The Fourth Bear (Nursery Crime, #2) in Pick-a-Shelf

Apr 01, 2018 KarenF rated it really liked it

Shelves: kindle, fantasy, humor

As with the Thursday Next series, I'm not sure these books are for everyone (humor is so subjective) but if they are for you, they're quite enjoyable. DCI Jack Spratt (yep, that one) is on the case again. This time involving Goldilocks, bears (of course), competitive cucumber growing, and the menacing criminal the Gingerbread Man (you can run as fast as you can, etc.). If that set up plus puns, wordplay and literary references on every page sound like your thing then go for it.

Personally, I love ...more

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Oct 04, 2011 BJ Rose rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy

Parts of this were barely 3*, but the last half was almost 4*, so a strong 3.5* from me. You definitely have to know your nursery rhyme characters to get the full benefit of this series, and there's a hilarious take on the tongue twister "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers". Goldilocks didn't do so well in this story, unfortunately, but Red Riding Hood and her grandma came out OK (pun intended!) ...more

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Feb 04, 2019 Joanna rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fairy-tales, audiobooks, 2018-read

Simon Vance is an excellent narrator. Even though I owned the hard copy of this book, I spent an audible credit to hear Vance read this one and I was not disappointed.

I enjoy the literary puns and the pure fun that Fforde has with these novels. It's humor along the lines of Douglas Adams or Terry Pratchett -- nursery characters, Persons of Dubious Reality, etc. Fforde doesn't get too caught up in the boundaries of his world or how exactly all these book characters co-exist with non-book characte ...more

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Jan 07, 2016 Marie (UK) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016-reading-challenge

Fforde has a mind that is both crazy and inventive. Jack Spratt is once again working to solve crime with very little help and quite a lot of hindrance from his superiors. Suspended, threatened with mental health proceedings he nevertheless pursues his case doggedly. So cleverly written

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Jul 10, 2008 Lindsay rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, z2007

Another great book from Jasper Fforde. I love the way he explores fairy tales and fiction and takes them in a completely new direction. The characters are also wonderful, I particularly liked Ashley.

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