Paperback. Purchased at the Flossmoor (IL) Public library used book shelf for a quarter, whoo-hoo!

The Barnes & Noble Review from Discover Great New Writers

"Umberto Eco meets Harry Potter," is the way Randolph, one of our Discover readers, described this imaginative first novel. The two may be an unlikely pair, but in many ways they serve up an apt description of this highly original work, which examines what might happen if the barriers between fiction and reality disappeared and made it possible to share, or even alter, an important moment in classic literary history.

In Jasper Fforde's hilarious romp through time and space, heroine Thursday Next -- an agent with the secretive Special Operations Network, Literary Detective Division -- is sent to investigate the theft of Dickens's original manuscript for Martin Chuzzlewit by a diabolical archvillain. What really happened to the elusive character Mr. Quaverly in Dickens's book? Or for that matter, to the drunken tinker Christopher Sly from Shakespeare's play The Taming of the Shrew? Why do these characters appear once, only to play no further role in the stories? Is it possible that their disappearances were not the result of innocent editorial decisions by Dickens and Shakespeare but were instead due to devilish doings? Thursday's resolute pursuit of literary truth and justice takes her and an extended cast of ingenious characters on a convoluted historical caper, including a wild and crazy performance of Richard III that takes many of its theatrical cues from The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Fforde's first fiction foray will delight a broad spectrum of intrepid readers, including aficionados of science fiction, history, British humor, and classic literature alike. (Winter 2002 Selection)

This is one of those books I'd never intended to read simply because *everyone and their dog seems to be reading it. I have to give it up for Mr. Fforde, though, he had me laughing all the way through - even when I was ready to strangle half the characters.

The best bit, and I can't even tell you in a sentence because one mention of anything would be a spoiler, occurred on pages 182-185 of the Penguin edition. I laughed so hard I thought I'd pee.

Bravo!

And now I want a dodo, version 1.3 or later. My kingdom for a winged Dodo.

RELEASE NOTES:

[BFP]

Mailing to ladyoflight. Enjoy!

Thanks for the RABCK! This is on the top of my list.

What a fun book! I was worried that it would be a little too cute for its own good, but the whole thing came together pretty well. The characters, esp. Thursday, were more engaging than I expected. My only complaint is that the last 75 pages dragged. The book could have come to a fitting ending sooner, I felt. Still, a fun, lighthearted read. I will keep it moving, likely by sending it to someone off their wishlist.

Sending to Megi53.

Came today -- thanks! (and previously owned by not one but two terrific BookCrossers)

I wanted this because B. Dalton had the second on the series on sale for $2.99 and I like to read series books in order. Hope Lost in a Good Book will still be on the clearance cart when I return -- I can already tell I'm going to love this book.

What fun! Thursday is a marvelous heroine, with her police/military background combined with a romantic streak.

I held off reading 'til I'd at least started Jane Eyre -- good thing I'm up on Coleridge and Shakespeare also!

@ Trekwoman: "Meatloaf again?!" heh heh.

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Uh-oh! I know I released this about two weeks ago but I can't remember where.