The Eyre Affair
I loved The Eyre Affair
I don’t quite know how to describe this book. There are so many literary and historical references that I was constantly on Wikipedia, checking to see if I was missing something. The cover says something about a mixture of Monty Python, Harry Potter, Steven Hawking, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. There’s also a scene where some characters attend a performance of Shakespeare’s Richard III that rivals the rowdiest midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show. That kind of sums it up. Kind of.
Thursday Next works as a LiteraTec in Special Ops. She’s a specialist in literary crimes. In the world of Thursday, the Brits take literature very, very seriously. Fans of various poets have formed competing factions, people arguing the true authorship of Shakespeare’s plays get into physical altercations, and prosecution of plagiarism is taken to a new level.
Thursday gets embroiled in a plot that involves a murder of a Dickens character, the kidnapping of Jane Eyre herself, and an arch-enemy that is part human, part something else.
It took me a few chapters to get hooked, but once I was, I couldn’t put it down. My only beef is that the ending wrapped up a little too quickly, leaving me a bit jet-lagged. Oh, and that this book made me woefully aware of the depth of my literary ignorance.
4 stars
Carrie, I loved this book too, all the more on later readings when I caught more, and more, and more literary allusions I’d missed the first time around! The other Thursday Next books are just as rich and enjoyable.
August 27th, 2007 at 1:57 pmOh a good one, that I WILL read!! Someday.
August 27th, 2007 at 6:33 pmPiseco – I love it when I read the first book in a series and love it – cause I know I have more good books left to go!
Lawanda – Get thee to a library, girl!
August 27th, 2007 at 8:13 pmOne to put on my list. Thanks!
August 28th, 2007 at 3:43 amMomcat – you’re welcome!
August 28th, 2007 at 9:06 amSounds like a winner.
August 29th, 2007 at 6:18 pmBirdie – yep! And there’s a whole series of ‘em.
August 29th, 2007 at 7:48 pmYay, someone that has also read this book. I love the Thursday Next books. I’ve read all of them (apart from the most recent one, and for that I’m waiting for my sister to finish reading before I’m allowed to start it!) and they are fantastic
August 31st, 2007 at 1:56 pmDebs – I’m looking forward to the rest of the series!
August 31st, 2007 at 11:20 pmI have heard and read so much about this book. I have not got around it. After reading your review, I will definitely go for it.
Thanks!
September 1st, 2007 at 5:51 amGautami- thanks for stopping by!
September 1st, 2007 at 1:02 pmI really liked this book too, once I got my mind around the whole idea. Very weird but entertaining!
September 1st, 2007 at 4:57 pmChris – The author definitely has quite the imagination!
September 2nd, 2007 at 12:35 pmI just picked this up used at the library. I’ve heard things about it. Sounds like fun.
I see you’re reading The Warden. I just finished watching The Barchester Chronicles last night. It had everything in it I love to read(and watch). I recommend it when you finish the book.
September 2nd, 2007 at 7:08 pmPetunia – yes, I just started The Warden and then I’ll read Barchester Towers. Then I’ll Netflix it! Thanks for the recommendation!
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