My Mom has been trying to get me to read Jasper Fforde books for easily over a decade. Not sure why I’ve resisted. Though perhaps it’s due to our different reading preferences. She only likes a small percentage of recommendations I make . Naturally, The Murderbot Diaries was one success but mostly I miss. With how long she’s been persistent I read “The Eyre Affair”, I have felt pressured to like it. Which has made me drag my feet. I borrowed it two years ago and with her impending visit coming up decided it was now or never, and dove in.
I can happily report that I enjoyed it! The Eyre Affair is the debut novel and first book of Fforde’s that features LiteraTec SpecOps agent Thursday Next. She lives in an alternate version of our world in 1985 where humanity is obsessed with literature. Where we have Zoltar machines that move and talk and give you a future. They have mechanical Shakespearean characters perform several lines of a play for a few coins. A theatre in Swindon, England has a weekly performance of Richard III that has been running for 12 years. Every performance people are chosen from the audience to perform the roles. Next’s world also has a government like organization, similar to police, specifically for literary crimes, of which she is a part of. Also, time travel and genetically recreated dodos as pets are a thing.
The original manuscript for Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens has been stolen. It is assumed to be the work of mastermind villain Acheron Hades. The problem is that his face is unknown. Any surveillance film or photos are blurry and he doesn’t leave witnesses behind. However, Thursday was a student of his and knows his face. She is promoted to a high level department and begins investigating. Thursday’s adventure starts in shambles, is given direction from a time traveler, involves bookworms a portal to enter stories, and a cat and mouse game within the pages of Jane Eyre itself. Which is all very fun!
Before becoming a LiteraTec, Thursday served in the military campaign in Crimea. In this world England and Imperial Russia have been fighting over Crimea for 131 years. Thursday, having lost a brother and many comrades, is a staunch believer that the war must end to save lives. Even if that means Russia claims the territory. Thursday is occasionally pinned down by her former senior commander insisting that she come to support an up coming rally endorsing continuing the war. After all this bloodshed they must win, no matter the cost.
The Crimean War is a consistent thread throughout the book. Unfortunately, this put a dampener on my enjoyment considering there is currently a war going on in Crimea. I couldn’t help but think of the parallels and that drew me out of the magic of being absorbed in a story. I wish I had read this much sooner so real events wouldn’t have tainted the reading experience.
Overall I enjoyed The Eyre Affair. It was fun and I loved a world that was so devoted to literature. However, due to current events, it wasn’t the breezy reading experience I was expecting based on my mom’s descriptions. At least now I can return it to her and let her know I liked it.
Note: The flowers are sweet alyssum blooming in my yard.
