For the longest time I had the impression, based both on what little I'd heard about them and the back of the book jacket I skimmed in a bookstore one day, that Jasper Fforde's "Thursday Next" books were something akin to the old Warner brothers cartoons where books were lying around in a library and characters jumped in and out. I also had thought they were children's books - which does reduce any appeal for me, just saying. I envisioned a detective hired by fictional characters to solve crimes. Cute, but not necessarily for me.
Finally started reading the first one and I think I'm in love.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Good. Posted by Leonide (Member # 4157) on :
*applauds* Another convert!
Posted by Zalmoxis (Member # 2327) on :
That reminds me -- I have yet to read First Among Sequels.
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
Oh, I'm definitely a fan.
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
OK, I just liked it a lot until I got to the audience-participation Richard III. I'm definitely in love.
Posted by Sharpie (Member # 482) on :
I just discovered these, too. My sister set me on them a few years ago, but I put them to the back of the queue, in somewhat the way you did, Chris. "Sounds cute..."
But I really am a fan now!
Posted by Troubadour (Member # 83) on :
Totally love the Jasper Fforde books - tho they're impossible to read to someone else: too many plays on words that can only be read!
Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
I like the books a lot. I think the literary silliness is actually the weakest part of the books; Fforde's social and political satire is much more appealing to me. Fortunately, the literary silliness of the Book World usually isn't the total focus of the books (except for the third book).
After you've read the first 4 Thursday books, try out the Nursery Crimes books. "The Fourth Bear" is probably my fave Fforde book right now.
Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :
I love these books, everything about them. I love the bits on the title pages, the footnotes, the adverts in the back. I love the Neanderthals, the dodos, Goliath, everything.
The third book is kind of the weakest, though. And I can't wait for the next one!
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
In "Well of Lost Plots" there is a brilliant bit on "that that". Utter genius!
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