A Hat Full of Sky (Discworld, #32; Tiffany Aching, #2) in SpecFic Buddy Reads

Mar 06, 2017 Lyn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

One of Terry Pratchett’s best.

I don’t often gush for a book, but this one was very good. Pratchett’s 2004 Discworld story Hat Full of Sky (and second featuring Tiffany Aching and her friends the pictsies – the Nac Mac Feegle wee free men) was a joy to read.

I’d like to see this made into a film just to see how a clever and talented director handled Miss Level. Like all of Pratchett’s Discworld books, this is wryly funny and sardonically playful and he takes on some heavy themes like family, tradi ...more

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Jan 31, 2020 Trish rated it it was amazing

*sighs contently*
Only a few days ago I talked to a GR friend about those authors and their books that make you feel at home, all cozy and comfy. Terry Pratchett and his Discworld series is my ultimate home. I cannot stress that enough.

This 32nd volume was another in the sub-series about Tiffany. It's been a few years since the last Tiffany book. She's slightly older now and her parents are tricked into letting her become an apprentice - making cheese. Unfortunately, it also means Tiffany has to *sighs contently*
Only a few days ago I talked to a GR friend about those authors and their books that make you feel at home, all cozy and comfy. Terry Pratchett and his Discworld series is my ultimate home. I cannot stress that enough.

This 32nd volume was another in the sub-series about Tiffany. It's been a few years since the last Tiffany book. She's slightly older now and her parents are tricked into letting her become an apprentice - making cheese. Unfortunately, it also means Tiffany has to go away from the Chalk for a while. Then again, a great thinker once said that you have to leave in order to really appreciate what you're coming back to.
Naturally, Tiffany's studies aren't ONLY about cheese.
There are bullies in her school. There are some talents that are getting away from here as well, so of course she needs to be kept grounded before she starts cackling! And who better to help her than the Nac Mac Feegles! After all, they need their big wee hag because she tells the country what it is and it tells her who she is.
But great power poses the danger of it getting (in-)to your head - literally. And let's not forget the danger of wishes!
So yes, Granny makes an appearance on top of all the other witches, tea and biscuits and all. Yay!

It's easy to see this as just another fantasy book with a coming-of-age story. But that would be like seeing only the flat bits of Earth. ;)
What sets Sir Terry so firmly apart is how effortlessly he mixes a funny adventure including some raunchy "pixies" with very deep thoughts about death / coping mechanisms as well as the corruption by power and what really matters in life.
Just look at those quotes I liked/highlighted to see what I mean!
I seriously love his version of witches who barely ever use actual magic but instead show how pointless it often is anyway since you can use headology or just plain common sense. Actually listening to people, actually seeing things, actually paying attention, caring and applying some knowledge (medicine and other kinda scientific methods) while working people (no, not WITH people *lol*). Taking responsibility when nobody else wants to. Gets to me every time. And it's one of the reasons why the books involving Granny and other witches are my favourites of the series. Yes, still and always.

Granny Weatherwax no longer needs any kind of introduction or summary. But it is important to note that Tiffany herself has already become a very special character - and this is only her second book! She might be only 11 in this volume, but she's already thoroughly fleshed out, has her head and heart in the right place and I'm now convinced where this is headed (I had a hunch before but this made it clear, though I don't want to think about it yet). She's smart, quirky, loveable, headstrong ... a proper hag. ;)

We weren't in a familiar surrounding this time but the magical problem, the lessons we learn alongside Tiffany, the fun we always have when following the Nac Mac Feegles (whether they are drinking, stealing, fighting or saving their favourite hag) - it's all rather magical after all. ...more

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Mar 26, 2013 Bradley rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya, fantasy, 2020-shelf

Looking back on all the Tiffany Aching books in Discworld, I have nothing bad to say about any of them except that they are sometimes.... not that special.

Damned by faint praise!

In actuality, the whole thing is very charming, often clever, and it is definitely an eye-opener for our 11-year-old witch. But as for learning the witchy trade? Yep, it's fairly cool and definitely a trip for the heads-that-be, but other than having a hive-mind baddie that wants a very special wish, the whole thing is a ...more

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Apr 19, 2015 Lindsay rated it it was amazing

Shelves: humor, fantasy

Part of the Pratchett reread with the SpecFic Buddy Reads group in 2020.

Tiffany has reached the age where she needs to take up an apprenticeship, in her case, as a witch. Only, witching seems to involve more being a social worker than actual magic, not that that's a huge problem, because Tiffany can't seem to do any magic. She's actually doing powerful magic, but doesn't realize it, and that powerful magic has attracted something incredibly dangerous. Fortunately Tiffany has friends, including o ...more

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Apr 30, 2025 Trish rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The 32nd in my re-read of the entire Discworld series sees us back with Tiffany though only at the fringes of The Chalk.

One reason why I decided to re-read the series is that I can never just indulge in one of the volumes. The other is that the audiobooks were newly produced and the casts looked amazing.

Reading this 32nd book (in chronological order) are:

But we also have to mention Steven Cree, voice of the Nac Mac Feegles!

It's been 2 years since the last Tiffany book (within the series) so our The 32nd in my re-read of the entire Discworld series sees us back with Tiffany though only at the fringes of The Chalk.

One reason why I decided to re-read the series is that I can never just indulge in one of the volumes. The other is that the audiobooks were newly produced and the casts looked amazing.

Reading this 32nd book (in chronological order) are:

But we also have to mention Steven Cree, voice of the Nac Mac Feegles!

It's been 2 years since the last Tiffany book (within the series) so our little witch is 11 years old right now. She's starting her "studies" with Miss Level, who lives at the fringes of The Chalk. In fact, Twoshirts (the village where Miss Level lives) is so far from Tiffany's home that it gets pretty problematic - because Tiffany is getting homesick and there is quite some distance the Nac Mac Feegles have to cover once they decide to go after "their wee hag" to protect her from ... (find out for yourself).
And then there is the other witches. Especially (but not only) the teenage witches. Ye gods, did I want to smack them in the heads. Repeatedly. Grrrrrr.

Many don't like that TP entered the field of YA with the Tiffany stories but I do. It affords us a wholly different perspective. Namely, that of a newcomer who needs to find her own voice and place in the world. We get to see bullying taken care of right (rare) - and no, the teenies aren't the only bullies here (I so appreciate the realism of that). Which also means Granny is making an appearance ... and what an appearance! HA!

We've all been navigating difficult situations, most people have had to be away from home at some point, many have been at the receiving end of bad behavior from others, all of us have (had) self-doubts ... and it's just so wonderfully comforting to have the author take us by the hand and guide us through all of it in such a nice way, even offering some perspective on possible responses.

It's no secret that I love the witches of the Disc (well, two of them anyway) but I have to say that Miss Level particularly grew on me during this re-read. The others were as despicable as I rememberes. ;P

Indira Varma once again knocked it out of the park with her performance and I'm so grateful to her rendition of these books. I'm a very happy bookworm right now. ...more

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