Jasper Fforde Ffan

[Gannon]

.....TBOE has me in it's grip .... Inspector Hebden Flowwe.....

It does have some terrific names. In NCD, quality officers who protect, serve and entertain, the significance of
DI Friedland Chymes became apparent to me because my grandmother had a two-ring set of chimes at her front
door and they were British-made by Friedland.

Wow, that was going to be the first question I was going to ask you. Spooky. I kept on thinking that there was some reference to Sherlock Holmes. I have been puzzling over it for nothing.

-- Sat Mar 10, 2012 12:47 am --

.....TBOE has me in it's grip .... Inspector Hebden Flowwe.....

It does have some terrific names. In NCD, quality officers who protect, serve and entertain, the significance of
DI Friedland Chymes became apparent to me because my grandmother had a two-ring set of chimes at her front
door and they were British-made by Friedland.

Wow, that was going to be the first question I was going to ask you. Spooky. I kept on thinking that there was some reference to Sherlock Holmes. I have been puzzling over it for nothing.

Ok Maud, I have finished "The Big Over Easy" and prepare to be shocked. It is my favourite Jasper Fforde book to date. I absolutely loved it.

SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT - Fran

I loved the last third of the book, where there is twist after twist. I really don't think anyone could have predicted the final ending. Brilliant writing and story development. Putting aside Jasper's incredible wit and humour the book stands alone as a sensational Detective "who done it". Of no surpirse are Jasper's incredible characters, both lead protagonists are great and work well together. Perhaps my favourite part of the book is in Castle Spongg. The bit with the fake mirror is sheer genius. I must admit I had no idea what was going on. I wonder if I have one over you Maud. Caligari is said to be the designer of Castle Spongg. Is this a reference to the Roman Emperor Caligula who was mad, just like the castle, but did you know that "Caligula" in english means "Little Boot". Did Jasper use this beause the whole novel is foot realated, foot, boot. What do you think?
I also loved the reports and extracts from various papers and magazines that precede each chapter. Some of them had me laughing out loud.
I have a list of parts of the book which are just hilarious but I will wait until Fran posts her views on this post. I am sure she will love it as much as I did.
Is the next book "The Fourth Bear"? I am off to order my signed first edition. Jasper you have done it again.

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend Maud.

[Fran]

@Gannon
I am with you 100% ... TBOE is definitely now my favourite Jasper offering. What an extraordinary line up of characters, I love Mary Mary and of course Jack Spratt. The Castle Spongg chapter was every bit as good as the car chase in 'One of Our Thursday's is Missing' .... but what really had me in stitches was the alien equal-opportunities programme or maybe it was the Ugly sisters to sue for defemation

As you said Gannon I too got caught up in the twists & turns of the detective story and almost forgot the nonsensical world it was all based in. The whole verruca thing was disgusting & a brilliant imaginative production ... Hercules, the champion verruca!

The ending is just brilliant & kept me riveted right up to the last full stop ... how do you follow a line like 'He pulled his mother's egg poacher from the cupboard and brandished it as you would a crucifix before a vampire' or a line like 'Nice enough, I suppose, she said the same way a Luddite on dialysis might react to a kidney machine'.

All the parents and teachers out there in despair trying to get young lads into reading should introduce them to Jasper Fforde. If Jasper and his mad cap world doesn't capture them then nothing will.

[Gannon]

@Fran

You have such good taste Fran, we never seem to disagree. I wonder what Maud will think with both of us agreeing the it is our favourite Fforde novel to date. I have ordered my copy of "The Fourth Bear" and am hoping that it is as good as TBOE. It has enormous shoes to fill.

[Maud Fitch]

@ Gannon
@ Fran

WOW AND DOUBLE WOW!!!!!

I'm truly bowled over by your comments. Of course, bowled over in delight and happiness. I didn't expect that kind of a reaction to "The Big Over Easy". I'm so pleased you both love it, and it goes without saying that I do; and I wish he'd write a third book making a trilogy of the Nursery Crimes Division. If I wasn't recovering from a bleary head cold I'd join your discussion riotously - naturally I agree with everything you both said. In particular, Gannon's perceptive Roman coup de grâce. Isn't it enough that I'm horrendously jealous of your signed first editions...!!!

