I have finished my first Once Upon a Time Challenge book! The challenge is halfway over and I have four books left to go. I’m a slow snail.
Terry Pratchett’s Moving Pictures was a hoot as Terry Pratchett books usually are. What I like about Practhett is that he is so good at the humor, but still manages to comment via Discworld, on real life culture and events. In Moving Pictures he takes on Hollywood, or as it is in the book, Holy Wood.
When the last watcher in the dunes of Holy Wood dies and there is no one left to remember why there was a watcher in the first place, the divide between reality and unreality begins to thin. Things on the other side that should stay there start to put ideas into people’s heads. The things can’t get through–yet. Pretty soon the alchemists have created a moving picture. Since it isn’t “real magic” they can pursue picture making. And everyone wants to be in pictures. It isn’t long before the alchemists move to Holy Wood because nobody lives there and the weather and lighting is always perfect. Holy Wood isn’t actually a wood at all. There are some scrubby trees but it’s pretty much just empty sand dunes on the edge of the ocean.
As the popularity of the moving pictures grows and the storylines themselves change from educational to lurid love stories (with one thousand elephants!), reality gets thinner and thinner, until the things are finally able to make their move. It turns out moving pictures and Holy Wood are magic in their own way, and only the magic of Holy Wood can save the day.
The story is full of parody. There are moments like during one character’s speech about wanting to be famous where I can hear the background music swelling to a crescendo. There is fun poked at Lassie and Gone with the Wind and a host of other movies. All this while subtly questioning our devotion to movies, our penchant for believing them to be real, or at the least believing the actors are the characters they play, and at the same time recognizing that there is something magical about it all.
Moving Pictures is not rocket science, nor is it life changing. It’s yummy brain candy but it won’t fill you up and ruin your dinner.
Sylvia said:
Sounds like it might sort of fit with Don Quixote, in a way.
And I’m not much farther ahead than you are on my Once Upon A Time Challenge. Frodo and the gang haven’t even made it to Rivendell yet! I expect it’ll be officially summer before they make it to Mordor, but I’m enjoying every long minute of it.
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Dark Orpheus said:
Congratulations on completing the first book. One down, four to go.
I’ve hit a plateau on the challenge myself, and I’m going to abandon one of the book I’m reading for the challenge. Too dull, too sexist for my taste. Mainly it’s the sexist bit that turns me off.
It’s been a while since I last read “Moving Pictures” – I was trying to recall the scenes you described – can’t remember. Has it been that long?
Actually, it’s been a few years since I last read a Pratchett set in Ankh-Morpork. About time to get back in the game.
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Dorothy W. said:
I’m slow at challenges too, which is why I’ve taken on fewer of them lately — I’m always falling behind! But I like the way challenges can inspire me to read new things, even if I’m not actually doing the challenge. Anyway, this book sounds like fun.
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Kate S. said:
I’m a recent convert to Terry Pratchett and I’m thoroughly enjoying working my way through his many books. So far, the City Watch cycle are my particular favourites. I just posted a link on my blog today to a Discworld quiz (“Which Discworld Character Are You Like?”) that you might want to check out…
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iliana said:
I’m a slow snail too. I’ve just finished the second book. To make matters worse I found out of another challenge I can’t resist. Agh. The trials of a bookworm 🙂
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Brian Hadd said:
Yum is for dinner too. Yum makes you hungry, yummy.
The Hood Company
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Quixotic said:
Love Pratchett. Moving Pictures is a good one, though not one of my personal favourites. I’ve been reading Discworld novels so long now that reading one is sort of like coming home…
Pratchett’s writing can be very smart and very very funny.
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Nymeth said:
I’m with Quixotic – Moving Pictures is not one of my favourites, but it’s still good, and I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it.
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Stefanie said:
I don’t feel bad then Sylvia if you aren’t even to Rivendell yet 🙂
Dark Orpheus, I generally manage to read one Discworld book a year. Since there are so many I should be able to keep going like this for a long time.
Dorothy, I had at one point sworn off all challenges. Turns out it’s kind of like saying I’m not going to by anymore books.
Oh Kate, I must come see what Discworld character I am!
Iliana, I thought I was racking up the challenges! I don’t feel so bad now 😉
Brian, yummy books for dinner and yummy books for dessert make for happy readers.
Quixotic and Nymeth, I agree, Moving Pictures isn’t my favorite either, but definitely fun.
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Brad said:
Ok, you’re behind on your challenges. Now read Gilgamesh and catch up on 2 of the challenges you have listed. I really enjoyed Mitchell’s translation and I want to see what you think of it. Don’t make me nag. 🙂
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whatladder said:
I think Pratchett went through a couple of major shifts in his writing, and Moving Pictures is on the cusp of one of those shifts. I like his more recent books much more, because he takes his social commentary to a more complex and interesting place.
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Stefanie said:
I haven’t started it yet Brad, but I put it on my nightstand with a bookmark at page one 🙂
Whatladder, I hadn’t thought much about it but you are right, and observant! His most recent books do have some more complex social commentary in them. I like that too.
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