Dedicated to the memory of Sir Terry Pratchett, who passed away soon after I started reading the book.I have made, over the past twenty years, many friends among the inhabitants of the wacky disc-shaped world sailing through space on the backs of four elephants, carried in their turn by a giant turtle. Starting with Rincewind, then with Sam Vimes and his Ankh-Morpork guards, Lord Vetinari, the wizards of the Unseen University, the banana loving Librarian, the sentient multi-legged Luggage, Moist von Lipwig ... I could go on and on, but what I wanted to say that, out of all of them, I believe Tiffany Aching is the one that I love and admire the most.Technically, the Tiffany books are Y.A., and have little connection with the rest of the series – mainly the presence of Granny Weatherwax as the chief witch on Discworld, not that witches have ranks or care much about authority. In her first outing, Tiffany Aching is too young to be a witch, but that didn’t stopped her from doing what needs to be done and stopping the Queen of the Faeries from invading her beloved Chalk . With the help of the Pictsies, Tiffany demonstrated that the most important talent a witch needs is to keep her eyes open and use her common sense, just like her beloved Granny Aching used to do.In this second book, young Tiffany must leave the Chalk and be apprenticed to a more experienced witch who can show her how to develop and control her native talents, beyond making cheese – a sort of going to Hogwarts, but in a private tutoring form. Her destination is described as: “Miss Level, Cottage in the Woods Near the Dead Oak Tree in Lost Man’s Lane, High Overhang, If Out Leave Letters in Old Boot by Door” To complicate matters, Tiffany is unknowingly chased by a space entity ( ‘a hiver’) that homes in on users of magic like a guided missile , trying to lodge into their brains and subvert their will. Just when she needs their help most, she must leave the Pictsies back in the Chalk, under the supervision of their new hive queen. The Nac Mac Feegle (also called Pictsies, The Wee Free Men, The Little Men, and “Person or Persons Unknown, Believed to be Armed”) : they are the most dangerous of the fairy races, particularly when drunk. They love drinking, fighting, and stealing, and will in fact steal anything that is not nailed down. If it is nailed down, they will steal the nails as well. [...]The average Feegle man (Feegle women are rare – see later) is about six inches high, red haired, his skin turned blue with tattoos and the dye called woad, and, since you’re this close, he’s probably about to hit you. These little blue scoundrels were responsible for most of the fun I’ve had with the first Aching novel, so I hoped they will not be absent for long. Indeed, I don’t think I reveal a major spoiler if I mention that Rob Anything, Slightly Sane Georgie, Daft Wullie, Awf’ly Wee Billy and their ‘pished’ mates will soon follow Tiffany into her exile, up to their usual hilarious and boisterous antics.I wouldn’t love the Tiffany books so much if they were only about having fun. They prove in fact that Young Adult books can and should deal with the most important issues of self and destiny as the so-called ‘literary’ fiction. The lessons Tiffany learns in High Overhang will serve her for a lifetime. Always face what you fear. Have just enough money, never too much, and some string. Even if it’s not your fault, it’s your responsibility. Witches deal with things. Never stand between two mirrors. Never cackle. Do what you must do. Never lie, but you don’t always have to be honest. Never wish. Especially don’t wish upon a star, which is astronomically stupid. Open your eyes, and then open your eyes again. I don’t intend to go into details about Tiffany’s adventures in the company of her tutor, Miss Level, or about the rivalries with the other young witches in training. Most of them can be boiled down to the choice the young girl has to make between being true to her inner core of values and the wish to conform, to be popular and appreciated. Even the part of the chasing ‘hiver’ is used to reveal the fact that the demons we are often fighting are of our own making, uncomfortable truths about ourselves that we pretend we know nothing about, like streaks of meanness and selfishness and greed.My favorite passage in the book is rather long, but it is an important illustration of the offbeat definition Pratchett gives for superpowers and how they are best deployed. In answer to why Granny Weatherwax sent her to a rather dumpy and unimpressive ‘research’ witch for training, Tiffany must chew on this: Because she likes people. She cares about ‘em. Even the stupid, mean, drooling ones, the mothers with the runny babies and no sense, the feckless and the silly and the fools who treat her like some kind of servant. Now that’s what I call magic – seein’ all that, dealin’ with all that, and still goin’ on. It’s sitting up all night with some poor old man who’s leavin’ the world, taking away such pain as you can, comfortin’ their terror, seein’ them safely on their way ... and then cleanin’ ‘em up, layin’ em out, making ‘em neat for the funeral, and helpin’ the weeping widow strip the bed and wash the sheets – which is, let me tell you, no errand for the fainthearted – and stayin’ up the next night to watch over the coffin before the funeral, and then going home and sitting down for five minutes before some shouting angry man comes bangin’on your door ‘cuz his wife’s havin’ difficulty givin’ birth to their first child and the midwife’s at her wits’ end and then getting up and fetching your bag and going out again ... We all do that, in our own way, and she does it better’n me, if I was to put my hand on my heart. That is the root and heart and soul and center of witchcraft, that is. The soul and center! It may sounds preachy here, out of context, but I believe the novel argues in a fun and moving way the case for treating people with kindness and for using your common sense in dealing with problems. The title becomes explicit later in the novel, as Tiffany has to choose what kind of pointy hat she will use now that she has been acknowledged by her brethren: a fashionable star-spangled one from the best shop in the village? Or Granny Weatherwax’s old, battered hat that she won in a prestige competition? or better yet, one that she will fashion herself from everything that is valuable and close to her heart? Until I get to read the next Tiffany Aching book, I will say goodbye to her, and sadly to her creator Sir Terry Pratchett, with one last quote that will serve well as a metaphor for why we are reading books, and with my gratitude for the journeys of wonder they have had me embark upon: Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.The words ran through Tiffany’s mind as she watched the sheep, and she found joy – at the new lambs, at life, at everything. Joy is to fun what the deep seea is to a puddle. It’s a feeling inside that can hardly be contained.I’ve come back! she announced to the hills. Better than I went!
