Has anyone read this author?

Not I..sounds familiar though.

Not I..sounds familiar though.

http://www.amazon.com/Eyre-Affair-The/dp/B000OCXHC2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=digital-text&qid=1230309951&sr=1-1

Recommended by a friend who work in a book store and is a huge sci/fi fan.

Yes. They are quite amusing, but tend to get a little "repetitive" after a while. I'd recommend reading the first one in the series, "The Eyre Affair", and seeing what you think.

Has anyone read this author?

I've read the first three Thursday Next novels. They're quite fun, if perhaps a bit overly enthused with their own cleverness. There's at least 5 out, but #4 randomly isn't available as an e-book :(, so I haven't gotten to it yet.

Yes. They are quite amusing, but tend to get a little "repetitive" after a while. I'd recommend reading the first one in the series, "The Eyre Affair", and seeing what you think.

Thats what my friend said. I was going to download it anyway, but I had never heard of him and wanted to see what others thought.

Thanks!

I've read all of his stuff to date - I love the Thursday Next ones, but I'm not so keen on the Nursery Crimes ones. There is a bit of a link between both series, but it won't spoil anything if you read only one and not the other.

Yes, I have. hmm.. lemme see.. Not bad, the best part of it is the concept, not the writing. First two Thursday Next books are decent and enjoyable but I got tired of them after that. Naturally I'd already bought books 3-4 and I just got bored with it part way into 3. I suspect they may be someones cup of tea but I dunno, I just got bored. Jack Finney and Connie Willis (Bellweather, To Say Nothing of The Dog) touch on things like this and are better writers. Gotta run though and can't check and see if they're ebook'd. Hope so.

I've read the two Nursery Crimes books and enjoyed them, especially The Fourth Bear, which I kept picturing in my mind as a movie.

I discovered Fforde this year and definitely recommend them. He's best known for the Thursday Next and Nursery Crime series. They are very imaginative with lots of originality. Hints:
1. Read the series in order.
2. Don't nitpick details, inconsistencies, plot logic issues. These are 'face value' books to be enjoyed as they are!
3. It really helps to be British or know Brit, not only because of the numerous UK-only references and puns, but the humo(u)r is generally out of the Python/Hitchhikers Guide playbook. if you don't like those you probably won't get or like Ffordes books.
4. Personally my fave is the Big Over Easy, and the Nursery Crime books.. As I said above, the T. Next series can get tedious at times but still great fun.

They are currently on my 'To read' list... Hoping they live up to the hype I've heard...

-MJ

Is there a crib sheet of some sort that lists which works one should have familiarity with before reading each of the books? For example, I've never read Jane Eyre, so I'm guessing I would not particularly enjoy The Eyre Affair until after I've read the book on which it's based.

Is there a crib sheet of some sort that lists which works one should have familiarity with before reading each of the books? For example, I've never read Jane Eyre, so I'm guessing I would not particularly enjoy The Eyre Affair until after I've read the book on which it's based.


I'm not sure about this, but I was told specifically to start with that one. At any rate, he sounds like a good read.

Is there a crib sheet of some sort that lists which works one should have familiarity with before reading each of the books? For example, I've never read Jane Eyre, so I'm guessing I would not particularly enjoy The Eyre Affair until after I've read the book on which it's based.

IIRC, Jane Eyre is the only one which is really essential. Other works vague familiarity is sufficient, but without Jane Eyre much of The Eyre Affair won't make sense / will spoil Jane Eyre ;).

Is there a crib sheet of some sort that lists which works one should have familiarity with before reading each of the books? For example, I've never read Jane Eyre, so I'm guessing I would not particularly enjoy The Eyre Affair until after I've read the book on which it's based.

The Eyre Affair isn't based on Jane Eyre, although having some familiarity with the plot and the ending of it will help immensely - otherwise some parts just won't make as much sense. I've only read it the once, I think, and many years ago at that, so you certainly don't need to be on intimate terms with it.

You're more likely to come away from each boook with a list of works you want to read ;)

I've never found a crib sheet, although there may be something buried in the Jasper Fforde forums or website that lists them. But authors referenced include:
Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Shakespeare, Arthur Conan Doyle, Jasper Fforde, the Brontes, Enid Blyton, George Eliot, Lewis Carroll, Leo Tolstoy, W E Johns...

