Hi all! It's that time again to review the Bloggy Book Club read of the month.My choice was The Eyre Affair which I first read almost 10 years ago and reading the book again this month, I wasn't surprised by how much I still enjoyed reading about the characters and their odd predicaments. I love all of Mycroft's mad inventions and the way Thursday's time-travelling dad keeps dropping in (regardless of whether it's a good time or not) Then there's the deliberately silly but clever names - Jack Shitt and the Goliath Corporation spring to mind of course but there's also Acheron Hades (a reference to Hades, the Greek God of the underworld - the name means 'unseen' which fits perfectly with Acheron's character - actually, come to think of it I think 'Acheron' itself is also a reference to the underworld!) There are infact so many references and so much 'intelligent silliness' in this book, I could literally be here all day listing and commenting on it all! Also, I have to say that reading the book for the second time, there were scenes I had totally forgotten, like the bit with Spike and the vampire and the scene with the Earthcrossers meeting - always great when you get to experience something again as if for the first time!;)
I suppose overall what I love about the book is that really anything can happen - Thursday Next lives in a world like ours, except it's a whole lot more insane! When I first read this book, I thought it was a genius ides for Jasper Fforde to create a world where the characters in books were literally alive: '"an inexplicable cross-fertilisation between works of fiction and reality." It's got that whole Narnia secret-door-in-the-back-of-the-wardrobe feel to it. The book is just so many things rolled into one and it definitely gets a 5/5 from me, but what did you all think?
Feedback I got during the month told me you guys found the book confusing at the start: it does take a while to get accustomed to the writing style but I do hope most of you gave it a chance and stuck with it! I did say in my previous post that probably not all of you would like it, so it'll be great to hear all your thoughts on why you did or didn't enjoy the book...
A quite note for those of you who enjoyed reading this book, you may like to know that this is only the beginning for Thursday Next and there are five other books in the series with a sixth to be published very soon. Also check out Jasper Fforde's website for more of the same farcical madness experienced in the book.
You can join in the book club chatter at any time: just get a hold of the book of the month and get reading! The book club is moderated on twitter by @icklebabe_com #bloggybookclub – each month it’s a new book hosted by one of the club members – we all review at the end of the month.
Hi!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely loved the book although did it find it very confusing at first. I want to be Thursday Next!
I'm going to be reading the other books in the series too.
Great choice of a read, thank you!
Hi Sarah :) Thanks for commenting! Really glad you enjoyed the book and I'm sure you'll love the rest of the series - there's so much yet to come! I can't wait for the new book :D
ReplyDeleteOK, well i absolutely loved the opening few chapters. I found it easy to read, quirky, fun. I liked the idea of significant historical events having been turned upside down, and the matter of fact way they were relayed. you had to look really closely to catch them.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't pretentiously written, didn't try too hard. It was enjoyable, entertaining, and i read it easily.
However that is where it ends for me i'm afraid. I didn't finish reading it thinking "oh my god that was such a good book". i wouldn't remember it in a year's time. probably wouldn't be on my list of recommended reads if i was asked.
Good read. But not a great read. It didn't have any of that extra something special.
Sorry for being a scrooge. It turns out i'm really rather hard to please.
But i'm loving the bookclub and being introduced to such varied books.
M2M
Well, what can I say, I loved this book. It was a pleasure to read and fun. Had a few twists and turns, the the whole base concept is brilliant. Great to read a book that draws you in and makes you turn the pages. I agree with hpretty that it didn't have a WOW factor, but did not stop me loving it and buying the next one. I have a new author to read when I want a lighthearted, but enthralling read.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant suggestion. Thanks!
** hangs head in shame** not managed to finish it yet as I seem to have been ill with coughs and colds all month, but am half way through and have really enjoyed it so far and will definitely finish it.
ReplyDeleteMaria x
hpretty: Ah shame, thought we would have won you over this month, what with you enjoying the start of the book and everything:) Glad you found it entertaining though - that's the whole point of the book I think: for it to be a fun experience without ever getting heavy in its subject matter!
ReplyDeleteZoe C: Great to hear you enjoyed the book enough to want to read the others in the series - I'm going to try and read the others again before the new one is published! I'm quite the fan!:)
Maria: @icklebabe_com has given everyone an extra week to finish reading so don't worry! Look forward to hearing your comments whenever you finish!:D
I was thoroughly charmed with this book. Thursday made for a great female lead, tough and vulnerable, and not too cool to be inaccessible but certainly not a damsel in distress. Her character seemed to me like the tomboy who has actually grown up to live her dream of playing alongside the boys.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the alternate universe of this novel. The worship of literature, tourism within famous novels, altered history, and the such. OMG I want a pet Dodo!
