About a Book

‘When the sun is just above the last tree left on Little Nation, you must throw a spear at the big wrecked canoe,’ he said aloud. It didn’t make any sense, and nor did the ghost girl. But she had given him the spark-maker, although she’d been very frightened. He’d been frightened too. What were you supposed to do about girls? You had to keep away from them while you were a boy, but he’d heard that when you were a man, you got other instructions.

Sometime in the evening or late afternoon of November 29th, 2009 (a Sunday), I was in MPH, One Utama. As usual, I was in the Science Fiction section, eyes skimming the lines of books on the shelves, looking for one book in particular but not finding it (because I was looking in the wrong section; the book I wanted was under Horror, I just didn’t see it the first time).

Then one author’s name caught my eye like a frog’s tongue catches a fly out of the air (they do that right? They do in cartoons…) : Terry Pratchett; top shelf, to the far left.

There were a few of his non-Discworld novels lined up there, but the only one I can really remember (possibly because it is in fact, the book that I am about to talk about now, and I feel as though I can think of no other book at the moment) is a book I’d never heard of before, simply named: Nation.

Hmmm, I thought. Looks interesting. So I picked it up and read the back cover. Sounds interesting too. Of course, this was nothing to be surprised about because, come on, it’s Terry Pratchett, man.

And so, after picking out two more books (yes, including the book I’d been looking for earlier) I bought the book called Nation.

And what a tragedy it would have been if I hadn’t!

First off, I must point out that all the Terry Pratchett books I’ve read have been wonderful and amazing, and hilarious. His works are mostly fantasy, but they’re also very real. They take a spin on things and situations we experience in the real world, in a way that makes you go “Huh.” and smile, because it’s so damn true! And you’d never noticed it before… well, maybe you have, but not really, you know? Huh.

You can pick up any of his books and trust – and just know – with every particle in your body that you will enjoy it. You will read the last word, close the book, and look up with a grin on your face. Huh. And here’s the thing – Pratchett writes in a very humorous way, but they also make you think. About life, about love, about politics, about war, about peace, about… pretty much anything! They’re philosophical, but not boring. They’re deep.

Pratchett has this magical ability to continuously write really good novels. The awesomeness is maintained in every book, if not doubled or tripled. He has produced more than 30 tomes of awesomeness, with more to come! How in the world does he not run out of awesome?

So when I started reading Nation, I already knew it would be, yes, awesome.

But oh, was I wrong.

Awesome does NOT cut it. It’s too small a word to describe this book, this story, and its characters.

It blew my mind away. It really did. My brain is now floating around somewhere, somewhat numbed, and it’s a wonder I can even write this right now. But then, the words have been bouncing around in my (currently otherwise vacant) head since I finished the book at 4am this morning.

I’ve read Pratchett books (though not nearly enough of them!) and loved them, but this… masterpiece was so much more than I expected. It has all the things I like in a good story: a setting that draws you in as if you yourself are part of the story, a plot that keeps you turning the page even though you are muttering to yourself “Just one more, just one more…”, characters that grow on you like fungus and refuse to leave your heart long after you’ve finished reading (not that you want to forget them), humor that at times make you grin and other times make you flat-out guffaw, and emotions that are so real even you can feel them.

It is a sad story… No, it’s not a sad story. It… well, I can’t pinpoint it to just one field. It’s hard to think of the one right word to describe something this… um, brilliant, for want of a more effective word. As one of the reviews said, it is ‘a wonderful story, by turns harrowing and triumphant’. Sometimes it is so sad, so terribly sad, but the story does not dwell on the grief for long. Unlike some other books I’ve read (and loved), Nation is not the kind of sad that… lords over most of the book. It did not make me sob or cry buckets of tears, but it pulled at my heart strings and when the characters hurt, I felt their pain and wanted to cry with them. But then they stopped crying and moved on to something else. The story said, “Yes, it’s sad, but life moves on and the pig fence needs fixing.”

It is NOT a love story. No… not as such. It is a story with love in it, yes. Doesn’t every story, after all, have some sort of love in it? In Nation too, it is there, peeking out from among the other themes of loyalty, loss, grief and courage every now and then. Not so much as to allow the term ‘love story’ totally viable, but just enough to make you smile a tender smile and give you that warm, fuzzy feeling in your heart.

It’s not even a fantasy story. Not really anyway. Granted, it was in the Science Fiction section, but it’s really more real stuff than fantastical stuff, though it does have elements of fantasy in it. So even if you don’t happen to be into the fantasy genre (though I don’t really understand why anyone wouldn’t) Nation would still appeal to you.

It is… an adventure story. Yes. I think that covers many things: sadness, love, suspense, action, courage… It is definitely an adventure. Reading it has been an adventure. Even now, just thinking back to the story makes my heart literally beat faster… no exaggeration whatsoever!

The characters… oh, the characters! They are my favorite part of the book! They’re so unique and real that you feel as though you might just know them. The main characters, Mau and Ermin – I mean, Daphne, are just lovely. I am in love with them. …Well, specifically, I’m in love with Mau. Head over heels, fingers over toes, ears over ankles… in love! Read it, and I dare you to tell me I’m being unreasonable.

The ending… well, I don’t want to spoil it for you, but as Pratchett himself said, it is an appropriate ending. It is a real ending. It is a believable ending. But it broke my heart to finish reading it. I could hardly concentrate on the last few pages because I knew it was going to end. I put down the book and wanted more. It was four in the morning and I couldn’t fall asleep for at least half an hour!

Nation has skyrocketed past all the books I have ever read, and claimed the position of my favorite book EVER. I’d like to think there will be greater reads to come, that there will be another story that I will feel this strongly about, but at the same time… I don’t. Nation feels untouchable to me. If something else came along that is more… incredible, I might just go insane.

If you’ve never read any of Pratchett’s books… well, Nation is as good a start as any. Indeed, it is the best recommendation I can give you. I think that anyone who likes to read and who loves a good story will enjoy this book. In fact, at the risk of being wrong (and I don’t often fancy taking that risk; ask anyone who knows me well!), I say anyone who reads it will. Love. It.

So the next time you go to a bookstore… look for Nation. When you find it, GET IT. When you get it, READ IT. And when you’ve read it… tell others. So that it can turn their world upside down too.

Arina
12:35am
December 6, 2009