Going Postal

Con artist extra-

ordinaire Moist von Lipwig has just been offered the job of a lifetime – postmaster of Ankh-Morpork. Well, in poor Moist’s case, it will be the only job offered in his lifetime if he doesn’t take it. Otherwise, crafty ruler Lord Vetinari will arrange for Moist to pay the hangman a visit…again. Forced into an honest job, Moist tries to make the best of his situation, despite being up to his eyeballs (and beyond) in mountains of talking undelivered mail and having to contend with a ragtag band of postal postmen, not to mention the murderous competition with the heinous Reacher Gilt and his ill-gotten Grand Truck clacks system. It’s a tall order, but Moist and his more than ample skill for conniving are up to the challenge!

When I asked for book recommendations a few weeks ago, Scott suggested Going Postal to me. He warned me: “You will love Going Postal. You may love it too much.” He was right. I did love Going Postal too much. In fact, I didn’t want to return it to the library. It’s sort of an obsessive, possessive love. (If Going Postal were a person, I suspect that I would have a restraining order served on me.) I know that’s wrong (and a touch creepy), but this book is just so funny. I love anything that makes me laugh, but Going Postal made me laugh on so many different levels. This novel is a brilliant send up of by-the-book bureaucracy and corporate greed. It’s also a hilarious satire of traditional fantasy novels. I love epic traditional fantasies, such as Tolkien's work, but they are always so serious. It’s refreshing to read something that is not afraid to be outrageous and quirky. And quirky is the only word that I can think of to describe these characters, especially the disturbingly pin-obsessed Stanley and the equally disturbingly post office obsessed post men. I like quirky characters (primarily because I am one), so I loved how unique Pratchett makes his characters, without making them seem artificial or forced. As much as I loved the satire and characters, I really loved Pratchett’s style. He writes such witty dialogue and sarcastic narration. I especially loved his comic descriptions and his renderings of Moist’s inner thoughts. (I kept trying to choose a favorite example, but I gave up after about chapter three.) His laugh-out-loud sarcasm reminds me of some of my favorite writers – Roald Dahl and Lynne Truss. (Snarky English writers fill me with a profound sense of inner joy.)

Going Postal is an excellent comic novel, but it’s also really enjoyable to read just because it is so well written. This book has a very fast pace, and the outrageous goings-on means you’re certainly never bored. Even though things get pretty crazy, Pratchett always infuses his scenes and characters with such realism that they never seem absurd or unbelievable. At the same time, Pratchett gets you really wrapped up in the action. I loved Moist and wanted him to succeed. (And that’s saying something, because I usually hate the hero.) True, I wouldn’t let Moist anywhere near my bank account (not that he’d find much), but I adored his brassy chutzpah, his flamboyant showmanship, and his crafty quick-thinking. Before I read this novel, I was concerned that I might be a bit lost. Going Postal is the 29th Discworld novel, and I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to follow who was who. I was relieved that that was not a problem at all. I’m sure that, as a newbie, I may have missed some aspects that were references to previous novels, but I never felt like I was missing anything.

I’ve never read a Discworld novel before reading this book. After reading Going Postal, I now feel ashamed of myself for not discovering Pratchett sooner. I also feel a bit deprived. I’m sure Discworld fan will relish Going Postal, but to all of those who swim in a sea of regrettable ignorance in regards to Discworld: I urge you to come out of the darkness and into the light. Discworld is a world well-worth visiting. You may not want to come back. I don’t. I’ve already checked out two more Discworld novels and have another one reserved!

Next Week: I am going to try to read Yann Martel’s Life of Pi. I’ve been meaning to read it for some time now and haven’t. (Wasn’t it Shakespeare who said, “Laziness, thy name is Zella.”? Maybe not…) But for the past month, I’ve kept having random encounters (both online and in person) where this novel keeps getting mentioned, most recently on Adeline's blog. I am not superstitious, but I consider this a sign. A book sign! If I don’t get to finish it, I will try to review Ellis Peters’ A Morbid Taste For Bones. (Don’t worry. It is not about cannibalism…that I know of. It’s a murder mystery set in medieval Britain.)