Acheron was a lovely dastardly villain. I have to say I giggled initially at "Jack Schitt" but the schtick kinda got a little old with his name. Still funny though and I love when appropriate villains are appropriate.
My only problems with the novel, and this will not stop me from reading the rest of the series, is that there did feel something light about it. The alternate universe as fabulous as it was kinda put me in the mind of Dr. Who and I kept finding myself waiting for a Who who didn't arrive. (NOT a huge problem though, because by the end of the book Thursday did capture my love enough that I stopped looking for The Doctor) I think I need to re-read it to love her from the start.
I wasn't confused at all by the book. The beginning moved very fast for me and I enjoyed all the little gimmicks throughout the story, the book worms and such. I am fiercely jealous of the ability to travel into the pages of a book, oh man I'd love to do that.
I was disappointed, however, with the title situation. I really would have loved if more Rochester and Jane were involved. Jane Eyre is one of my favorite novels so I got really excited with the dangling treat of having the ability to travel in the books. I wish they'd have dove into it earlier and done some more stuff within Thornfield.
All in all a very fun read. I'm definately interested in the rest of the series, and to be honest I'd really love to see this made into a movie. There's a lot of fun potential there I think.
Cee Martinez: Yay, you seemed to have captured it all in your review - it IS a light-hearted treat of a book with lots going on and I'm glad you enjoyed it. Don't worry, you will be seeing more of Rochester in the series! Some of the other books are perhaps more 'fun' than the first so you'll definitely enjoy the ride I think!
ReplyDeleteThanks to everyone who's reviewed so far... :)
Unfortunatley I only managed to read this one in short bursts and so did find it quite hard going at times. Having said that it was still enjoyable and will definitely keep and eye out for the others in the series.
ReplyDeleteSome of the names were amusing and very apt and discovered a hitherto unknown passion for dodos, actually found myself thinking about where I'd keep one! Also loved the idea of being able to literally hop in and out of a favourite book.
Thanks Sophie x
Oh, I agree with Claire, as I forgot to say in my hasty comment, how much I loved the names. Not only for the amusement, but how they tended to sum up the individual involved, Braxton Hicks was a real favourite as the man was a bit fake!
ReplyDeleteClaire: I SO want to be able to hop into books - can you imagine? Meeting all your favourite characters and chatting with them, hehe! Glad you enjoyed reading the book!:)
ReplyDeleteZoe C: I too loved the fact that names have a significance - not really seen this in any books since I read Catch-22 (which is another funny but chaotic book, though overall very different in feel from this one!)
Where to start... I hate sci-fi & anything where I have to suspend belief, I'm easily put off by covers of books that look a bit comic like & when I saw the upcoming list of books I thought The Eyre Affair would be a month I wouldn't bother with the book.
ReplyDeleteHowever, after reading the lovely introduction by Soriko & the book finding it's way onto an Amazon order I placed I gave it a shot.
I romped through about 9 chapters in the first sitting. I thought it was a very tongue in cheek 'who dunnit' on a par with Midsomer Murders due to the high body count. I did laugh out loud at the funny play on words of some of the characters names. Jack Schitt & Paige Turner.
The idea of being able to step into literary classics is genius. Japanese tourists, clicking cameras around Thornfield Hall or Mansfield Park would be a great opportunity.
Behind all the frivolity was a well thought out plot, with lots of of twists & quirks, a great heroine and lots of strangeness along the way. I liked the time travel elements & the descriptions of the Dodo's which came in different versions.
There was some quite dark elements, particularly the hierarchy of the secret services organisation, but I wonder how alike this is to the ‘Spooks’ MI5 world.
I’ve found myself recommending this book many times since finishing it & it is only when you start to describe it to someone that you realise how mad it sounds. The reality of the read is that is quite magic. I found it drew me in & I really needed to know that Jane Eyre was left as we now know it!
I have also got the second Thursday Next book so it obviously left me wanting more. Thanks for a great recommendation Sophie.
Hi Cara, it sounds like you really enjoyed the book so I'm really glad I recommended it... I know it wasn't everyone's cup of tea really but I do love the book!
ReplyDeleteYou've got to let me know what you think of the next book... you'll probably find yourself whizzing through the whole series very soon!;)
Oh my gawd! I feel like i have come to the party way to late..so sorry folks!But what fab reviews!
ReplyDeleteI loved this book so much that with the final page I wanted to read the next one immediately!
I am so glad this choice was such a popular one. I too was a tad worried by the concept as a book club read at the start, but am over joyed that it has become our most popular read yet!
Well done Sophie for such a genius choice, and well done all for being open minded enough to give it a shot :D x
Thanks icklebabe_com - I'm glad too that everyone enjoyed the book. I did say it's not a serious read and it's not going to get you thinking (or over-thinking really) but it's a seriously fun ride isn't it?:) YAY!
ReplyDelete