I thought this second Tiffany Aching book is better than the first one (The Wee Free Men). I can see some amount of Potterverse influence in this. The Tiffany books are about finding the magic in you (a metaphor for finding yourself, your confidence, etc.), and in realising the good and bad, the soul and centre of magicking (“If you don’t know when to be a human being, you don’t know when to be a witch.” “She cares about ’em. Even the stupid, mean, drooling ones, the mothers with the runny babies and no sense, the feckless and the silly and the fools who treat her like some kind of a servant. Now that’s what I call magic—seein’ all that, dealin’ with all that, and still goin’ on. It’s sittin’ up all night with some poor old man who’s leavin’ the world, taking away such pain as you can, comfortin’ their terror, seein’ ’em safely on their way…and then cleanin’ ’em up, layin’ ’em out, making ’em neat for the funeral, and helpin’ the weeping widow strip the bed and wash the sheets—which is, let me tell you, no errand for the fainthearted—and stayin’ up the next night to watch over the coffin before the funeral, and then going home and sitting down for five minutes before some shouting angry man comes bangin’on your door ’cuz his wife’s havin’ difficulty givin’ birth to their first child and the midwife’s at her wits’ end and then getting up and fetching your bag and going out again…. We all do that, in our own way, and she does it better’n me, if I was to put my hand on my heart. That is the root and heart and soul and center of witchcraft, that is. The soul and center!”). Pratchett's imagination is out of this world. Literally. The parts where the Rob Anybody is learning alphabets is hilarious. The whole idea of a hiver and how it occupies human mind is so...cool (for lack of another word). The best imagery, though, was of the horse - not the actual worldly shape of one but the ïdea"of a horse - how a horse would be if it had no shape - the fluidity of motion, the speed, the charisma. Oh how the world misses, you Terry Pratchett!
What do You think about A Hat Full Of Sky (2005)?
'Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colours. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.'What a difference from the first book, Tiffany has grown up and gone away to learn witching, but something is after her and obviously, the Nac Mac Feegle are not far behind.These books feel so different from regular Discworld, at least from the Discworld I began to read many years ago, all those books between'Mort' and 'Hogfather. These later books feel different, you can still read the essence of Pratchett, but Tiffany is a completely new character, I haven't read something like her, and even Granny Weatherwax feels different. All in a good way of course. It's like seeing a new face of Discworld.I'm loving these series so much. They're amazing. So fun, and yet so lovely, so very heartwarming in a way.
—Carol
Why do I love thee, Terry Pratchett? Let me count the ways. It's the blending of poetry and satire, of honesty and magic. It's that seeking after the truth and the heart of the matter. And I've lost my thoughts, my sense of analysis here, because I'm still lost in this story. I just want to quote the last page because it truly is a heart of life... but then that might be a spoiler for some, while for others, they simply wouldn't be able to understand the depth of meaning in the small actions there. So I'll just go back to my dreaminess and see if my hat is full of stars as well, the wind blowing past and roots sunk deep, deep down into the warm earth below.2nd read April 1, 2010
—Trice
Oh, the brilliance of this man; I just can't get over it.It tore my heart when I found out he's suffering from Alzheimer's last week. It's still a blow when you realize how unfair life is, even for the millionth time. This book.... goodness gracious, how do I put it in words? I liked the fact that Tiffany is now older as it gives allowance for the book to be darker, bawdier and more serious - and, if that's even possible, funnier. Her thought progression is lovely, as is the way she watches herself, and those around her, develop. The philosophy behind it is deep, and covers so many areas - from how we should listen inside ourselves, believe in ourselves, respect others and elders, not fear death, not be afraid and ashamed of making mistakes, love and protect nature, and always believe that magic can happen - because most of the time it is just everyday knowledge seen through a different perspective. AND I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WITH HER AND ROLAND..... OTP ALL THE WAY.Rachel, my dear library, I know you're going to read this, so hurry up and lend me the next one on Monday in exchange for your cake tin, pretty please :P
—Elina Zalkalne
