The World of Fforde

The Big Over Easy
by Jasper Fforde

We were first introduced to the World of Fforde by our good friend, Bill, with The Eyre Affair, a highly amusing telling of how Thursday Next saved Jane Eyre, the book and the character. Mr. Fforde has created an alternate 1980s reality (in England, of course) where the written word is alive and well, literally. There are three other books in the Thursday Next series, but start with The Eyre Affair. I liked them so much I tried to convince Josh we should name a daughter after Thursday. He wasn't so sure about the idea, but there's still time.

The current book is in the same vein. Jack Spratt and Mary Mary are a detective team in the Nursery Crime Division out to solve the mystery of Humpty Dumpty's death. Josh heard this was actually Fforde's first novel that no one would publish until after the success of the others. After reading the book, I can believe it. Some spots are pure Fforde joy. Others are a little rough. I don't want to say too much since it'd be a shame to give away the ending - which is definitely the best part of the story line.

If you're well-read, especially in older books where it's easier to get permission from the copyright owners, you'll love Fforde's books. They're irreverent, pun-filled, and hilarious. It was a Thursday Next book that inspired me to read Anna Karenina, which I found to be one of the best books I'd ever read.

If you haven't seen the Fforde website, you're missing out. Trust me, it's the best way to waste time online. Of course, it's even better if you've read the books.

Special thanks to David and Becca who lent us The Big Over Easy so we wouldn't have to wait 6 months for the library copy (even though I ended up waiting almost that long anyway before actually reading the book).

New York Tragedies

Triangle: The Fire that Changed America
by David Von Drehle

Usually I don't post the books I've read because I'm too busy. Recently, I've been too busy to even read. I did have a chance to check out this book from the library a couple of months ago. (Yes, this is the last book I read. It's been a very busy time.) It is a well-written history of the worst workplace tragedy in New York City until 2001. My favorite parts of the book were those that focused on the individuals trapped in the fire or those that narrowly escaped. I love learning the stories of real people, especially when I feel like the author has scoured primary sources as the notes to this book suggest. You might also be interested in this book because the author draws a direct line from the Triangle fire to the people and politics of the New Deal (which is how the fire changed America).

Personally, I just love reading about New York City. I found this book fit in well with what I learned watching the New York documentary (ahh, the glory of Netflix), which I also highly recommend.