Jasper Fforde's Books: Thursday Next + Other Books discussion
Thursday Next series
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Thursday Next
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Doug
(last edited Aug 25, 2016 01:30PM)
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Nov 02, 2007 09:33AM
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I just finished THE FOURTH BEAR and will be reading FIRST AMONG SEQUELS shortly. I love Fforde for all of his literary references and his ability to take familiar characters and create wacky and entertaining worlds. He is a writer that delights book-nerds like me. I find his books not only fun reads but good for reminding me of the literary greats I studied as an English major.
The cheers for Fforde!
Just finished LOST IN A GOOD BOOK, and can't wait to get stuck into THE WELL OF LOST PLOTS!At first, when a friend's mum recommended THE EYRE AFFAIR to me I wasn't entirely sure that I would get on with it as some of the classics (including JANE EYRE) have yet to be read by me, so I passed it onto my mum, who read the first two books and told me that it didn't really matter. And now I've been thoroughly drawn in! I love the other-worldlyness and the use of grammar and footnotes as plot devices!
These are exactly the type of books I love (ones that really wouldn't translate well onto film) and I'm happy to be a part of this little group!
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have you read the other "Thursday Next" books in the series? I found it was helpful to have read the them first, although the order didn't seem to matter. "First Among Sequels" does rely somewhat on our having read the first books in the series. I hope you enjoyed it! :)doug
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Thank you for joining us - please feel free to invite other people to join the group. The world of Thursday Next has really caught my fancy. I sure hope Japer Fforde keeps adding to this series. :)Doug
I disagree - I think it's important to read the books in the order they were published, otherwise some things won't make sense and other things will be spoiled.My favorite is The Well of Lost Plots. I was a little disappointed with First Among Sequels. But Jasper's said he's open to the idea of writing something to fill in those 14 lost years, and the reason he jumped so far ahead in time was so he could have a grunty teenager save the world by doing nothing.
Doug - just wondering if you're also planning on discussing the Nursery Rhyme Crimes (Big Over Easy, etc.)? I haven't started the Eyre Affair yet because I want to actually read Jane Eyre first (so I can get all the in jokes). Anyway, thanks for starting the group! I've enjoyed Fforde so far. Really fun to try and get all the other book references.
Doug - great group! Meghan, I haven't read "Jane Eyre" yet, but have read all of the Thursday Next stories twice, (except for "First") so I don't think you should wait to jump right in. I will admit that it took me a couple of tries to get past the beginning of "The Eyre Affair" but once that I did, I was completely taken by the clever nature of these books.
"Lost in a Good Book" is my favorite, from the title to the plot to the picture in my mind of Miss Havisham driving like a crazy woman to beat the Queen of Hearts to the Daphne Farquitt limited box set at the book sale.
I want to join Jurisfiction! I want to bookjump! I want a new Thursday book every Friday!
Ok...going to go calm down a bit...maybe play some croquet.
Did anyone else here participate in the Jasper Fforde-led discussion of First Among Sequels over on barnesandnoble.com?
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I sure hope he does fill in the 14 years. I liked the "First Among Sequels", but was diappointed by that 14 year gap.
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I included the Nursery Rhyme Crimes books - so sure lets discuss them. I will create a seperate topic for them. By the way, anyone can create a new topic, add books (I think, if not I will be glad to add any books people want). :)Doug
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I also loved the part where Miss Havisham drives like crazy - it was such fun to read! Miss Havisham is a fun character, quite contrary to what I would have expected from the original. :)doug
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I missed that, but I had participated in a B&N Jasper Fforde discussion of one of his previous books. I forget which, but it was my introduction to his body of work. :)Doug
Miss Havisham is excellent! I love it when we first meet her, and she changes into her trainers, and has a walkman and "one of those bats with a ball attached on elastic." Genius!I think my favourite character so far (only after two books - watch for spoilers, please - a 14 year gap? Aghh!!) has to be Thursday's father. He's brilliant, just taking everything in his stride.
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There really aren't many characters to dislike as characters (as people sure, there are villians). I agree on Thursday's father - I hope he gets a larger role going forward. I especially like the interaction between Thursday, her mother and father. :)Doug
I’m so glad to see a group of Fforde devotees and I agree whole heartedly that Miss Havisham is a truly dynamic character…talk about projecting your characters outside the box; Fforde is brilliant. I have to admit though my favorite reoccurring character has to be Thursday’s dodo…I can't help but to smile every time the story takes a tangent into the realm of completely absurd with the antics of that poor dumb animal. Kudos to Doug for acknowledging this wonderful author.
