The Eyre Affair (2001) by Jasper Fforde

Good to be back. 

I had to sacrifice two days of internet just so I could finish Jasper Fforde's debut novel The Eyre Affair, which I highly enjoyed (but not as much as his The Big Over Easy). It is the year 1985 (a year after Orwell's?) and England is not the country we all know. It is an alternate world where dodos are unextincted and where time travel is possible. The most noticeable thing is the denizens' immense passion for Literature: people name themselves after writers like Milton, vending machines recite Shakespeare, weekly performances of Richard III encourage audience participation, and, most importantly, criminals steal original manuscripts instead of robbing banks.

Fforde does a good job of developing the main character, Thursday Next. As a LiteraTec officer, she has the responsibility of solving Literature-related crimes ranging from selling fraud copies of books, and, yes, even kidnapping characters straight out of their respective novels. When a powerful criminal enters into an original Charlotte Bronte manuscript and kidnaps the titular Jane Eyre, hell breaks loose as all copies of the book begin displaying blank pages - it's told in the first person, so no Jane means no book at all. Pressured by arduous followers of Literature, Thursday must do a bit of book jumping herself in order to restore peace once and for all.

I don't think I have to write further to explain what makes this a brilliant read - the synopsis above best tells the reason why everyone should read it. This novel is simply a showcase of ideas from a brilliant mind. The plot moves at an evenly pace, jokes are witty enough, and how ironic it is that every random idea seems to belong in such pastiche. Chock-full of literary allusions, it has all the elements of mystery, fantasy, comedy, and sci-fi rolled into one bricolage of weirdness. Aside from those, there are parts where the narrative sits back and tackles the serious issues of warfare and factional politics. In the end, it takes a stand about both, and in the process also "answers" the lingering question as to who really wrote Shakespeare's plays.

Fforde makes it a point to make this book appealing even to those who haven't read Jane Eyre. This is a fun read that will make us run and buy the succeeding Thursday Next novels. Lucky I bought this from the bargain bin for only 75 pesos (grin).