First Among Sequels (Thursday Next, #5)

by Jasper Fforde

“We could send Friday off to the Swindon Home for Dreary Teenagers,” added Landen.

I wish that was a real thing.

Although he suspected what we got up to, he told me he would feign ignorance unless “someone gets eaten or something.”

Fair enough.

“Mrs. Danvers?” repeated Thursday5, studying a pullout guide to reading tea leaves. “I’ve got one or two in my books, but I think they’re meant to be there.”

Layers!

“Teeth one end, tail the other, claws at all four corners. Are you ready?”

Good description. I wonder whether it's original to this book.

although I have my doubts about Mary being acceptable to anyone.

I mean, seriously.

The reason wasn’t altogether clear until it suddenly struck me: Scintilla hadn’t known that Friday was going to ask a question.

Cool!

SHE is the one that must be obeyed,

A bit of Rumpole! I love the random allusions these books are full of.

“I haven’t been in the BookWorld since the days of The Eyre Affair.” John Henry coughed politely. “You knew about the probes, Ms. Next.”

Well, THAT was a dumb lie.

“This is all really fascinating technological stuff,” observed Thursday1–4 drily, “but I’m waiting to see how it relates to pianos.” “It doesn’t, O sarcastic one. It’s called education.” “Pointless exposition, if you ask me.” “She’s not asking you,” retorted Thursday5. “Exactly,” I replied, “and some people enjoy the techie stuff. Follow me.”

Fforde pre-empts his critics!

she dropped an upright Broadwood straight into Miss Bates’s drawing room inside Austen’s Emma.”

I like how he sometimes makes novels different from the ones we know, and sometimes makes them become the novels we know. That piano, of course, is an important plot point in Emma.

Stories are good. Stories work. Story clarifies and captures the essence of the human spirit.

Hey, there's Wall Street again.

graham crackers.” “Yeah, I hate them, too.

Hey, what's wrong with graham crackers?

“My dear girl, the noise—and you couldn’t get a decent drink anywhere.”

I remember a similar quotation from Ernest Thesiger.

“No, no, Mum—there is no band.”

No hay banda! I mean, this is probably not a Mulholland Drive reference, but still...

friends.”

"Colleagues," I think you mean.

For centuries now, the classics have been dreary, overlong and incomprehensible to anyone without a university education.

That's not true! Well, true of some of the classics, I suppose, but anyone can read Pride & Prejudice! And should, too.

subtleness

Is this a word? How does it differ from "subtlety"?

“I’ll dress as a bee!” cried Lydia excitedly, jumping up and down. “Me, too!” added Kitty. “I will be the finest bee in Meryton!” “You shall not, for I shall!” returned Lydia, and they joined hands and danced around the room.

Yup. Fforde has definitely read Pride and Prejudice.

“Listen,” I said, rubbing my scalp, “that’s your problem. Since when were you part of the decision-making process?”

It's obvious by this point that the switch is in, but where did it happen? Are we to understand that Thursday's rage (the last time it was definitely her) made her weaker?

Professor John Sutherland for his Puzzles in Fiction series of books, which continue to fascinate and inspire.

Must remember to look these up.