I must admit, when I heard that Jasper Fforde’s next book was going to be a re-written version of his unpublished first novel, I was not terribly excited about it. I mean, I am a bit tired of Thursday Next, after—um, well, after reading the fourth one this summer. So when I found a copy on The Big Over Easy on the library shelf, I picked it up, sure, but not with the kind of excitement and eagerness that I felt when I nabbed Anansi Boys. You know, I wanted to read it, and I was going to read it, but ...
And, I’m sorry, Mr. Fforde, but that’s pretty much how it turned out. It was entertaining, and I certainly didn’t come close to deciding not to finish it or anything. But I doubt I’ll be reading it again in a hurry.
I will say that there is a terrific joke early in the book. Mr. Fforde doesn’t really punch it, though. The Great Detective is detailing a very Ellery murder, and reveals that the victim left a clue to the murderer’s identity by (etcetera etcetera etcetera) which is an anagram of the murderer’s name! Well, not the murderer’s full name, but the first thirteen letters of the murderer’s name, because the victim died before he was able to finish.
Hee, hee.
chazak, chazak, v’nitchazek,
-Vardibidian.