I can see I will have to re-read it and brush up on the themes. Of course, there are egg references galore. Mary Mary and Rambosian Ashley are my favourites (Ashley wanted to be a policeman "but the filing here is to die for") and Lola Vavoom took off on Jasper's website. And there's names like Winsum & Loosum. There's a bit in it where a policeman takes pills which Jack thinks look suspiciously like Smarties, M&M's and Skittles. I think this is a film-making reference because Jasper used to be a movie cameraman. In the icky verruca scene there's a character named Tarsus and that's a group of bones in each foot. Apart from that, I will have to slurp down some more honey and lemon drink and rest my weary head.

Please post any more things you remember from TBOE to brighten up my day.

(PS: Jasper's written young adult books, I'm with you, encouraging laughter by reading or reading by laughter)

[Fran]

Oh Maud where to start to brighten your day ....
'You struck DI Flowwe with an onyx ashtray. Why was that? The table lamp was too heavy, she replied, truthfully enough, and if I'd used a chair it might have killed him'
or maybe
'Mr Wolff was a vegetarian of many years standing' or maybe 'anagram related clues are now inadmissible as evidence'
'Humpty Dumpty. The fall guy'.
Mr Perkupp of Perkupp and Partners
Hercule Porridge & Miss Maple, Lord Peter Flimsey and Father Broom
and I will finish with Baroness Gretel Leibnitz von Kandlestyk-Maeker

Stopping now before this get out of hand

[Maud Fitch]

Stop, stop, I beg you, please stop.....laughing makes me cough
Fforde's work is like nothing I've ever read before. Certainly one could argue that there's touches of Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, Robert Rankin, Tom Holt, Neil Gaiman, etc, but for me it's deeper humour, more original entertainment, like "my goodness, how does he come up with this?"

@ Gannon. On the subject of Tom Holt, have you read his book "Song For Nero"? In 69AD after fleeing his palace in Rome, Nero did not die in a muddy ditch. He is still alive, starting a new life and following his passion - music.
Tom Holt also wrote a novel about Alexander The Great but I've forgotten what it's called.

@ Fran. We are gearing up for our city's Irish Festival, culminating on St Patrick's Day. I will wear green! Apart from the green beer and shamrocks stuck on my clothing, is there any special prayer I can incant for you and yours?

[Gannon]

Stop, stop, I beg you, please stop.....laughing makes me cough
Fforde's work is like nothing I've ever read before. Certainly one could argue that there's touches of Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, Robert Rankin, Tom Holt, Neil Gaiman, etc, but for me it's deeper humour, more original entertainment, like "my goodness, how does he come up with this?"

@ Gannon. On the subject of Tom Holt, have you read his book "Song For Nero"? In 69AD after fleeing his palace in Rome, Nero did not die in a muddy ditch. He is still alive, starting a new life and following his passion - music.
Tom Holt also wrote a novel about Alexander The Great but I've forgotten what it's called.

@ Fran. We are gearing up for our city's Irish Festival, culminating on St Patrick's Day. I will wear green! Apart from the green beer and shamrocks stuck on my clothing, is there any special prayer I can incant for you and yours?

@Maud

"Song for Nero" sounds right up my alley. I have never read any of Tom Holt's books. I am definitely going to look into both SFN and the Alexander books. Thanks for the heads up again.

Hope you are feeling much better today. Getting ready for the green beer on Saturday.

[Maud Fitch]

Hullo to Gannon and Fran and all those lovely Irish people out there! Happy St Patrick's Day from Australia!

[Fran]

Thank you so much Maud ... cute little guy the Koala.
About to tuck into the big fry up (well, grill up really) to prepare for the day ... it's promised cold and showery, typical Paddy's day weather really.

[Maud Fitch]

Thank you so much Maud ... cute little guy the Koala.
About to tuck into the big fry up (well, grill up really) to prepare for the day ... it's promised cold and showery, typical Paddy's day weather really.

