Nation
When a giant wave destroys his village, Mau is the only one left. Daphne—a traveler from the other side of the globe—is the sole survivor of a shipwreck. Separated by language and customs, the two are united by catastrophe. Slowly, they are joined by other refugees. And as they struggle to protect the small band, Mau and Daphne defy ancestral spirits, challenge death himself, and uncover a long-hidden secret that literally turns the world upside down.
Reviews (477)
Relevant to 2020!
Terry Magic is strong in this one. Nation is all about rebuilding after a global pandemic and a local tsunami that destroys the pacific islands which is the location for the book. Even tho in postscript he makes it clear it is not fictionally located in Pacific. What I loved about all of Terry's books when I read them upon publication, was how relevant they were to that moment in time. He echoed the problems of the day, contemplated them in dialogue and narration, pointed out the senseless human drama and ignorance by making a parody of it in the characters and plot and dialogue, and best of all, discussed the metaphysical causes and possible forward actions. I'd forgotten the plot of this book, and was amazed all over again when I read it again. Here he is talking to us in 2020 in the middle of a pandemic and a society that needs to be re-imagined and re-created with radically different perspective, goals, intentions and most of all, an all-inclusive social structure and leadership. The old forms have been washed away by the tidal wave of unrest and corrupt politics of exclusion, racism and 1% greed. What's next? A new Nation. Terry was a Modern Day Prophet and a Motley Fool all wrapped up in his mask of a black hat and leather jacket. And he wondered why his Death character was a favorite? Because he spoke to us from the center of the universe and gave us insight into our collective psyche. Thanks again Terry, as your legacy of books are always relevant.
One of the very best
Nation is one of the finest books ever written for young readers. It may be Pratchett's masterpiece. What sets this apart from other good reads is the sophisticated way the characters grapple with nationhood, empire, religion, culture, and personal responsibility. They are forced to consider such issues critically, raising questions about the kind of orthodoxies for which people go to war and conquer empires. Yet, like all Pratchett's books, it raises such serious issues while being at times laugh-out-loud funny. And like all the best children's literature, Nation simultaneously entertains both child and adult readers. In my recent experience of reading it with a seven-year-old and a twelve-year-old, we were all engaged by the story despite our very different levels of understanding, experience, and sophistication. Nation has lovingly drawn and lovable characters as well as villains who are all too real. There is plenty of adventure to keep the pages turning and the children asking for more. The main characters—the boy Mau and the girl Daphne—are heroic in their way but fully human, on the cusp of adulthood and faced with the kinds of problems that adults struggle with. Everything resolves into a happy ending, but not AT ALL of the Disney happily-ever-after variety. Still, I teared up as I read the final pages.
Nation is a wonderful story!
I was at first surprised by the seriousness of the first part of Nation, unusual for a Terry Pratchett book, and I didn't know if I would enjoy it. But because it is a Terry Pratchett book I decided to keep reading, and I'm so glad I did! This story is exceptionally good, and there is humor to be found at some points in the story. The story itself is nothing like I've ever read before, Nation is a book about despair, hope, honor, love and so much more when the Nation is almost destroyed by a great wave. Mao, who returns to the Nation after a quest to prove his manhood, a tradition and rite of passage, is not in the Nation when the wave hits, and his return to home and what he finds waiting for him are almost too much to bear. This is just the beginning of Nation, but by now I am absolutely hooked on Mao's life, his hopes for the future, and slowly, the rebirth of the Nation. I'm so glad I read it. There are important, but not preachy, lessons to learn hidden in this gem of a book.
Wonderful standalone Terry Prachett
Fantastic story, wonderfully written. This book immediately jumped into my top 5 of all time, up there with the Vonnegut. Pratchett is best known for his Discworld books which are pretty great. This is not one of those, but if you want to see why everyone loves Sir Terry without getting into a 30-something series of books you should read Nation. If you've read the Discworld books then I don't need to tell you you should read Nation.
I just love it when I find a REALLY good book! It's like winning the lottery
Terry Pratchett was a literary god. The only reason I put my book down (I'm halfway through in one sitting so far) was to give it a five star review! He has a way with words that just makes me smile- he is able to balance descriptions of things and characters beautifully. It's almost poetic but not in anyway stuffy or forceful. It flows so naturally that I forget I'm reading a book and actually live in the Nation for the time being. Many people compare it to Lord of The Flies, the only similarity is that they all have to survive, and they all happen to be on a beach, all similarities end there. LoTF is about descending from civilisation, Nation is about re-inventing structure and a new order. I love both books, but they don't compare.
Refreshingly Nice
Sometimes I want to read what interesting thing Hannibal Letter has to say. Sometimes I'd rather avoid darkness and be pulled along in an escape adventure that's less grim. "Nation" is escape but it isn't pure fluff. It repeatedly deals with death, loss, and loss of faith, but it does not dwell on it overmuch. You can expect to see a return to life and living the way Pilu's smile resurfaces after he's fought his way through some unpleasantness. As bland as this sounds, this is just a nice, feel-good story with some action, some morals, some humor, some satire. I've reread it at least a half-dozen times just like I've watched A Few Good Men at least that many times. Comfort food in written form.
