{"id":3922,"date":"2016-08-26T05:00:44","date_gmt":"2016-08-26T12:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/?p=3922"},"modified":"2016-08-22T06:48:23","modified_gmt":"2016-08-22T13:48:23","slug":"mark-reads-hogfather-part-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/markreads.net\/reviews\/2016\/08\/mark-reads-hogfather-part-5\/","title":{"rendered":"Mark Reads ‘Hogfather’: Part 5"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the fifth part of\u00c2\u00a0Hogfather<\/i>, Susan confronts her grandfather. Intrigued? Then it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s time for Mark to read\u00c2\u00a0Discworld<\/i>.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

So, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll admit that I think the placement of certain scenes still doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t make a lot of sense to me. If the surprise is that Death is the Hogfather, then why not move his scene where we watch him\u00c2\u00a0be<\/i>\u00c2\u00a0the Hogfather to a point after this? It would feel less jarring to the reader. Of course, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m providing feedback from a limited place. I could easily get to the end of\u00c2\u00a0Hogfather<\/i>\u00c2\u00a0and realize this was all for a point, but I react based on what I know.<\/p>\n

This<\/i>\u00c2\u00a0section, however, is not at all confusing. Oh, y\u00e2\u20ac\u2122all, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s such a treat to read, and the dialogue here is sharp, funny, and illuminating. So much is confirmed, yet it never feels like an info dump or exposition-heavy sludge. Pratchett allows the conversation to flow naturally, complete with interjections from Albert. But the whole thing help solidify\u00c2\u00a0why<\/i>\u00c2\u00a0Susan was so resistant to helping. It really is about normalcy for her. The contradiction, of course, comes from the fact that she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll never be normal. Ever. And yet, she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s managed to find something that may be the closest she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll ever get to stability and humanity. Why would she give that up?<\/p>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d say that also explains her reaction to learning that Death is the Hogfather. In her mind, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a perversion; he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s taken something that is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153normal\u00e2\u20ac\u009d to others and made it\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 well, actually, he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s still done the job. He hasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t ruined anything, has he? He and Albert have perfectly substituted themselves for the real thing, so it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not like Susan has a grievance beyond her own bias. Really, that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s what this comes down to, doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t it?<\/p>\n

I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t want to simplify this. Susan has totally fair reasons for not wanting to get involved, for wanting stability, and for complaining about Death\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s possible destruction of an important holiday for\u00c2\u00a0other<\/i>\u00c2\u00a0people. (Not for Susan, of course.) But the whole thing is so WEIRD. The Hogfather is dead! Somehow, Teatime\u00c2\u00a0killed Hogfather<\/i>. How??? And why is it that Pratchett keeps this a secret from the reader, too? Death hints that he knows how it happens, and he outright confirms that he took over the job once he found out. So\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 WHAT HAPPENED. The whole bit where Albert and Death discuss this after leaving Susan didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t help me feel any closer to understanding the story. Why can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t a human be involved? Does Susan count as one since she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s special? If Death knows the Auditors caused this, then how is he repairing it? What happens\u00c2\u00a0after<\/i>\u00c2\u00a0Hogswatch? Is this all occurring because the Auditors consider the Hogfather \u00e2\u20ac\u0153sloppy thinking\u00e2\u20ac\u009d?<\/p>\n

BUT LET\u00e2\u20ac\u2122S TALK ABOUT SUSAN VISITING DEATH\u00e2\u20ac\u2122S HOUSE. First of all: Death upgraded! He technically redecorated! I find this very sincere and 100% adorable, and you can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t convince me otherwise. Why? BECAUSE HE COLLECTS CATS NOW. THAT IS THE BEST IMPROVEMENT POSSIBLE.\u00c2\u00a0Ever<\/i>. Automatically refilling bowls of cream! Tons of furry friends to hang out with! I better get one scene with Death covered in cats.<\/p>\n

Anyway, there is a moment here that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s important beyond my love of cats, I promise. Susan discovers the room where gods\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s lifetimers are kept, but I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think Death broke the Hogfather\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s timer. It doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t make sense to me! Maybe\u00c2\u00a0that<\/i>\u00c2\u00a0is what Teatime did? Sort of? Hmmmm, okay, that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not the best theory ever. How is that tower connected to this?<\/p>\n

WHO WAS THAT GNOME SPEAKING WITH JACK FROST??? This part left me with so many questions, y\u00e2\u20ac\u2122all. But that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a good thing, I promise!<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1MAmnEFZw3o<\/p>\n

Mark Links Stuff<\/b><\/p>\n

– I am now on Patreon<\/a>! There are various levels of support, from $1 up to whatever you want! You’ll get to read a private blog, extra reviews, and other such rewards.<\/b>
\n– I\u00c2\u00a0will be at numerous conventions in 2016! Check the full list of events on my Tour Dates \/ Appearances page.<\/a>
\n– My Master Schedule<\/a> is updated for the near and distant future for most projects, so please check it often.\u00c2\u00a0My next Double Features for Mark Watches have been announced here.<\/a>
\n<\/b>-\u00c2\u00a0 Mark Does Stuff is on Facebook!<\/a>\u00c2\u00a0I’ve got a community page up that I’m running. Guaranteed shenanigans!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"