Terry Pratchett: Carpe Jugulum

Hi everyone

Carpe Jugulum is the 23rd book in Terry Pratchett's wonderful, amazing Discworld series.
I've had my copy for years; it's an older edition but I so love their classic covers.
This was my third time reading Carpe Jugulum.

"Mightily Oats has not picked a good time to be priest. He thought he'd come to Lancre for a simple ceremony. Now he's caught up in a war between vampires and witches.
There's Young Agnes, who is really in two minds about everything. Magrat, who is trying to combine witchcraft and nappies, Nanny Ogg ... and Granny Weatherwax, who is big trouble.
And the vampires are intelligent. They've got style and fancy waistcoats. They're out of the casket and want a bite of the future. Mightily Oats knows he has a prayer, but he wishes he had an axe." 

I adore the Nac Mac Feegle. They are a wondrous, hilarious and genius addition to The Discworld. And their interactions with the witches never fail to make me laugh out loud. The way they barge into scenes, cause chaos, and steal every moment is pure Pratchett brilliance.

Carpe Jugulum's plot is not my favourite; I find the story to be a bit too slow at times. But I did enjoy rereading it, mostly for the characters and the humor.

The witches are fantastic as always; Granny Weatherwax being her terrifyingly brilliant self, Magrat as a mother (which is such an emotional and relatable arc), Nanny Ogg, who always makes me smile and Perdita is amazing. The scenes where Nanny Ogg becomes "the other one" are out of this world fantastic.

The humor is Pratchett at his best; sharp, clever, and so funny it hurts. And his take on religion through Mightily Oats is thought-provoking, respectful, funny, and introspective all at once. Pratchett has this uncanny ability to make you laugh while also making you think deeply about life, faith, and humanity.
It’s not my absolute favorite Discworld novel (with 41 books in the series (not counting the extras!), it’s impossible to pick just one favorite). For me, there are at least 10 that tie for first place, and Carpe Jugulum isn’t one of them because of the pacing, but it’s still amazing nonetheless.

So, if you haven’t yet, go read some Discworld novels! 

Happy reading.
Helena