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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
How have I never written a review for this book before? I love it soooo much!
Actually, I probably read this the first time long ago before I was even using Goodreads. I notice there's no DATE in here for when I read this? Hm. I probably first read it sometime in like... I'm going to guess 2005-2008, but it could have been later, but not so much later that I was doing derby.... Let's say 2006.
For some reason I can no longer remember, I decided to re-read this series this year. It 100% holds up as funny in that irreverent and sort of absurd way that I like best. It reminds me a bit of The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy, but with less "dear reader" fourth wall jokes (although, I think the series might go there eventually because it's super meta). I think I read the first like 4-5 books in this series then crashed out during a long reading slump, but I kept buying them. I'm excited now that I'll get to see how the series ends! I think I own them all.
Hundred percent I'm going to recommend this to my dad. :)
Actually, I probably read this the first time long ago before I was even using Goodreads. I notice there's no DATE in here for when I read this? Hm. I probably first read it sometime in like... I'm going to guess 2005-2008, but it could have been later, but not so much later that I was doing derby.... Let's say 2006.
For some reason I can no longer remember, I decided to re-read this series this year. It 100% holds up as funny in that irreverent and sort of absurd way that I like best. It reminds me a bit of The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy, but with less "dear reader" fourth wall jokes (although, I think the series might go there eventually because it's super meta). I think I read the first like 4-5 books in this series then crashed out during a long reading slump, but I kept buying them. I'm excited now that I'll get to see how the series ends! I think I own them all.
Hundred percent I'm going to recommend this to my dad. :)
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was just not really for me. It almost felt like a parody of itself, trying to be too absurd or too clever in places. I'm sure there were many many puns and references I didn't get, some of which are certainly more British-centric. I felt similarly when I finished Good Omens. Maybe it's the snobby American in me, and I accept that, but I also felt like the characters were bland, the plot was mediocre, and the writing style was forced. My favorite part was Richard III given the Rocky Horror treatment, that I can get behind. The random dodo birds that give nothing to the story, the pages upon pages upon pages of Shakespeare authorship theory, and a cliche female lead character clearly written by a male...those things leave something to be desired. I was excited to try Jasper Fforde after hearing many good things, and I still might read the Nursery Crime series and give that a try, but we're all done with Thursday Next, sorry.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I loved the alternative history aspect of it as well as the idea of there being a police force dedicated to protecting literature. Were Literary Detective a real thing, I would likely throw my hat in the ring for a job as one. And the idea of being able to enter your favorite books or have literary characters come out into the real world was an intriguing one. After all, who wouldn't want to meet their favorite character from a book? It was a good blend of mystery and action with a dash of romance without any one of those genres being too dominant. The characters and the world were well fleshed out and struck the balance of having everyone you meet, even the bad guys, be intriguing enough to want to know more about without too much of the book being taken up with setting up this alternative world.
There was one thing that kept this from being a five star for me and that is the main plot point as advertised on the back of book didn't happen until less than the last quarter of the book. With the title this book has, I expected to meet Jane early on and have it be a cat and mouse between Thursday and Hades to get her back. While the cat and mouse aspect was still there though, most of the first part was trying to save a character from a lesser known Dickens novel rather than Jane. I have never read Jane Eyre and I honestly will likely never do so, especially since the novel was laid out for me in this book through a conversation with Thursday and her partner Bowden. Having the title it does though I did expect her to play more of a part than she did. In truth, we saw and heard more of and from Rochester than we did Jane and even then the recovery seemed a bit rushed and anti-climactic. Which is not to say the rest of the book wasn't enjoyable because it was. It just seemed the title was a bit misleading as well as the description on the back of the book.
I would have also liked to hear more about Hades and how or what he was but that could be something that comes later in the series as well as development on the other villains in the story. I also imagine that we will learn more about the Next family as it develops or at least I hope so. That and we hear more from other characters, especially Spike. Despite that one main point, I enjoyed it and will read the others in the series since a few of those have also caught my eye. I will just be sure to read them with an open mind and take the description on the back of the book with a grain of salt since it may prove to be like this one and not really match up to the story within.
There was one thing that kept this from being a five star for me and that is the main plot point as advertised on the back of book didn't happen until less than the last quarter of the book. With the title this book has, I expected to meet Jane early on and have it be a cat and mouse between Thursday and Hades to get her back. While the cat and mouse aspect was still there though, most of the first part was trying to save a character from a lesser known Dickens novel rather than Jane. I have never read Jane Eyre and I honestly will likely never do so, especially since the novel was laid out for me in this book through a conversation with Thursday and her partner Bowden. Having the title it does though I did expect her to play more of a part than she did. In truth, we saw and heard more of and from Rochester than we did Jane and even then the recovery seemed a bit rushed and anti-climactic. Which is not to say the rest of the book wasn't enjoyable because it was. It just seemed the title was a bit misleading as well as the description on the back of the book.
I would have also liked to hear more about Hades and how or what he was but that could be something that comes later in the series as well as development on the other villains in the story. I also imagine that we will learn more about the Next family as it develops or at least I hope so. That and we hear more from other characters, especially Spike. Despite that one main point, I enjoyed it and will read the others in the series since a few of those have also caught my eye. I will just be sure to read them with an open mind and take the description on the back of the book with a grain of salt since it may prove to be like this one and not really match up to the story within.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fun, amusing and unique, and filled with loads of clever wordplay and references. However, a bit too quirky at times, and it was disappointing that despite the title, Jane Eyre wasn't integral to the plot of the book until more than halfway through it.
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I found the worldbuilding interesting but none of the characters felt fully fleshed out to me. And not thrilled with the "romantic" ending.
This is exactly the kind of detective novel I appreciate - such a fun and cozy read for these unusual times. Full of quirk, charm, and humor - and lots of literary lover flavor. Can't wait to dive into the next one!
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No