A review by bibliomania_express
Going Postal by Terry Pratchett

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Going Postal by Terry Pratchett is the first ever Discworld book I've read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's got a conman conning his way into being good, the intricacies of the postal service, puns on puns, a showdown with crooked businessmen, and the power of words. 

Moist von Lipwig is a fantastic protagonist. He's dramatic, morally ambigous, reluctantly caring, and wickedly clever. He can't escape becoming Postmaster, so he lives the phrase "fake it til you make it" with panache and a golden suit.

I enjoyed the vast number of side characters and their quirky personalities. Stanley and Groat serve as old master and young apprentice, complete with a specific obsession and "little moments" for Stanley and postal religiosity and homeopathic remedies for Groat. There's also a whole plotline about golems that brings in other characters and delves into personhood, history, purpose, and community.

Plus, who doesn't want a fantasy world that melds magic, inventing postage, and uncovering business fraud?

I'm glad I finally got to this book, and it made excellent entertainment for my six-hour bus ride.
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