In The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde, Thursday Next is an agent for SO-27, working in the Literatec division in alternative 1985. Her job is to stop literary thieves from taking original manuscripts. This is a very important job, for people in Thursday’s world are able step in and out of books: if one were to mess with the original manuscript, every copy of the book would be changed forever.

I loved the “Dragnet” tone of the narration, and the outrageous abilities of people in the book (such as going back and forth in time or accidentally falling in a hole in time) make the solving of a crime hilarious. The characters’ names alone are funny (from Jack Schitt, a bad guy, to Paige Turner and Thursday Next). Besides the humorous and fantastic elements, though, I loved the import of literature to the people in Thursday’s world. If only Shakespeare’s plays were the entertainment of choice in our world!

There were lots of literary jokes, and I was glad I’d read Jane Eyre, which was one of the main books central to the plot. I also liked all the jokes about the true author of Shakespeare’s plays.

I really did enjoy this book, and as I try to write about it now, I really don’t have much more to say about it! It was not deep literature in any degree, but it is certainly for those who appreciate reading those classics. There were some slow parts, and I was eager for it to get to the Jane Eyre portion I knew was coming, but overall, it was a fun journey. I want to read the other books in the series, just because it was so random, light-hearted, and amusing for a book-lover like me. The next time I’m in the mood for a frivolous read, this series might be it.

I will say this: the front cover of The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde says that it has elements of Monty Python, Harry Potter, Stephen Hawking, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The back cover compares Thursday to Bridget Jones, Nancy Drew, and Dirty Harry. If I’d read those comments first, I would have been scared away. That weird amalgamation of characters and subjects does not sound like my type of book. But because I’d read reviews from other bloggers saying how fun this book was, I gave it a chance, and I’m glad I did because it was fun. Book bloggers unite!

What book would you love to visit?

I’m still debating that one. I would have said Pride and Prejudice, but the movie Lost in Austen scared me off from that (no toothpaste).

Other Reviews:

I only posted a few reviews above, but I know there are many more. If you have reviewed The Eyre Affair on your blog, leave a link in the comments and I’ll add it here.

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