Plus half a tonne of puns, daft references and so on.

I did a little research of my own (skimming book reviews), and it looks like for The Eyre Affair, I should read both Jane Eyre and Martin Chuzzlewit. I already have Martin Chuzzlewit on my Sony Reader (acquired as one of my 100 freebies), and Jane Eyre is in my Calibre queue.

You do not need to have read the referenced (Eyre etc.)books. Fforde pretty much assumes the reader has not.
As a previous poster said, the great things about Ffordes books are the basic premises. The writing itself is so-so. I enjoyed myself taking the great basic ideas (like book travelling) and imagining how I could tweaked the books better to my liking.

Just rent the Jane Eyre movie with Orson Welles. :D
You won't need it to enjoy the book, though.

Actually knowing the ending of Jane Eyre confused me a little at first because everyone in the book was talking about how great Jane Eyre was except for the weak ending.

Okay, so I've just started reading "The Eyre Affair".

I may have found a new favorite author. I already love the style of writing, and characters.

And I'm only on page 4!

The Eyre Affair isn't based on Jane Eyre, although having some familiarity with the plot and the ending of it will help immensely - otherwise some parts just won't make as much sense. I've only read it the once, I think, and many years ago at that, so you certainly don't need to be on intimate terms with it.

You're more likely to come away from each boook with a list of works you want to read ;)

I've never found a crib sheet, although there may be something buried in the Jasper Fforde forums or website that lists them. But authors referenced include:
Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Shakespeare, Arthur Conan Doyle, Jasper Fforde, the Brontes, Enid Blyton, George Eliot, Lewis Carroll, Leo Tolstoy, W E Johns...

Plus half a tonne of puns, daft references and so on.

Well, I"m almost done with the book, and I must say, its a keeper. Thankfully, there is a quick synopsis of Jane Eyre towards the end. Told me everything I needed to know (for me)

You are so right, I just made a bee-line to our books here, and downloaded "Martin Chizzelwitt". This is huge for me, since (gasp!) I am most definitely not a fan of early English writers. 'sigh. And perhaps I may have to eventually try some others.....altho sad stories make me weep and run for my Xanex.

Hmmm. I'm not sure that "Martin Chuzzlewit" is the ideal introduction to Dickens, if you've not read him before. Personally I'd go for "Oliver Twist" or "Great Expectations". They are both a lot "lighter" and a lot shorter.

I think it is the connection 'Martin Chuzzlewit' has to 'The Eyre Affair' that has piqued desertgrandma's interest.
I don't think it's a bad introduction to Dickens, and the U.S. episodes may make it paricularly interesting to readers that side of the pond.

Hmmm. I'm not sure that "Martin Chuzzlewit" is the ideal introduction to Dickens, if you've not read him before. Personally I'd go for "Oliver Twist" or "Great Expectations". They are both a lot "lighter" and a lot shorter.

Oh my gosh. I read "Great Expectations" and "Oliver Twist" a hundred years ago.

Are you saying that a story about a poor crippled kid who falls in love with a gold digging waitress who makes fun of him and breaks his heart is lighter than "Martin Chuzzelwitt"?

and "Oliver Twist"? I remember nothing 'light' about that one.

Perhaps I'm just not meant to read the great novels. I"ll try "Chuzzelwitt" and take it from there.

Thanks, Sparrow, thats exactly what made me want to read it in the first place!

Oh my gosh. I read "Great Expectations" and "Oliver Twist" a hundred years ago.

See...you are too old to carry so much karma.

BOb

See...you are too old to carry so much karma.

BOb

still beatin' the carp outta you, you dang young whippersnapper! :rofl:

still beatin' the carp outta you, you dang young whippersnapper! :rofl:

Sigh. I have to give you karma for that. Too funny.

BOb

Fforde deliberately picked Chuzzlewit for good reason as one of the least popular Dickens works - Hades appraisal was not far wrong IMO!
If you want to tackle Dickens, my personal pick for an intro. would be Tale of Two Cities.

