I have to admit that I spent most of the weekend in a completely different reality. In The Eyre Affair, Jasper Fforde created that alternative reality and populated it with fun characters with such wonderfully silly names as Thursday Next, Braxton Hicks, Jack Schitt. And then he created an entertaining world of literary suspense and action for these fun characters. Fforde is incredibly clever and well-read, with a wicked sense of humor. So, if you need a break and can suspend your own reality for a short while (it’s a fast read), and are willing to give yourself over to the wild imagination and humor of Jasper Fforde, then the world of Literary Detective, Thursday Next, will entertain you for an entire weekend, too!
Be sure to check out Jasper Fforde’s equally fun and silly website, and especially note his schedule of appearances. He’ll be in the Seattle area in August, so I might have to take my copy of The Eyre Affair and stand in line to have him autograph it. It would be fun to see him up close in person…because I’m sure he’s got a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
A Fondness For Reading 
Thanks for the link to Fforde’s website–it is a lot of fun! I’m sure he will have a twinkle in his eye…
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Fford is very Ffun. Sorry, couldn’t resist.
I hadn’t read Jane Eyre before reading the Eyre Affair, so I had to go to my wife as soon as I was done to ask her how the actual book really ends. It was a very fun read and I’ve enjoyed the rest of the books in this series as well. Haven’t read his other series, but have it on my list of books to read.
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His books are so much fun! Have you read Great Expectations? Miss Havisham becomes a recurring character. I’m looking forward to the new one coming out this July.
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He has a new book coming out in this series in July, actually. I have only read the first two books, but I own all of his books (he also has a Nursery Crimes series, but don’t start it until you read book 3 because it is loosely based on that book). It’s a great read, and he brings in all the fun other books to make it even better.
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Gentle Reader, his website is a kick. Did you go through the photos of Swindon?
Carl, it does help to be really familiar with the books he’s using for his fun. I’ve always listed Jane Eyre as my favorite book, so I got all those jokes. But I’ve never read Martin Chusselwit, so I knew I was missing out on some of his humor around that book.
Tanabata, I read Great Expectations so many years ago I can’t remember! Definitely is time to reread it. I toyed with the idea of making a list of all the books Fforde referred to in The Eyre Affair, but I didn’t want to stop and write them down as I didn’t want to interrupt the fun.
Kailana, it sounds like I have a lot of fun reading ahead of me!
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Robin, I just finished and reviewed book 4, Something Rotten, on Apr 10. Fforde is Ffabulous, isn’t he. Love his website. Right now I’m reading the first in Nursery Crime series. It’s early, so not comments about it yet.
I’m having lots of fun reading your reviews.
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Fforde is ffantastic! I’ve read all his books and can’t wait for the next Thursday book (no pun intended) which I think will be out later this year or next year. yay!
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Booklogged, I just read your review of Something Rotten, and had to add it to my TBR list. It sounds as good, if not better, than The Eyre Affair.
Stefanie, maybe I should read them slowly and savor them until the next one comes out! Then I won’t have to wait so long.
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I SO have to start reading these books!! Somehow, I’ve never found the time! And thanks for the link to his website. What a fun place to visit!
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Stephanie, I think they’d make great summer/travel reads.
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I saw Jasper Fforde at Powell’s (I believe last year) and he is one of those authors one really enjoys hearing read. (I once saw Chaiam Potok and wasn’t very impressed though I love his books.) If you get a chance do see Fforde, perhaps his amily will be with him this time too.***CV
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I was hoping a book signing in Seattle would be enough to get my husband back to the Northwest, but Seattle and Portland are both after his vacation time. And of course, we would come become of Fforde, but I’ll use any excuse I can find!
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Chittavrtti, I’m sure you’re right–his books are fun so I would assume that he’d have a lot of fun reading them. It would be great to hear him.
Booklogged, there are lots of excuses you could use because there’s always something really interesting going on in the Seattle area, that’s for sure. Before we moved here, it was one of our favorite vacation destinations!
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