Nation by Terry Pratchett

This is the first time I have ever read a Terry Pratchett novel which is funny because he's been recommended to me for years. Well I finally got around to it and read Nation. It is a somewhat fantastical version of colonial literature as a tidal wave leaves an island's nation wiped out except for one young boy, and a boat  from the British Empire is shipwrecked onto the island with just one young girl still aboard. The book follows their relationship, how they learn to understand one another coming from such different ends of the earth and how they rebuild a new world together.

It is a very sweet story but also highly amusing as Pratchett details the silly misunderstandings the characters have through mistranslation and the caricature-like portrayal of some of the characters. The fantastical elements derive from the ideas of souls and spirituality running throughout the entire novel, the redesigning of scientific history, oh and the fact that apparently this story is told from a parallel universe, a bizarre and odd twist that adds another dimension to the novel that is quite a nice touch. Don't worry, that didn't really give anything away! This book does have a child-like quality to it, with the young protagonists and silly, fun ideas but that makes his work rather charming. There are a few rather gripping scenes where I felt I couldn't read through the pages quick enough to discover what happens and although it is quite an immature book, there were some very thought-provoking ideas to consider such as the nature of identity and the ethical nature of colonialism. Overall, I would recommend this book as an easy read, good for a summer afternoon! Although I am in no hurry to read another Pratchett novel, (I really liked it but didn't quite love it) I would definitely try another novel of his in the future.

Personal Rating: 7/10