Commiserations, Fran. It has been wet and dull here, too. The only thing is the temperature is about 28 degrees celsius and the humidity is about 85 percent. All in all, it was a pretty good St Patrick's Day for me (minimal rowdy behaviour) so I hope your day went well.

I've checked my Jasper Fforde archives and there does not appear to be an appropriate TN Irish-related book quote.

[Gannon]

Wicked Avatar Maud I love it!

[Maud Fitch]

Wicked Avatar Maud I love it!

Thank you kindly, Gannon. I've had it in reserve for some time. It always reminds me of the Cheshire cat in Jasper's novel "Lost In A Good Book", sort of magical/mystical public servant.

And I quote: "In the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde, the Cheshire Cat is an overseer in the Great Library, a library within the BookWorld which contains copies of every book ever written. However, due to 'boundary changes', the Cat is renamed the Unitary Authority of Warrington Cat". Or the Cat Formerly Known As Cheshire. A not-so-subtle dig at UK bureaucracy.

Hope you're still writing hard. And that you and Fran don't have St Patrick's Day hangovers.....

-- Wed Mar 21, 2012 6:53 am --

Wicked Avatar Maud I love it!

Thank you kindly, Gannon. I've had it in reserve for some time. It always reminds me of the Cheshire cat in Jasper's novel "Lost In A Good Book", sort of magical/mystical public servant.

And I quote: "In the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde, the Cheshire Cat is an overseer in the Great Library, a library within the BookWorld which contains copies of every book ever written. However, due to 'boundary changes', the Cat is renamed the Unitary Authority of Warrington Cat". Or the Cat Formerly Known As Cheshire. A not-so-subtle dig at UK bureaucracy.

Hope you're still writing hard. And that you and Fran don't have St Patrick's Day hangovers.....

SO EXCITED!!! Title change for the seventh Thursday Next book. It's no longer "Dark Reading Matter" but the more descriptive (and fun) "The Woman Who Died A Lot". Apparently "Dark Reading Matter" will now be the title of TN8.

Quote: "The Bookworld's leading enforcement officer Thursday Next is at a low point in her life. She is four months into an enforced semi-retirement following a near fatal assassination attempt. Thursday's at home in Swindon with her family; her ever-supportive husband Landen, her children, assorted strange relations and former work colleagues." A quiet life - I think not.

It will be out July 2012 in UK so I hope it flows on to the rest of the world soon after that date.

[Gannon]

"The Fourth Bear" should turn up one day this week.

@Fran and Maud

I have left you a message about "The Sense of an Ending" in the Colleen Post. It won't show up because it is added to my last post, so just letting you know.

[Maud Fitch]

A thousand apologies for not replying to your post sooner, mate. I should have been haranguing you mercilessly to find out if you have received and read "The Fourth Bear". Has it arrived????? Have your read it????? I haven't read either of the books you mentioned (see CMcC thread).

Just to give you a 'taste' of what you are in for with Jasper--

PORRIDGE: Slang term Flake. This mild, euphoria-inducing snack has been designated a Class III foodstuff by the Ursine Food and Drink Administration. Buying and selling oats with intent to porridge is an offence unless it is your own quota. Bear Ration books are available at the ILU office at the Bob Southey and are restricted to 500g a week, irrespective of age, sex, or hierarchical ranking. The NCD generally overlook minor porridge infringements, but continued use (or dealing) will result in a hefty fine, loss of porridge privileges, or for the most persistent offenders, removal of whiskers.

HONEY: Slang term Buzz, Sweet. This is a contentious subject as bears have been eating honey for centuries. Nevertheless, medical evidence does tend to support the notion that dominant males can get dangerously aggressive while high on honey, especially in the mating season. For that reason, honey is a Class II restricted foodstuff - severely rationed off-season and only available for medicinal purposes and out of bounds to anyone else. We've all seen the sad 'sweeters ' or 'buzzboys' whose lives and careers were ruined by too much honey, so play it safe and lay off the stuff.

Where does that leave poor old Winnie The Pooh?

[Gannon]

@Maud

Hahahahaha, Oh my, classic Jasper.
Another book I ordered at the same time turned up on Friday so I am expecting "The Fourth Bear" to turn up this week. I will keep you posted.