The Eyre Affair

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

So, here is a book review for you because I read a lot, and I need to blog about something! Also, maybe some of you, like me, are always looking for that next good read. I tend to rely on my fried Kelly for ideas on what to read next, and she has never let me down before. This book was an accidental pick-up because I forgot to print the list she emailed me, and when I got to the library all I could remember talking to her about was Jane Eyre. Of course, I had read it before, and I will read it again many times. It is one of my favorites although I don’t own a copy of it. When I searched the library’s computer for “Eyre” this book came up first. I was intrigued by the title and made my way happily to the shelf. The cover was interesting and from the book jacket I thought it would do well for a weekend light read. I was correct in my assumption! I started this book on Saturday afternoon and finished it today! It was a fast-paced detective literary novel with lots of interesting bits. Enough of the lead up – on to the review!Set in 1985, it’s a dystopic vision of a Britain dominated by a mysterious and massive government, in which the Crimean War still rages, and in which literature is taken so seriously that there’s a special branch of government devoted to literary crimes. The heroine is Thursday Next, a “LiteraTec,” who’s strong, smart, and funny, and makes it her mission to save Jane Eyre from the clutches of a nefarious madman, Acheron Hades. I do mean save, literally. The original manuscript is stolen and put into a machined that allows the person to enter the novel. Jane, herself is taken out of the book, and without her there is nothing left of the book. It vanishes from all other copies and would be gone forever if not for our heroine. Fforde has written a whole series, of which this is the first volume, and I am going to start another one today. Being a total literature geek, I really appreciated all the allusions and literary references – and I highly recommend it as light reading for the lit enthusiast.