Fforde deliberately picked Chuzzlewit for good reason as one of the least popular Dickens works - Hades appraisal was not far wrong IMO!
If you want to tackle Dickens, my personal pick for an intro. would be Tale of Two Cities.

Thanks ........I was wondering at his choice....

Fforde deliberately picked Chuzzlewit for good reason as one of the least popular Dickens works - Hades appraisal was not far wrong IMO!
If you want to tackle Dickens, my personal pick for an intro. would be Tale of Two Cities.

Thanks ........I was wondering at his choice....and will never look at the word "bookworm" the same again.........:p

I've read and enjoyed the Thursday Next series a lot.
I hadn't read Jane Eyre but I could understand and enjoy the story without any problem.
But it sure helps to have at least a bit of knowledge in english lit classics.

My wife and I have recommended and offered these books many times to friends and family, and each time it was a success.

As a side note, you can find another conversation on Japser Fforde here :
http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13273

Thanks ........I was wondering at his choice....and will never look at the word "bookworm" the same again.........:p

The "American parts" of Martin Chuzzlewit are widely regarded as Dickens "worst" work. He was very "anti-American" at the time he wrote it, due to the fact that there was no international copyright protection at the time, and American publishers were making a fortune out of his work, and he wasn't receiving a penny for it. His hostility towards America is very clear in "Chuzzlewit", in which he makes the country out to be little more than a nation of "confidence tricksters".

His hostility towards America is very clear in "Chuzzlewit", in which he makes the country out to be little more than a nation of "confidence tricksters".

To be fair, even as of the 2000 census 60% of Americans reported that they earned at least 20% of their income from "thievery, gambling, or confidence trickery." True fact.

To be fair, even as of the 2000 census 60% of Americans reported that they earned at least 20% of their income from "thievery, gambling, or confidence trickery." True fact.

Isn't like 20% of the US population incarcerated too?

BOb

Isn't like 20% of the US population incarcerated too?

Look, no need to ruin my joke with depressing real statistics :p.

I haven't read Jane Eyre either (or did I, when I was reaalllll young?) -- so maybe the synopsis on wikipedia will be helpful before I look at Fforde's book:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Eyre


a strange laugh in the halls, a near fatal fire from which she has to save the master of the house, ..... a violent madwoman whom he keeps imprisoned in the attic,

Oh yeah. I read that and had nightmares for eons. One reading was quite enough.

I just read The Eyre Affair and I have to say I really liked it :)
I read the second book of miss Next's adventures now

I didn't know Fforde before to read this thread so thanks for this topic !

I just read The Eyre Affair and I have to say I really liked it :)
I read the second book of miss Next's adventures now

I didn't know Fforde before to read this thread so thanks for this topic !

Great! I also really liked the book. Enjoy the rest......:)

A new series by Jasper Fforde, set in a world where the color you can see determines your social rank : Shades of grey.

Here is an interview of the author on Goodreads :
http://www.goodreads.com/interviews/show/434.Jasper_Fforde?utm_medium=email&utm_source=Jan_newsletter

I wonder if he knows that people with achromatopsia have other profound visual problems as well, usually nystagmus, amblyopia, and photophobia.
I know, I know, it's supposed to be a metaphor, but I think it's funny that authors like to give their characters impairments without considering the full implications and consequences of those impairments.

I've enjoyed nearly all of the Jasper Fforde books I've read (The Well of Lost Plots was a bit of let down) and I've seen him give a talk a couple of times and he is a hugely entertaining man to listen to as well :)

My favourite was The Fourth Bear and I like the sound of the new book too.

starryUK in the Socialist Republic of Wales (in-joke)

I read Jasper Fforde's Shades of Grey and loved it. It was weird and quirky and really draws the reader in. I can't wait for the sequel to come out!

I wonder if he knows that people with achromatopsia have other profound visual problems as well, usually nystagmus, amblyopia, and photophobia.
I know, I know, it's supposed to be a metaphor, but I think it's funny that authors like to give their characters impairments without considering the full implications and consequences of those impairments.
He also has characters who communicate through footnotes and travel through time.

I've recently finished "Shades of Grey". Now waiting for the next Fforde novel - hopefully it won't be as long time in production as this one. I wish he could write faster :p