Feet Of Clay - Tumblr Posts
In case y'all didn't get this from the reposts, i read Feet of Clay. You know what that means
That's right, it's opinion and review time
Firstly, i would like to say i wish i didn't read this as the first Watchmen book, but it's whatever. Im currently reading Men in Arms, don't have Guards! Guards! available, but will eventually read that as well.
Back to the main topic. I absolutely love it. As always, Pterry ate and left no crumbs. I love every character, im loving Cheery's journey, as well as her and Angua together.
Since im new to the Watchmen, i was just surprised about all the titles, but also about Nobby being a noble. Turns out you can read it as a standalone and still think that. I really love Nobby casually jumping out the window to escape being king.
Some of my favourite moments were the one where Vimes spills the whiskey on the carpet and fakes being drunk. I also love him saying (im paraphrasing here) 'you made me spill perfectly good whisky. That's punishable by hanging' because honestly, iconic.
As I'm reading Men in Arms, im seeing that a repeating theme is revolution and the people(in charge) finding new kings when not needed.
Personally, i admire Vimes for not only his self-control, but also the ability and more importantly need to hold himself accountable. If i had to pick someone to look up to, it would be him. Well, a mix of him and Carrot.
I love Carrot because he's just this 6 foot dwarf that just takes things really literally and is an absolute sweetheart (but actually a badass inside).
I love Angua and her problem with self acceptance, to which i relate to in a certain level. How she handles herself when faced with prejudice, as well as how she holds Carrot accountable for his own prejudice (towards Cheery) is what makes her, well, her. It's what makes me love her, and aspire to be her to an extent (i would like to skip the self-esteem and acceptance part)
Also, Vetinari knowing what's happening all along but letting Vimes loose sleep and tear his hair out gave me mixed feelings - suprise, little bit of anger in Vimes' name, and others that I can't quite name.
All in all, 9/10 book, 10/10 humour as well as philosophy, and +2 for the iconic Vimes.
Nobby Nobs in Feet Of Clay be like
We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.
— Oscar Wilde.
“History taught a cruel lesson. It said—often in words of blood—that the true king was the one who got crowned.”
-Terry Pratchett’s Feet of Clay
If you see this you’re legally obligated to reblog and tag with the book you’re currently reading
This may or may not be a bold claim, but I think the word 'charisntma,' coined in Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett to describe Cpl Nobbs describes Spamton G Spamton perfectly.
Mook: This is police brutality! Detritus: No, dis is just police shouting! If you wanna try brutality it ok by me!
Feet of Clay; Terry Pratchett
Discworld books with interesting things about gender and personhood: go
Honest question why does freedom need limits? Why is it just a word without them? I don't get that.
Feet of Clay
‘What Better Work For One Who Loves Freedom Than The Job of Watchman. Law Is The Servant of Freedom. Freedom Without Limits Is Just A Word,’ said Dorfl ponderously.
Feet of Clay
Terry Pratchett
The Husband is reading Feet of Clay to nq (our eldest) and me. I last read it over a decade ago. What's hitting me this time is how Pratchett likes hammering his point home through multiple channels.
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This is a book about respectability politics, discrimination, and privilege. The golems are the A-plot, loosely standing in for trafficked people/undocumented immigrants. (They also share some similarities to disabled experiences.)
But the book has SO MANY subplots, all sending the same message!
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Cheri is constantly kicking down - trying to figure out how to survive as a dwarf in a human-centric city, while badmouthing the undead. It has echoes both of assimilated immigrants turning on newer, less acceptable ones AND 'normal' gays trying to distance themselves from the 'weird' queers.
The key to Vetinari's poisoning is recognizing the classist forces acting on the palace servants/the residents of Cockbill Street. How their desire to stay respectable holds them down, keeps them hungry and meek. How a healthy powerful man can survive, but a poor baby and old woman are vulnerable. And we see how they kick down as well - tormenting William Scuggins, who seems to have been either mentally disabled or mentally ill, for entertainment.
And the royal plot is contrasted with Vimes' mutterings about how the common people suffered under royalty but are still attracted to it. How they seem to WANT someone above them. Sure, some people might suffer, but nobody thinks it will be THEM, so it's fine.
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Reading it again makes it almost unbelievable that people were trying to suggest Pratchett would be anti-trans. Right after Cheri comes out, Angua takes her to an undead bar, where it's repeatedly mentioned that people who "can't pass" can "be themself." When she chooses her new name, Angua thinks about how most people wouldn't have associated that name with someone with a full beard, but now they're going to have to. It's not subtle.
(There's also a woman with dementia there, in one of the books examples of how NOT to kick down. Pratchett doesn't DIRECTLY focus on disability this book, but there are a lot of little moments. (All the golems use AAC!))
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I don't know. I'm just struck by how intersectionalist Pratchett's politics were. How this story can have 4 very different plots going on at the same time, but all of them have the same message.
He was a really great writer.
The vampire looked from the golem to Vimes.
"You gave one of them a voice?" he said.
"Yes," said Dorfl. He reached down and picked up the vampire in one hand. "I Could Kill You," he said. "This Is An Option Available To Me As A Free-Thinking Individual But I Will Not Do So Because I Own Myself And I Have Made A Moral Choice."
"Oh, gods," murmured Vimes under his breath.
"That's blasphemy," said the vampire.
He gasped as Vimes shot him a glance like sunlight. "That's what people say when the voiceless speak. Take him away, Dorfl."
-Terry Pratchett, Feet of Clay