Today marks the second week of the Hatful of Sky readalong being hosted by Little Red Reviewer and Dab of Darkness.  This week’s questions are from Dab of Darkness.  Beware of spoilers if you haven’t already read these stories (and if you haven’t, seriously, you should get onto them – they’re such good fun).

1) Awf’ly Wee Billy, the gonnagle, comes up with a plan, the PLN. First, do you like the basic idea? Second, what was your favorite part of the execution of the PLN?

The Plan was mental really – I’m trying to remember why they came up with the idea of dressing up as a man-come-scarecrow but it did make for some strange and funny reading – it just seemed to me that they travel so much faster just as themselves.  Obviously the part in the coach was very amusing – gradually all the other travellers removing themselves to sit atop – except for a few who couldn’t fit up there and those remaining few being privvy to a tantalising glimpse of the wee trouser occupant!  Thank goodness they had such a lot of gold coins!  I loved where the horse and cart is going faster than the carriage they’re trying to catch up to and actually takes over – there’s a lovely sort of irony.

2) Miss Level has a philosophy of ‘storing it in other people’. How do you like this philosophy and do you know any witchy people in life who might be secretly following it?  Miss Level has certainly got a lovely philosophy and a very caring attitude – not sure I’d be quite so generous spirited  – don’t get me wrong I’m not a meanie but she is just totally devoted to the people of the village and it’s really very time consuming.  It’s a whole new way of looking at how a witch gets on – here I was thinking they’d spend all their time cackling and cooking eye of newt and in actual fact she feels more like a cross between a district nurse with a hint of Lady Bountiful thrown in for good measure.  I don’t know if I know any witchy people but I certainly do know a couple of very thoughtful and kind people.

3) We finally get to meet some other witchlings, such as Petulia and Annagramma. What do you make of Tiffany’s first meeting with them?  I really have to hand it to Pratchett writing that whole scene of the original meeting, he does a terrific job of creating the type of bitchy high school mean girls.  Annagramma and her Earwig witch are both basically a big pair of bullies!  I must admit though that I was surprised when Tiffany met these girls – at first anyway.  She seemed so subdued and just immediately fit in with the group and acted in the same way as the rest of the girls.  At first I thought she was going to stand her ground and stick up for herself but then I figured she’s never been in a group like this before and she doesn’t really know how to act so she’s trying to act in line with the others.

4) The Hiver has finally found Tiffany and Miss Level has finally met the Feegle. How do you think Tiffany will fair against the Hiver and how much damage do you think will be done (either by the Hiver or the Feegle)?

I think Tiffany will fair okay with the Hiver but to be honest that’s only because I’m being a smarty pants and I figure she must get out of this situation in order to be present in book No.3 – yes, I realise that’s called cheating and not using my own brain/imagination but…. needs must when the devil vomits into your kettle!  I think the Hiver and the Feegles are equally capable of inflicting damage although the Feegle’s is not done maliciously.

I really enjoyed this week’s reading and must admit that this book feels a much stronger addition than the first – which I also really enjoyed but just think this one is definitely superior.