Journal Entry 1 by alrescate from Strafford, Missouri USA on Friday, April 02, 2004

This is the third book in the Thursday Next series. I have to say I didn't enjoy it as much as the first two. This series is a light-hearted romp full of puns and "winks" at the reader. I loved the story and the "asides" in the first two books but for some reason this book just didn't do it for me. The plot was slow to evolve and I just didn't care what happened. The wrap-up of the story was anti-climactic and made me wonder why I bothered finishing the book.

That said, someone might find this uproariously funny so it is scheduled for release. 

Journal Entry 2 by alrescate from Strafford, Missouri USA on Monday, April 12, 2004

Journal Entry 3 by AnOtterChaos from West Lawn, Pennsylvania USA on Monday, April 26, 2004

Ooohhh...can't wait. I loved the first two. I have to finish "Bleachy Haired Honky Bitch" first (is that not the greatest novel name? If you want it, let me know, it'll go on my list when I'm done)...then Lost Plots is next up!
 

Journal Entry 4 by AnOtterChaos from West Lawn, Pennsylvania USA on Saturday, May 08, 2004

I loved The Eyre Affair; by the end of Lost in a Good Book I was a bit tired of the in-jokes and the non-resolution of the plot, so I was a little trepidatious about reading this book.

And rightly so, I guess. It takes more than in-jokes and cleverness to drive a plot, and I didn't feel like this one really got going until halfway thru the book. By then I wondered if I cared. (OK, I did like the bit about the chronic shortage of the letter "u" leading to the deletion of u's in certain words in designated areas, then being written off as a local spelling anomaly. So *that's* why it's harbour/harbor!) But I was on a bus to NY with nothing else to read.

I turned out to be glad I persevered. The last third is quite enveloping, somewhat unexpected, and moves at a nice pace.

The last chapter ("special bonus chapter in the American edition only") is tacked on and totally non-essential; kind of a short story looking for an anthology.

At least on Fforde's web site, he promises the return of Landen in book 4 (sorry if that's a spoiler, but you didn't really expect him back, did you?)...so I guess I'll have to read that one as well.

Wish Pickwick had more scenes! 

Journal Entry 5 by AnOtterChaos from West Lawn, Pennsylvania USA on Tuesday, May 11, 2004

Went out today to Big John Lefty...enjoy!
 

Journal Entry 6 by BigJohnLefty from Des Moines, Iowa USA on Friday, May 21, 2004

Got this in the mail today. Will read ASAP. 

Journal Entry 7 by BigJohnLefty from Des Moines, Iowa USA on Wednesday, July 14, 2004

Finally got through this one! It was kind of slow getting into; most of the premises it's built on are pretty fascinating, and it works a lot of the time, I just wish I could say I enjoyed it more.
I do think it's kind of cool to have a place where characters from various books get together - reminds me of a cartoon I saw when I was a kid, where these books on a shelf came to life to thwart some villain. 

Journal Entry 8 by BigJohnLefty at Bookring in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, July 14, 2004

Released on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 at Bookring in Bookring, A Bookring Controlled Releases.

Putting this in the mail to mlbish today. 

Journal Entry 9 by mlbish from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA on Sunday, July 25, 2004

Caught. Thank you! I have the whole series lined up to read, so I'm very excited. Looking forward to it. 

Journal Entry 10 by mlbish from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA on Wednesday, September 07, 2005

*GASP!!* I had no idea I'd kept this book so long. Well, it's had its own adventures with me. I will now pass it back to alrescate, who has been waiting with saintly patience! So sorry...

Here's my review:

Fun, fun fun! Jasper Fforde has tickled me again. I just love his sense of humor and the silly, nerdy, bookish stuff he writes into all his novels. I think this is my favorite of the series (I haven't yet read Something Rotten, of course). Mr. Fforde must have had the time of his life writing this book.

My favorite part? I cracked up during the discussion about the 'had had' and 'that that' problem! Surely Mr. Fforde put a lot of effort into writing that dialogue and making sure it came out making sense. And I appreciate it. Hilarious!

As a mystery novel, the book is slightly less successful. Most of the book was used up by literary silliness, and the plot didn't really get moving until about halfway through. I didn't mind that so much, and I'm not really complaining. But had there also been an excellent story embedded in the cleverness, the novel would have been brilliant rather than just a fun romp.

I will definitely pick up Something Rotten. I want to finish out the adventures of Thursday Next! 

Journal Entry 11 by mlbish at bookring in bookring, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, September 13, 2005

Released 6 yrs ago (9/13/2005 UTC) at bookring in bookring, Bookring -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Off to fsr. Hope you enjoy it. :-) 

Journal Entry 12 by fsr44 from Pawtucket, Rhode Island USA on Monday, September 19, 2005

Woohoo! Received just now! Can't wait to read it. Hmmm, I could bite my nails tonight while waiting to see if the Red Sox blow their slim lead in the AL East, or I could dive into this.
Looks like I'll be lost in a good book... 

Journal Entry 13 by fsr44 from Pawtucket, Rhode Island USA on Monday, September 26, 2005

Another gem from Fforde. I loved this one for the same reason I loved the early Harry Potters...the marvelously imaginative world created by the author.
This edition contains an "extra chapter" for the US market only. It's completely superfluous and I have absolutely no idea why they threw it in. 

Journal Entry 14 by fsr44 from Pawtucket, Rhode Island USA on Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Sending home to alrescate. 

Journal Entry 15 by alrescate from Strafford, Missouri USA on Monday, October 10, 2005

This arrived back home on Friday but I haven't had internet access until today. I'm glad everyone had a good time reading it!
 

Journal Entry 16 by alrescate from Strafford, Missouri USA on Wednesday, October 19, 2005

Journal Entry 17 by boreal from Dunedin, Otago New Zealand on Sunday, December 11, 2005

Journal Entry 18 by boreal from Dunedin, Otago New Zealand on Friday, January 06, 2006

Finished this morning! I loved the first book in the series, didn't like Lost in a Good Book nearly as much, probably because there had been too bigger gap between books and I had trouble remembering characters and such. I read this one straight after book 2 and that for me at least was a good idea, there are so many characters to keep track of and the storyline is fairly involved that I often lose the plot so to speak :-) I think this is my second favourite of the books so far.
The highlight of the book for me was the Alice in Wonderland trial, I also loved the footnoterphone messages especially the Nigerian Scam one!
Thanks once again Alrescate, I shall add it to the convention book pile. 

Journal Entry 19 by Alithia from Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand on Sunday, February 19, 2006

Got this as part of my goodie bag at the Dunedin convention - can't wait to read it as it was on my wish list - what luck, or was that Boreal scanning my wishlist?