The best book I have ever read
I love books of all kinds but I am a touch picky about how I like them to be written. I don't like authors who simply use language as a means of telling a story; I like authors who use language as a medium. I think that language should be to books like clay is to sculpture. I believe that the author should use language in unique ways to create images and perspectives and ideas that are more than the sum of their parts. I have long been in love with Terry Pratchett's use of language. Since reading my first DiscWorld book many years ago, I have known that he was not a mere writer but an artist of language. This book is no exception to his amazing artistry of language. The nation raises deep philosophical questions and ideas through the the use of language art and an amazingly well crafted plot. It is science fiction, but it uses the genre to really make you think about the real life struggle between science and religion among other things. It is the first book I have read that I was voracious about. As I said, I love books, but never have I wanted to read to the exclusion of all else and this was the book that made that happen. This is the first book that I have truly been in love with and I would recommend it to anyone. It is beautiful, thought provoking, well developed and unexpected; all without being over-inflated or obtuse. OH, and, don't let the "young adult" label fool you--I was 34 when I picked this up. I could absolutely see this making sense and being relevant to a young adult, but it's got plenty of substance, artistry and thought for adults as well. I think my friend, who I recently gave a copy of this to, summed it up quite well when he said "It's the mark of a good book or movie when one finishes feeling smarter."
A Very Different YA Book
For some really bizarre reason I had it in my mind that this was supposed to be a hilarious book. So for the first 100 pages or so I was completely confused and had a hard time enjoying the book because it wasn't hilarious. Things went much smoother when I gave up waiting for the hilarious parts to show up. [There are definitely some silly and funny moments sprinkled throughout the book though.] This book was a nice breath of fresh air. Sure I enjoy reading about people that are similar to me. It's easy to relate to them and their struggles. It's comfortable and familiar. All of that is fine but it's good to occasionally step out of your comfort zone. Nation is a different YA book. It's about different people dealing with very different circumstances than me. I liked it though. Isn't reading about different places/struggles one of the points of reading? To experience things you might not normally? Nation definitely accomplished that. It's a very different coming of age story. Mau is right on that pivotal moment of actually becoming a man when things go horribly wrong. Even though things are about as bad as they can get for him, he keeps going. His identity and culture are so important to him, he does everything to keep them alive. He became a leader so naturally. In some books, it feels like the leader is the leader because the author says so. Mau evolves into a leader because he knows what needs to be done and wants to take care of everyone. He continues to stick with it even when he's tired and scared like a real leader does. Daphne definitely grows up as well. I think her story is more humorous. Even though she's shipwrecked on an island in the middle of the ocean, she still attempts to be as proper of a lady as she can. Eventually she adapts well to the culture of the others. Her growth is brought to light at the end. She truly appreciates and loves the people she lived with for months and did everything she could to take care of them when she left. The ending was well done. Things don't end "perfectly" or like a happy ending. It does seem like a true to life ending though. Mau and Daphne don't fall in love and get married or insert your favorite cheesy ending here. They go their separate ways but they allow their experiences influence their new lives. That's how life influencing experiences work. It makes you see things a bit differently. The bottom line? Recommended for the YA lovers out there. It might be different and out of your comfort zone but it's well worth the read.
A book worth reading
I found myself neglecting other things to read this book. It is an engaging story, if difficult to define. It feels like historical fiction, but is technically historical fiction based on an alternate earth with just a few differences from our own. Regardless of classification, it's a good story that is worth reading.
Another bit of joy from Terry Pratchett
I love Terry Pratchett books. With that out of the way, this book is really a joy to read. It's a slightly different angle for Pratchett (this world is round, for example), and the types of characters he uses and the human themes he touches on come together to give us perhaps more genuine hope for humanity than the normal satire he produces. The main archetypes are still there, from the unsure yet clever, capable, practical and well-meaning young people to the old, mysterious, and magical women to the uncouth animal to interactive death. He deals with these characters and their lives in a way that seems more mature and more serious than anything else of his I've read, even though the book is supposedly aimed at (and is appropriate for) young adults. Themes include coming-of-age, grieving, the nature of belief, questioning how things got this way, considering how things might be different, tricks of life, caring for others, sorting out the voices in one's head, dealing with evil, doing what must be done, finding alternate solutions, and how it all comes back around in the end. It is quick and wonderful to read, and I'd highly recommend it. SPOILERS BELOW ~ There is childbirth, but it is not graphic ~ There is no sexual behavior ~ There is death and murder ~ There are questions about religion ~ There is a lot of throwing up, mostly by birds ~ There is alcohol, and alcohol jokes ~ You will learn a few things about science ~ The language is tame, with the exception of a few British curses ~ I think that's it. Enjoy!!!
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