4 out of 5 Stars
Synopsis
Terry Pratchett’s profoundly irreverent novels are consistent number one bestseller in England, where they have catapulted him into the highest echelons of parody next to Mark Twain, Kurt Vonnegut, Douglas Adams, and Carl Hiaasen.
In this Discworld installment, Death comes to Mort with an offer he can’t refuse — especially since being, well, dead isn’t compulsory. As Death’s apprentice, he’ll have free board and lodging, use of the company horse, and he won’t need time off for family funerals. The position is everything Mort thought he’d ever wanted, until he discovers that this perfect job can be a killer on his love life.
My Thoughts
“There is no justice. There is only me.”
Profound words in this book! This is definitely a different book for the Discworld series. The other’s are full of a lot of snarky wit, silly happenings, magic, action… this instalment of the series is a lot slower and a lot more profound!
It touches on some serious themes of growing up and being held accountable for your actions, be they good or bad.Mort starts out an awkward child who no one wants as an apprentice, his head in the clouds. He had the “sort of body that seemed to be only marginally under its owner’s control; it appeared to be built out of knees.” But, as the story progressed, he begins to take control of his Fate.
The novel also brings up some rather serious thoughts on the reality of Death. The fact the people don’t want to see things that can’t possibly exist, or sometimes they don’t see things that they don’t want to acknowledge. And, the fact that Death is the most powerful force in the universe that can’t be Just, or Fair. There is no right or wrong, there is only Time,
“Listen, said Death, fair doesn’t come into it.You can’t take sides. Good Grief. When it’s time, it’s time. That’s all there is to it, Boy”
There were some silly instances, obviously. I mean, what is Terry Pratchett without a LITTLE fun?? Such as Death attempting to get drunk (I could have taught him a thing or two! Ha ha!)
“Drowning your sorrows, are you?”
I HAVE NO SORROWS.
“No, of course not. Forget I mentioned it.” He gave the glass a few more wipes.” Just thought it helps to have someone to talk to,” he said.
The stranger was silent for a moment, thinking. Then he said: YOU WANT TO TALK TO ME?
“Yes. Sure. I’m a good listener.”
NOON EVER WANTED TOALK TO ME BEFORE.
“That’s a shame.”
THEY NEVER INVITE ME TO PARTIES, YOU KNOW.
“Tch.”
THEY ALL HATE ME. EVERYONE HATES ME. I DON’T HAVE A SINGLE FRIEND.
“Everyone ought to have a friend,” said the barman sagely.
I THINK-
“Yes?”
I THINK…. I COULD BE FRIENDS WITH THE GREEN BOTTLE.
The landlord slid the octagon-bottle along the counter. Death took it and tilted it over the glass. The liquid tinkled on the rim.
YOU DRUNK I’M THINK, DON’T YOU?
Everyone loves a good “Death gets drunk and has an existential crisis” scene!!
The one question I have…. in true, strange, typical Nicole fashion, is… what’s up with the toilet water?? When Mort is getting his hair cut, Death asks for a “bit of toilet water and a shine”. Then, when Mort is knocking on Ysabell’s door she knocks over a bottle oftoilet water on her bedside table… is she drinking it? Is it perfume?? …The things that I notice that consume me!!
An amazing book in the series, and the best part is that it’s easily a stand alone read, as well. There may be a character or two who you will know if you’ve read other books in the series, but it definitely doesn’t matter either way!
CHECK OUT THE REVIEWS FROM THE OTHER PARTICIPANTS IN THE READ-A-THON THIS MONTH!!
Book Beach Bunny
Elnade @ Confessions of a Serial Reader
Kathy @ Pages Below the Vaulted Sky
A Storm of Pages
Meeghan @ Meeghan Reads and Bakes
Mort is Best Served with a Grim Reaper Cocktail
Some of you may remember this drink from my post “It’s a Drity Job, But Someone has to do it!” for “A Dirty Job” by Christopher Moore. But, as it’s almost been a year since that post…. a perfect drink, is a perfect drink!!! I’m away at the moment and did not have the ingredients to replicate the drink and take a new picture… I wish I could have, as I would have added a cherry on a stick to it!
“WHY IS THERE A CHERRY ON A STICK IN THIS DRINK? IT’S NOT AS IF IT DOES ANYTHING FOR THE FLAVOUR. WHY DOES ANYONE TAKE A PERFECTLY GOOD DRINK AND THEN PUT IN A CHERRY ON A POLE?”
Ingredients
- 1oz Kahlua
- 1oz Rum
- 1/2 oz Grenadine
Directions
- Grab a whisky tumbler and fill with ice
- Pour in Kahlua
- Pour in Rum
- Pour in Grenadine
- Stir before drinking
- CHEERS!!
Amazing review, Nicole. I can’t believe I haven’t read anything by Terry Pratchett yet. I need to remedy that this year. Thanks for sharing! 💜🎃
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Hahaha. I’m just loving that the apprentice is named Mort. I really have to try one of these books again. Maybe next year though 😉
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Well, our read-a-thon will still be going next year… And for the next 4 years or so after that!! 😂😂
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Hahahaha… figures as much 😂😂
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It has been a long while since I read Terry Prachett but I’m remembering how much I enjoy him. ❤ Thanks for reminding me 🙂
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They are just so much fun!! He’s so witty, whimsical and hilarious, but a lot of his books also have a strong and deep meaning to them as well! 💖💪
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#truth ❤
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Toilet water = eau de toilette, also called ‘aromatic waters’ its a skin freshener, not as strong as perfume, but stronger than cologne. It has high alcoholic content 🙂 but I wouldn’t recommend drinking it, even for you 😀 😀
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Ha ha! I used to work in perfume, so I know what “eau de toilette” is… I never even thought of that when I was reading it!! 😂😂 Oh, Terry Pratchett… You sly Devil. 😈🤣
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yeah, we just used to call it cheap perfume. you could bathe in the stuff and still not smell it.