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Thank you for joining!
I am glad that the group is finally getting together. I had created it about a month before anyone joined - so I was just about to cancel the group, when people started coming to the group. I am glad I procrastinated in canceling the group.
Thursday's Dodo is Wonderful - but I wonder how dumb the Dodo really is - I think Fforde is playing a fast one on us - the Dodo is really bright, but we are meant to think she is dumb. We will see in future novels...:Doug
Ooh, I don't know about that! There's been situations already when Thursday needed help, but Pickwick decided to (finally) stand on one leg instead of helping!I think if you're going to use an animal's stupidity to comic effect it's pretty hard to then backtrack and have the creature as justifiably smart.
Saying that, however, this is Jasper Fforde, so there's nothing to say Pickwick won't get a brain transplant or be swapped with a smarter dodo from another reality...
Thank you for the "welcome" DougI tend to agree Purple the only wat Pickwick will ever come to comprehend E=Mc2 or that she actually has a left leg would be if she was to get a brain transplant...Hmmm what an interesting idea maybe Fforde would give her Hemingway's brain and she still won't know she has a left leg but she'll explain it with exquisite angst.
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I love the idea of giving Pickwick the brain transplant with the brain of a famous author. Doug
I can't help myself Doug I have to ask...who's brain would you love to see in Pickwick?
To my mind it would have to be either Agatha Christie or P.G. Wodehouse. I really can't decide which!
Sorry ... been absent for a bit. Yes, I have read all of the books in the series, in the order they were written. I think it's important to do it this way -- it's how the author wrote them and intended to be read. Plus, there are references to characters and escapades that you need to know about (or you won't get the jokes).
I am ashamed to say that as an English major I have never read JANE EYRE ... but find it made little difference in understanding Fforde's writing. Plus, I know enough ABOUT Jane Eyre to get the plot.
If Pickwick were to have a brain transplant ... hmmm ... I agree with Purple that P.G. Wodehouse would be a good fit!
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Great question - P.G. Wodehouse would be great fun. Dickins could be fascinating. Of course whoever it is they would have to be British - or else I might choose Mark Twain. :)Doug
I've been looking for a Jasper Fforde group since I first signed up on goodreads... I'm so glad I finally found y'all. The Thursday Next series is my favorite book series ever. I have all 5 books. I read the first four backwards, starting with Something Rotten and ending with The Eyre Affair. This year I plan to read all 5 books again, and in order this time.
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I am glad you found us! I read them out of order as well. I had not heard of Jasper Fforde until he had a novel on Barnes and Nobles book clubs web site. Fforde actually participated in the discussion of the novel, which was alot of fun. After that I started with the first book and moved forward. :)Doug
Okay Doug I have to say I really do love the idea of Mark Twain thrown into the mix but P.G. Wodehouse would be wonderful...but we'd have to start calling her Jeeves, huh that might work.
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I really enjoyed what you wrote. I appreciate being reminded about "Evade the Question", especially in this Political season.
As I stated in a message above, I certainly agree that there is a certain similarity in the satire of Adams and Fforde...must be that British sense of humor.
I hadn't made the connection between Thursday Next and Stephanie Plum - since, I am a fan of both, thank you for making that connection for me. It gives me a whole new appreciation of both characters. :)Doug
Thanks for inviting me to this group Doug.I just finished The Eyre Affair and loved it. Now I'm really eager to read the rest of the Thursday Next series. I might have to wait a bit as I have so many other books to read, including those for 2 book clubs.
For me, it's really important to read the books in order - I've always felt that way about all books that are part of a series. I'm kind of fanatical about that.
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Thank you for joining the group! It will be great to have your insights! :)doug
I just started the second book, Lost in a Good Book, and am enjoying it as much as The Eyre Affair so far. Jasper Fforde is brilliant and the books are so much fun to read. I'm eager to get to some of the "favorites" in the series mentioned in the other posts in this thread.If you haven't already shared the info, and you've read the series, or at least have read farther along than me, I was wondering which books were the favorites of others here? Thanks!
