Michael Van Cise

Thud! by Terry Pratchett


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I listened to Thud! on audio CD on my trip from Atlanta to LA. While I enjoyed the book, I think my enjoyment was heightened by the performance given by the man performing the book. The reader used different voices for the characters and did an excellent job.
This is the third Pratchett book I've read. I read Hogfather, then Pratchett's collaboration with Niel Gaiman in Good Omens.
If you enjoy Terry Pratchett, you'll like Thud!. The story involves trolls, dwarves, a human police force called "the watch", and also includes a cameo from death. The story is set out as a mystery, but includes Pratchett's typical humor. To the book's credit, it also includes some thought provoking content on race relations (albeit between trolls and dwarves). Although it will take you more time than reading it, I suggest listening to this audio version of the book as it is a real treat to hear the performance.

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The first book I read by Christopher Moore was Practical Demonkeeping. (an interesting aside: the demon "Catch" appears in both books) I found the humor in "PD" to be strained and too deliberate. Although Moore's style in Lamb is probably not too different, I found the book to be hilarious. Moore uses situational comedy, plays on words, historical anachronisms, and other methods of humor throughout. I probably laughed out loud more times in the course of reading this book than any book I've ever read.
After reading Lamb, I understand why Moore has such a following. I highly recommend this book.