The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
Rating: 
(8/10)
This is Fforde’s (yeah, two “F”s) first published novel and the first one I’ve read of his, and I think I’m hooked. It’s a novel that has characters named Thursday Next and Jack Schitt; where fictional characters become real and the real can step into fictional stories; where there exists Special Police Forces for Literary Detectives, Neighbourly Disputes, Temporal Stability, and other troublesome matters. It’s a silly, literary story written with a Douglas Adams twist: science-fiction, fantasy, thriller, and humour that only hose mad about books may appreciate.
The plot involves Thursday Next, a LiteraTec, investigating the disappearance of the original Martin Chuzzlewit manuscript, which leads to the theft of the original Jane Eyre manuscript. The story has elements of murder, espionage, war, romance, vampires and werewolves, time travel, and off-the-cuff humour, such as:
“Because Poe wrote on both?”
Hahahaha! Then there’s some dialogue like:
“No, it’s always been right here on the front of my head.”
Well, all of it isn’t that corny, and although I didn’t laugh out loud, it did cause some grins; it is fun to read.
Highly recommended for those with a literary background, who appreciate off-the-wall humour, and who don’t take reality seriously.
(Rebecca: you introduced me to Christopher Moore. I think I can finally return the favour, if you haven’t read Fforde yet.)
I just remembered how I found out about this book: from Christopher Moore’s website, where he recommended it:
When I used to be in the SCA (which stands for “swords ‘n crap associated-with-nerds”) they used to talk about some book where the SCA ruled the earth because of a nuclear fallout and nobody was able to cast bullets anymore, so the sword fighters ruled the earth. Then they’d go on to talk about how vampires and warewolves were taking over and stuff.
You’re a bastard cause that book sounds interesting, but you know I don’t have time for readings between video gaming and watching tv! Not enough time in a day!!
I read that one a few months ago – sorry! However, you have let me know about other authors that I persued. And, naturally, I can’t remember his name to save me soul :)