EDIT: Ugh. Just got to a part in the book: Are Mycroft and Polly really not going to be characters in the books anymore?!? :-(
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I liked them all and really don't have a favorite. I actually started with "Something Rotten" since it was a Barnes and Noble author led discussion in their book club.
On the EDIT - do you really want the answer to that or would you rather wait? :)Doug
Lisa, my favorite is The Well of Lost Plots.
Doug, Thanks for asking re the Edit; I guess I'd rather wait. But participating in this group with others who have read the whole series, I've already accepted that I might see "spoilers."
And I'd go nuts reading them out of order! ;-)
Sarah, Yay! The Well of Lost Plots is the third and therefore the next one I'll read after I've finished this one (AND several other non-related books.)
I found this series because of Goodreads; I'm not sure I would have without this site & the members on it.
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O.K. I admit that "Thw Well of Lost Plots" is my favorite as well. I have tried to hold back, and I do like all of them, but the well of lost plots stands out above the rest. :)Doug
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That is what I love about Goodreads - unfortunately, I have been adding books to my "To read" list faster than I can read them...and then there are the 1001 books we must read before we die - I am only about 10% of the way through them.
I learned of Jasper Fforde on Barnes & Noble's book club site. He was one of the authors featured and he responded to many of the messages left about his novels. I learned about alot of wonderful authors through their site...and still do. Doug
Well, now I'm really excited. The Well of Lost Plots is definitely toward the beginning of my summer reading list.
Yup, I'd have to agree with the others - 'The Well of Lost Plots' is definitely my favourite so far.The book seems to open up the world a lot more than the previous 2 novels - and Jasper explores the space wonderfully. Great characters, great situations, great book.
Well, I finished reading The Well of Lost Plots. I actually had a hard time reading the first fifth of the book as I missed Thursday's "real" world and it just seemed like a bit of a slog, but the last 4/5 was great, enough for me to give it 5 stars as I did the first two books. I'm not sure I have a favorite anymore; I liked all three.Nobody here (unless I missed the post which is possible) has said that book 4 or book 5 is a favorite. I plan to read them, but I'm wondering what people think of them, other than what's already been posted. (I think that I need to go back and read this entire thread again.)
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I think the general thought is that five is a bit of a disappointment - I don't agree with that. I liked both 4 and 5, but perhaps some of the novelty has worn off, which is why the first three have a bit more appeal to them. :)doug
Yes, re the novelty, I was afraid I wouldn't enjoy them as much after the first one, but I enjoyed 2 & 3 as much as 1. Yes, 5 doesn't seem to be a favorite; I'm glad that you liked it.
This is an old topic, but I'll add my two cents. The Eyre Affair & Something Rotten are my favorites...My favorite scene in the books is the Wuthering Heights counseling session from The Well of Lost Plots.
I'm planning on reading this series soon (I've got all but the 5th book already) and I'm just wondering if there are any books you'd recommend reading prior to starting the series? While I generally love the classics, I'm sure I haven't read most of the ones that are mentioned in it. I see that some of you have noted that it isn't necessary to have read these books first, but I think I'd like to be familiar with the main ones (and I'd rather avoid any spoilers for the books I plan on reading someday, too!). Thanks!
Jamie, It doesn't matter. You can enjoy the Thursday Next series whether you've read any of the mentioned books or not. Reading the series might inspire you to pick some of them up though! I have a friend who didn't want to read the first one because she'd never read Jane Eyre. I finally convinced her she would enjoy it anyway, and she loved it! And now she's read all of them and I have read only the first 3 so far.
Hmm...spoilers...well if anyone feels ambitious enough to make a full list of all of the books mentioned in the series...There were some I hadn't read and if I do in the future I don't think they'll be at all ruined for me. But I can speak for myself only of course.
Lisa - That's good to know...thanks! I've been looking forward to reading The Eyre Affair for a while, but was thinking I'd read Jane Eyre first. I think I'll skip it for now and move on to The Eyre Affair anyway.
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I agree with Lisa - Although I had read "Jane Eyre," it was a long time ago. I enjoyed all the "Thursday Next" series, without having strong memories of the novels he deals with. :)Doug
Jasper Fforde's Books: Thursday Next + Other Books
Books mentioned in this topic
First Among Sequels (other topics)Shades of Grey (other topics)
One of Our Thursdays Is Missing (other topics)
