation was awesome for the first half or so. But then somewhere along the way it stopped being about Mau and started being about Daphne's father.

It does have some wonderful lines, though. The whole deal with the parrot -- at first it's just your average foul-beaked sailor parrot, rather amusing. But when you learn the context of "show us yer drawers!" and "Roberts is a dreadful boozer!" you're in for a nasty shock.

This is what makes the parrot's line "What about Darwin, then? Waark!" so wonderful. I think of it as Pratchett giving the reader a piece of homework: Did you understand this chapter?