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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
Love what's been done with the Classics.
Audience participation in a night with Richard III was so much fun. Makes me actually want to go to another Rocky Horror viewing.
And getting literally caught up in a Wordsworth poem sounds enchanting.
Conversely what was done to Jane Eyre means it and other classic mentioned should be re-read.
The "did Shakespeare really write Shakespeare" debate continues.
Fun introduction to the series.
Audience participation in a night with Richard III was so much fun. Makes me actually want to go to another Rocky Horror viewing.
And getting literally caught up in a Wordsworth poem sounds enchanting.
Conversely what was done to Jane Eyre means it and other classic mentioned should be re-read.
The "did Shakespeare really write Shakespeare" debate continues.
Fun introduction to the series.
So this was an interesting book. It combined fantasy and literature in a strangely satisfying way. I've read just enough from the Bronte sisters and Jane Austen and Shakespeare to appreciate the references. But even if I hadn't, I don't feel that I would be at a disadvantage.
The setting for this story takes place in an alternate world that is capable of controlling time travel, can clone the dodo bird, is still fighting the Crimean war, and worships literature. Shakespeare is a common household name and there are frequent conspiracy conversations as to who really wrote his plays. The main character works as a sort of literature police officer. I was never really clear what her job entailed. As the story progresses she finds herself up against an antagonist that has stolen technology that allows him to enter into books and change the outcome. And for a world that worships literature, that's almost like rewriting history.
The setting for this story takes place in an alternate world that is capable of controlling time travel, can clone the dodo bird, is still fighting the Crimean war, and worships literature. Shakespeare is a common household name and there are frequent conspiracy conversations as to who really wrote his plays. The main character works as a sort of literature police officer. I was never really clear what her job entailed. As the story progresses she finds herself up against an antagonist that has stolen technology that allows him to enter into books and change the outcome. And for a world that worships literature, that's almost like rewriting history.
Closer to 4 1/2 star; 1/2 star because the initial 30 pages was hard to get into for me.
Loved the author's voice. The whole book was quirky and I don't know what genre it is - fantasy? alternate reality? parody? The lead character was a little too stereotypical (upon thought) and while the book is primary in first POV, it does switch to (awkwardly) third-person now and then. But these are minor quibbles. On the whole, this book is delightful. I daresay, I learned more about Jane Eyre and Shakespeare stuff in this book. I'll definitely be continuing this series.
Loved the author's voice. The whole book was quirky and I don't know what genre it is - fantasy? alternate reality? parody? The lead character was a little too stereotypical (upon thought) and while the book is primary in first POV, it does switch to (awkwardly) third-person now and then. But these are minor quibbles. On the whole, this book is delightful. I daresay, I learned more about Jane Eyre and Shakespeare stuff in this book. I'll definitely be continuing this series.
There is something to be said for reading books in a series in the correct order. I stumbled onto Jasper Fforde through an audio book that I checked out of the library. And I'm glad that I did. But this book is the first in the Thursday Next series and, unfortunately, I already knew much of the plot from reading/listening to later additions to the series. But having said that, I loved this book. You have to suspend all sense of reality to make this visit to 1985 England in an alternate reality. Wales is a republic, the Russian Revolution never happened, the Crimean War has been going on for 131 years, Richard III is performed every Friday night with all of the audience participation of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, and people are actively debating the authorship of "Shakespear's" plays. Thursday Next works for Special Operations in the Literary Detective section and her work is cut out for her. Not to give away much of the plot, but her aunt gets caught in one of Wordsworth's poems, original manuscripts of books are being stolen and altered, and the ending of Jane Eyre comes in for a bit of revision. This series of books will either grab you or leave you cold. I found the inside jokes from both literature and movies, as well as the word play, were wonderful. Give this one a try.
How have I not read this before?! This is exactly what I would describe as original, fast-paced, vivid, and miraculous. In a world that seems filled with recycled plot lines and endless sequels, Jasper Fforde’s The Eyre Affair jumped off the page and into the real world. This was such a fun novel to read. There are time travel and real come-to-life fictional characters. There’s a badass female character, Thursday Next, that has her own flaws but still comes out as just an awesome chick. It was exactly what I needed to read at the exact time I needed to read it.
And still, here I sit, completely unable to describe this book. It is such a twisty, weird, convoluted read that despite the fact that I was absorbed in it, I cannot truthfully give an accurate and thorough description of it. There was so much going on in the book that one could feel as if you were totally lost, and in spite of that, everything came together and felt cohesive in a disjointed way, if that’s possible. I read a quote from someone else that described The Eyre Affair as if Jane Eyre had a love child with The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and that child was delivered by Doctor Who, you would have The Eyre Affair. I honestly couldn’t say it any better.
The characters are spectacular. The imagery used is fresh and brilliant. The plot is just so originally amazing. I had to give it a full 5 out of 5 stars. And upon finishing it, I immediately texted several family members to get them to enjoy it as well!
And still, here I sit, completely unable to describe this book. It is such a twisty, weird, convoluted read that despite the fact that I was absorbed in it, I cannot truthfully give an accurate and thorough description of it. There was so much going on in the book that one could feel as if you were totally lost, and in spite of that, everything came together and felt cohesive in a disjointed way, if that’s possible. I read a quote from someone else that described The Eyre Affair as if Jane Eyre had a love child with The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and that child was delivered by Doctor Who, you would have The Eyre Affair. I honestly couldn’t say it any better.
The characters are spectacular. The imagery used is fresh and brilliant. The plot is just so originally amazing. I had to give it a full 5 out of 5 stars. And upon finishing it, I immediately texted several family members to get them to enjoy it as well!
This whole series, and the Nursery Crime series as well, is just too much fun for any book lover! Literary, wacky, zany, impossible to categorize, these books are clever and laugh-out-loud funny.
DNFed at about 40%. I didn’t dislike it, but I wasn’t grabbed by or invested in the stiry.
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4 1/2 stars - This is an extremely enjoyable, witty book full of literary and artistic references. Its written in a hard-boiled noir detective style, which makes the content very funny. Its not really a laugh-out-loud type of book, but is so clever and witty that every page is a real pleasure to read. This is a world where the surrealists painters are rioting against the Renaissance artists, fans of John Milton have their own convention, and attending a performance of Richard III is akin to the Rocky Horror Picture Show - complete with full audience participation. The characters are fun and quirky, and Thursday Next, the heroine, is a memorable character. I very much look forward to reading the next installment of this series. Highly Recommended!