the eyre affair

Category: reviews - books
I want to be a LiteraTec (Literary Detective)!
I have been recently sucked into the alternative world that Jasper Fforde conjured up, and I must say I'm having a grand time. The world he created seemed chaotic and confusing at times yet it has its own different appeal. I must admit though that the fun isn't for everyone. A lot of people would probably find the subtle references to a host of literary works/hidden meanings and subtexts a bit sophistic or bookish or dull or exasperating, but those who were able to appreciate the likes of the comic "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" or most of the works of Gaiman that heavily makes allusions to other literary works/greats would probably enjoy this too. Those that border on fanaticism when it comes to reading books would find this book thoroughly engaging.
I enjoyed the treatment of the heroine, Thursday Next. She's not like any of the major women characters that I've read before. And there have been a host of them that are strong and decisive and powerful but Thursday is different. She's just the right blend of ruthless and sensitive. Her military background highlights her character as somebody who is not afraid to use a gun. Being a veteran of the Crimean war, her past is mysteriously riddled with violence and pathos. But in the book you almost always find her rational and sometimes even "too objective" to the point that she can be accused of being unfeeling. Although her sensitive side peaks out from the seams from time to time and we get a glimpse of her softer side. In this the author succeeds in making us believe that the character is indeed a woman.
I also like the tough (gun-slinging but not trigger-happy) and intelligent (erudite) combination that makes up her persona. Of course all of this were mentioned of her rather matter-of-factly as standard requirements needed for her line of work. I suddenly am wistful. What job out there at the moment requires these set of qualities? I want to know! If there's one, sign me up for training ASAP. I mean hey, wouldn't it be wonderful if the job you apply for requires you to be able to handle a 9mm and at the same time a familiarity with the body of Shakespeare's work or Dickens's enough to be able to detect counterfeits? That'd be mind-boggling but awesome!
I also like that the character has quite a quantity of experience behind her. These days, I rarely get to read women characters in their mid-thirties. Being on the brink of getting to thirty myself it's good to know that gals who are rather advanced in age can still have such adventures, and still be raw and refreshing: to have a wealth of experience behind her yet trembling in expectation of future quests yet ahead.
This book amazes me in the same way that I was amazed that Kate Fennigate was written by a guy (Booth Tarkington). I mean it's a bit scary how these men know so much of of what girls like me would want to do if we had half the freedom to do so. I doff my hat to these male authors who seem to know women so well.

fave scenes:
- imagining the whole exercise of Richard III presentation: for the audience, by the audience. it was just too funny. probably the most outlandish and perfect way to watch a Shakespearean play you've memorized by heart
- Thursday meeting Edward Fairfax Rochester [the lead character in Jane Eyre] in "person"

most surreal scenes:
-vampire hunting with Spike
-when they tried to plug the time hole and came out 7 hours later