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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “This is a discworld novel featuring Death and his granddaughter Susan. The Hogfather (our equivalent of Santa Claus), has gone missing and Death is filling his shoes. The book opens with the Auditors (a race of creature who's sole job is to see to the running of the universe, and who hate life of...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “2.5 stars. Just before Hogswatchnight, the Hogfather (similar to Santa Claus) has disappeared. Death has taken over to deliver all the presents to the boys and girls of Discworld. Meanwhile, Death’s granddaughter, Susan, is trying to find Hogfather. |
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“Funny as all Disc World books. It also brings a nice sideways look at humanity.”
Mattress wrote this review 11 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“"Hogfather" was my first entry into Terry Pratchett's Discworld series a few years ago. At the time, I devoured the book, relishing the wit and satire, chuckling at many points in the story and wondering why it had taken me so long to discover this series of funny novels.
Michael H wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Now a couple of years later, I've picked it up again as part of a book group and while I still like it, I didn't love it as much as the first time.
Could it be that the book isn't as good as I originally thought or is it just impossible to recreate the joy of reading Pratchett for the first time?
It may be a little of both actually. The story itself hasn't changed that much--a group of Assassins is hired to take out the magical Hogfather from the Discworld. Death steps into the role because the world is running short on belief and he wants to try and fill the void until the Hogfather can (hopefully) return to the scene. But this is Death and he takes things in a strangely literal way that leads to all kinds of interesting and often times hilarious results. In fact, the moments when the book really hits it stride are seeing the comedy of errors that comes from Death playing Hogfather and granting each child that comes along his or her own fondest Hogswatch wish.
Meanwhile, the story of Susan, who is Death's granddaughter and a nanny to two children is one that stops and starts for me. Susan's awareness that monsters are real and can be beaten up with a special fireplace poker is nicely done, but there are other moments when this storyline drags its feet a bit, waiting for the inevitable coming together of all these random plotlines in the novels final pages.
It's not that the story is a bad one. "Hogfather" is one of the better Discworld novels. It's just not as great as I remember it being...”
“I just love-love-love-love it!!”
Rozi wrote this review Saturday, October 3 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“The movie adaptation is really good.”
Cheryl L wrote this review Monday, September 28 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I did enjoy Hogfather, but it had a few rough edges that slightly disappointed me. It has the same jokes that Pratchett is so good at, and explored some interesting issues regarding the nature of belief. But it left me scratching my head a little at the end to work out what was going on.
Punxsutawney Paul wrote this review Friday, September 4 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
*** spoiler alert ***
Okay, so who is Teatime hired to kill? The Hogfather, or the Tooth Fairy? I thought is was the Hogfather, but in that case why does he go to so much trouble to get at the Tooth Fairy? Was that necessary before the old magic would work? If so, then what was the point as kids had already stopped believing.
And what was the business about the original Bogeyman being the Tooth Fairy all about? Was that just an bit of fun, or was it relevant?
And why did the auditors chase down the Hogfather at the end? Was that symbolic of some kind of mid-winter rebirth ceremony? And why did they want him dead in the first place? Or were they trying to kill the Sun? Or Death?
I dunno. I think I'm being a bit dull and missed what the point of the novel was all about. I enjoyed reading it, but the loose ends are bugging me.”“2.5 stars. Just before Hogswatchnight, the Hogfather (similar to Santa Claus) has disappeared. Death has taken over to deliver all the presents to the boys and girls of Discworld. Meanwhile, Death’s granddaughter, Susan, is trying to find Hogfather.
LibraryCin wrote this review Monday, May 11 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
It got better towards the end, but overall, I wasn’t crazy about it. I was slightly interested in Death and in Susan and their parts in the story, but the other characters I had no interest in. It’s not as funny as the other Pratchett books I’ve read. I have to admit that I’m not crazy about not having chapters, either, though that doesn’t bother me as much as it used to. I was warned ahead of time, though, that I may not like this one.
”“very funny”
Christine w wrote this review Monday, April 20 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Fantastic”
Marshall P wrote this review Friday, April 10 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
