The Big Over Easy

[lady_schrapnell]

I finished this on Saturday, and sad to say, was more than a bit disappointed in it. I thought it had picked up a bit after the beginning chunk, but then found myself pretty unmoved. Reading Jasper Fforde usually gives a combination of desperate desire to read the funniest bits to the nearest available person and sheer amazement at his ability to come up with this wackiness. The whole idea of the Thursday Next books is incredible - and I won't even get into listing some of my favourite bits. But, though there were laugh-out-loud moments, and inspired lunacy from time to time, overall I found too much of the humour a bit on the obvious side, which was a let-down. On the other hand, I've no idea if this was just my not being in the right mood at the time, or whether there was something a bit thinner about this - possibly relating to the nursery rhyme basis, as opposed to the whole of literature of virtually all kinds basis of the TN books.

Currently thinking about Pat Barker's The Ghost Road, and why I don't want to give it the £1 million best novel of the 20th century award (oh, how I hate this essay question!), about questions on childhood and adult reading raised by both Francis Spufford's The child That Books Built and emmaco's interesting post about it, and reading both A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, by Marina Lewycka, and daughter's just finished but still in-progress work. Okay, now I'm not really thinking much at all, but once I'm again awake, there will be thinking.

Comments

[generalblossom.livejournal.com]

I only read one Jasper Fforde, the Eyre Affair. I will read more eventually, but somehow the wackiness was just a little bit off to me. I enjoyed it and enjoyed very much the take on the alternate Jane Eyre, but... There is a but not too easy to explain.

about questions on childhood and adult reading raised by both Francis Spufford's The child That Books Built

I totally lemminged that. I had been spying it at the dealer´s room and resisted for the sake of luggage ( thankfully or my suitcase might have been irretrievably damaged instead of just bumped hard and late), but you recommending it was irresistible. I lurve internet shopping.

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, by Marina Lewycka,
Review, please! it sounded very good to me :)

[emmaco.livejournal.com]

I prefer the literature basis of the previous books too, but I still really enjoyed The big over easy. Although I think I liked it better when I reviewed it straight after finishing it. In fact, I think I like a lot of books better when I've just finished them. Very strange.

[lady-schrapnell.livejournal.com]

I only read one Jasper Fforde, the Eyre Affair. I will read more eventually, but somehow the wackiness was just a little bit off to me. I enjoyed it and enjoyed very much the take on the alternate Jane Eyre, but... There is a but not too easy to explain.

I kind of know what you mean, for all I'm a fan. I reread The Eyre Affair before the third one, I think, and had an odd dual reaction to it - still liking it but also something not quite as positive as before. Then I was absolutely and completely taken with The Well of Lost Plots, which seemed to bring real feeling to the comedy. Don't know if you'd necessarily respond the same way.

I totally lemminged that. :) Cool! I hope you like it too. I'm pretty sure you'll find parts of it really interesting at least - and want to hear your reaction when you do get to read it. In detail!

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, by Marina Lewycka,
Review, please! it sounded very good to me :)

You'll get it! About half-way through now, and - not sure what I think. Very funny and very painful both. I'll write more. And happy to lend it if you think you might be interested.

[lady-schrapnell.livejournal.com]

That's interesting. Do you mean that the process of reviewing it makes you like it more, or being finished does?

[emmaco.livejournal.com]

It's only something I started to think about yesterday, but I think when I've just read a book or watched a movie I'm more positive about it than a few days later. I can't think of a reason why this would be the case, though.