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Ha ha! Actually, if a scent blends well with your body chemistry, you shouldn’t really be able to smell it. So, the case could have been that YOU couldn’t smell it, but everyone els was thinking “geez…. Did she BATHE in that?!?” 😂😂😂
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not familiar with terry prachett, but you’ve got my interest now. 😅 great review, Nicole!
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He’s AMAZING! Such a riot, but a lot of his books really do have some amazing hidden insight! 💖💖🍻
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Hmm….this makes me look completely different at toilet water 🤔🤔 I usually use it to flush my toilet. But now I’m thinking that it might have other uses as well. Toilet water as: body lotion? Toilet water as a sort of hair gel? Maybe after shave? Could it make for a decent drink when mixed with the right ingredients? 🤔🤔 Just because of this post, the flood gates have opened, and I guess now there have to be a few experiments that need to be done 🚽
I like the fact that this book stands on it’s own. Terry Pratchett has always been on my list for things to read, but I just haven’t gotten around to it (as with so many other things). But well it’s just such a huge list of books that he has written that it’s daunting lol😊 One day though! As always: great post and review! 😊😊
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There are quite a few of his books that can be read in their own! Or in a series of 2 or 3…. You DEFINTITELY don’t have to read all…. 43?? Of them…
And I would like posts on your experimentation with toilet water… I need to know of its rejuvenating properties.
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Haha…I will get right on those expiriments with toilet water. You can expect posts on it, pretty much very soonish…erm…I think 🚽😂😂😂
Lol…well…I will see if I can finally get to some Terry Pratchett novels next year. They have been on my list for ages…(not that there aren’t any other books that haven’t been on my list for ages as well 😂😂😂).
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Ya.. But, these ones are more IMPORTANT! 😘
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Oh, Terry Pratchett is my favorite author. And Death my favorite character. I liked Mort a lot, it’s a nice book. I really should reread it some day. I really should reread all my Discworld books really. 🤔 Very nice post. 👍🏻😊
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Well, feel free to join us whenever you want!! I’m finding that a lot of the books can stand on their own!! (plus Wyrd sisters is coming up. And that one is a PERSONAL favourite of mine!!)… I’m not sure if this is my favourite personification of Death or not… It’s a 3-way tie between this, ‘A Dirty Job’ by Christopher Moore and Death in Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey! 😂🍻
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I really need to get this one, slowly trying to grow my Pratchett collection 🙂
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DO IT!!! Definitely a worthy series to invest in!
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Yes I love the ones I’ve read so far 😊
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Oh, yay, I had just asked Kathy on her review if this could standalone, and I’m so happy to hear you think so! Your review is amazing and entertaining as always. Yummy drink, too!
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DEFINTITELY a stand alone!! Most of them are either stand alone, or stand with a couple of the other books… But, you could definitely pick and choose in this series… There’s aren’t a huge amount of them that require reading any others…
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The drunk Death was awesome. I think I could be friends with the green bottle… Why is Death always such a fun interesting character to hang out with in literature and film?
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I agree!!! But… Don’t you think Death WOULD be interesting to hang out with?? I have a lot of people in my life that are in lines of work where they deal with death quite a bit, and they all have hilarious macabre senses of humour… I feel like if it WAS Death, he’d probably have to be pretty awesome and hilarious!… And THE STORIES!!! 🤔🍻
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Thanks for the review and thanks even more for the drink recipe! I love Terry Pratchett’s books and Mort is one of the best. Do you have a favourite? I’ve just been rereading and reviewing I Shall Wear Midnight for Halloween.
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I think my favourite book is Wyrd Sisters (I was in a stage production of it as Magrat years and years ago, though… So, I’m a little biased!!) 😉 Thanks for checking it out! 💖💖
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He is like that one friend that you know if you go drinking with you have to talk them down every time haha.
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… But, what if BOTH of us need to be talked down?? 🤔🤔 WHAT HAPPENS THEN?? 😂😂
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ARGH!! I need to finish this. Damn family emergencies cutting into my Discworld reading!! Post will be up soon!!
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Don’t even worry about!! Family, life, etc… Real world stuff comes first!! I understand completely. Take your time and I hope everything is ok! 💖💖
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hehe love that this is served with a grim reaper cocktail. You’re just reminding me how much I love this book as well- love the quotes you chose 🙂 This was an amazing book in the series and it did work so well as a standalone 🙂 Awesome review!
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Thanks for checking it out!! If you ever feel the need to join in… We’ll be going for the next 4-5 years!! 😅😂😂🍻
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I love LOVED seeing Death going on his midlife crisis! Poor guy. 😛 And okay, I didn’t notice that part about the toilet water until you mentioned it, and now I need to know the answer! I’m guessing it’s perfume??
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That HAS been the general consensus! So… We’ll go with that!… Otherwise, I don’t want to know what it’s for… 😂🍻
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I remember loving Mort! Been ages since I read it, though.
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I actually remembered loving it more than I did!! I was surprised to find how much slower and more serious it is than the other books!
… If you ever want to refresh your memory, feel free to join us sometimes!! 😉😘
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I will eventually!
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