The Humour Club discussion

Got an annoying phantom haunting YOUR opera house?
Who ya gonna call?

No, not THOSE guys!

How about some of our favorite witches?

That's right. Granny, Nanny and Greebo are on the case. As always, there's a chance for a cameo by our buddy, Death, and lots and lots of Discworldish hijinks to look forward to...

Let's spend a night at the opera, shall we?

I'm not a fan of Phantom of the Opera...am I going to be disappointed?

I've never seen Phantom of the Opera. I wonder how many jokes I'll miss. Oh well. I love Granny Weatherwax so I'm sure to be happy.

I've never seen it either, though it's certainly deserving of a good mocking. I did get the sense that one or two opera-related jokes were whizzing over my head, but it didn't prevent me from enjoying the book.

Good. I think I have about the more days to finish, before my library ebook expires and drives me mad.

As long as you have a general understanding of what Phantom is about, you'll get a few of the jokes! It's a really good read even if you miss the opera specific references though.

I'm on page 37 and have already snorted aloud several times.

I'm not up on my opera either, but, I am getting most of the humour...at least I think I am.

You know it's a good satire when you are both laughing and angry at the same time...the whole looks vs talent topic.

I had a good time with it.

Dang, I wanted to say something witty and intelligent, but I ain't happening. Sorry.

Should this be read with organ music playing in the background? I'm on Small Gods now, shouldn't take long to catch up to the group.

Oh, definitely with organ music.

Glad you're enjoying the series, Zack. If you have any comments on the book you're currently reading, the discussion threads are still open. I'm sure some of our members will be happy to argue or agree with you.

Lol, thanks Melki.

Just hit the 'Book of Snacks' - Banana Cream Pie anyone?

I prefer cherry pie.

Why do you think Magrat was left out of this book? Pratchett not like writing Magrat as much?

Well, the absence of Magrat is sort of the catalyst for most of this. Besides, she sold out. Got hitched and gave up witching.

Perhaps there is a "What to Expect When Magrat's Expecting" book in our future...that is, if they've ever figured out that marital/martial arts thing...

That's too bad, I liked Magrat. I'm suspecting Agnes is going to join the coven...I'm not such a big fan of Agnes (no pun intended).

What do you think about her split personality? I like it, part naught and part nice. You have no idea what personality is going to come out...makes for good reading.
I think it would be fun to write a dual personality too.
I also think it's funny that Perdita's middle name is X.

Here's the review I did for MASKERADE, which I finished a few days ago. Mark
*****
Over the past two decades, I've read a number of Pratchett novels. I don't know how this one escaped my notice, but it's so much fun. Maskerade is a wonderful sendup of The Phantom of the Opera. Having seen the musical four times and the Lon Chaney silent classic twice, this made it great fun indeed.

But also, I'm an opera fan, not a huge fan, understand, not of the ceiling variety, but more of the collapsible type that you'd slip up a sleeve when no one was looking. Maskerade does a great job of lampooning operas: the old, fat, ugly people who sing songs about being young and thin and beautiful; the nonsensical plots, etc. There is even considerable musing on just exactly WHY the show must go on.

Two of my favorite Discworld characters, Esmerelda Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg, witches out of the Ramtops, are the main characters. We even have a vapid Christine to ooh and ah over.

This book is great fun, and I think it is perhaps in my top five favorites in the Discworld series. Read it.

Glad you liked it, Mark.

Just read up to where death "loses" to Granny at a game of poker to save the baby and she shows him her new knowledge of chiropractory. It's nice to see that not even Death want's any part of Granny's bad side, and that Death is becoming more ... human?

---{side note} Pratchett should make a Greebo's adventures 'novelette". Maybe even Greebo and the Silver Horde's merry adventure bedtime stories for grown children series.

I'll soon be catching up to the group and will be able to participate in the "Feet of Clay" discussion.

Go, Zack, go!