The Eyre Affair

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde has to be one of the most interesting and elaborate books I've ever read. The characters are well thought out, the plot is interesting and very detailed, and the book doesn't lack in very exciting moments for the reader. There is literately something for everyone in this.

Let's start with the plot. Thursday Next is the main character and she happens to be a very kick-butt sort of female. She shoots first and asks questions later. She is a literary detective and takes care of all of the books in England. She solves mysteries on copyright, reproduction, overcharging of materials, and she carries a gun. At first, she thinks a robbery she is called to is a standard crime, something easily solvable, but it turns out that the sinister plot runs deeper. She is asked to be apart of another division and she readily accepts due to the fact that being a literary detective can be boring. This decision leads her on a whirlwind chase of a master criminal who she may or may not have had an affair with in the past. Throughout the book there is time travel, kidnapping of characters from books, changes made to literary works, and a slight romance. There are also gun fights, violence, hospital stays and various other types of talks of politics and war. This book takes place in our time, but is not of our time. There is so much going on here you have to really pay attention to the details.

The characters, and there are alot of them, are well thought out and wonderful. They are named perfectly and you can tell the author took time to get this book just right. I'm not sure the author thought there would be a second book in the series as the ending wraps up very nicely.

I enjoyed this book immensely. The woman who narrated the audio book (yes, I'm still reading in my car) has a wonderful voice and is able to do many many characters while keeping the storyline going.

If you enjoy mysteries, action, science fiction, literature, or political, this is the book for you!

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Doulas Adams Part II

I read it. I read it on the plane going to Las Vegas. Let me tell you, the person sitting next to me did not appreciate the peals of laughter coming from my seat. I'm not quiet when I laugh either. I'm sure the whole plane hated me by the time the book was through.

This book was the funniest thing I've ever read in my entire life, and I've read a lot of books. Douglas Adams took a boring idea and made it into something wonderful. The book starts off with Arthur Dent trying to save his house from a demolition crew. I don't want to say anything I shouldn't, but Arthur pretty much loses his house due to bureaucracy. Which is why it's so funny that our planet is destroyed by the same type of thing.

The characters in this book are rich and funny. They are stupid and smart, naive and worldly all at the same time. They include a president that is really only a figure head that steals a one-of-a-kind spacecraft, a robot that is clinically depressed, and Arthur's best friend, who happens to be an alien. They really emulate all the things humans experience when they have no idea what is going on and are just trying to make it through.

The one thing I loved about this book is the way the author makes you feel like you are a part of the action even through you are really just an observer in this insane world.

I highly recommend this book for those that love science fiction, humor, or laughing out loud.

The Great Expectation: The Hitchhicker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

You would think a sci-fi geek like me would have read all of the books in this series, but I haven't. You would think that I would already know the plot line and some of the jokes because I hang out with sci-fi geeks, but I don't. The only thing I know about this book is that it was made into a movie and that it is supposed to be funny. I'm pretty sure it might be funny based on the fact there is a green planet looking thing on the cover sticking it's tongue out at me.



I'm actually looking forward to this book. It should be an interesting read. I hope that I enjoy it as much as other people seem to. I have a teen at the library who loves this series. He won't tell me anything about it. He said I have to read it myself to understand and then he started to giggle, which makes me think it's either a great read, or it's horrible and he wants me to suffer. I guess we will find out!