Jasper Fforde - Shades of Grey

I had been waiting or such a long time for this book to be published. On a trip back to the UK I picked up a copy, it sounds fickle, but I prefer the UK hard back cover to the Canadian cover. After reading some of the information on Fforde's website, I was under the impression that this was an addition to the Thursday Next series, so I was a little disappointed when I found out it wasn't.

Never the less, I read the book and to be honest, I wasn't that impressed with it! As Fforde had created a whole new world and characters all plain their roles in society according to the colours that they can see. From the impression I got, this book was telling a story of how it doesn't matter where you are in society, you should all be equals. The book started out good, slowed down in the middle and became predictable towards the end. It almost seemed that Fforde had been put under pressure by his publishers and fans.
Don't this put you off though. If you are a Fforde fan, then it is an ok read. If you have never read Fforde before then don't start with this book, choose the Thursday Next series. I will not let this 'quickie' put me off, I shall continue to read Fforde books...

Jasper Fforde - The Thursday Next Series

Back in October I wrote about the need for a new book to read and after everyone's suggestions I had a friend suggest the Thursday Next series by Jasper Ffforde to me. I was told it was this surreal story set in the 80's where people can time travel and shift in and out of books. 

It is such a good series that is still being written by the author Jasper Fforde. Terry Pratchett described him as 'Ingenious'. For the last few months I have been addicted and obsessed with Thursday Next, the main character, and her escapades in the Book World with the Cheshire Cat, Miss Haversham and many others. 
Fforde has so far had five published books in the Thursday series:
His next publication 'Shades of Grey' is due out in 2010 and I cannot wait. I am 100 pages from finishing "First Among Sequels' and I cannot get enough of the book!