Jasper Fforde Ffan

[Gannon]

Hi Peeps,
Sorry to say I only got 3/4 of the way through The Eyre Affair. I will try again some day.

Jeez pawpoint you must have really disliked it because it is such a short novel, it is very easy to finish in one sitting. I am assuming that if you could not finish such a short novel, you must really have disliked it, or maybe you were reading multiple books at the same time. Either way it is a shame that you did not finish it.

[Maud Fitch]

Hi Peeps,
Sorry to say I only got 3/4 of the way through The Eyre Affair. I will try again some day.

Never mind, Pawpoint, there are a few other novels Fforde has written which may appeal to you more. In particular, the soon-to-be trilogy "Shades Of Grey" (not to be confused with "50 Shades Of Grey") which has been well-received internationally and yet still has the out-there Fforde trademark. Maybe one for later.

Hey, Gannon, has THAT book arrived yet? The Fourth Bear will be a great-grandfather by the time you read it!

[Gannon]

Hi Peeps,
Sorry to say I only got 3/4 of the way through The Eyre Affair. I will try again some day.

Never mind, Pawpoint, there are a few other novels Fforde has written which may appeal to you more. In particular, the soon-to-be trilogy "Shades Of Grey" (not to be confused with "50 Shades Of Grey") which has been well-received internationally and yet still has the out-there Fforde trademark. Maybe one for later.

Hey, Gannon, has THAT book arrived yet? The Fourth Bear will be a great-grandfather by the time you read it!

Howdy howdy Maud. I checked my order and "The Fourth Bear" is not due to arrive until the fourth of next month. It is coming by sea. I nearly bought a limited edition of "Shades of Grey" the other day but I thought I would ask what you thought of it first. I ended up buying a signed first edition, first print of "Tim" by Colleen McCullough. Would you believe that I have never read it before? Please let me know what you think of "Shades of Grey", I seem to remember that you said it was not as good as his other stuff.

Hope you are having a fantastic weekend.

[Maud Fitch]

Howdy howdy Maud. I checked my order and "The Fourth Bear" is not due to arrive until the fourth of next month. It is coming by sea. I nearly bought a limited edition of "Shades of Grey" the other day but I thought I would ask what you thought of it first. I ended up buying a signed first edition, first print of "Tim" by Colleen McCullough. Would you believe that I have never read it before? Please let me know what you think of "Shades of Grey" I seem to remember that you said it was not as good as his other stuff.

Hope you are having a fantastic weekend.

Gannon, my finger nails are bitten back to the quick with worry. Has your book arrived yet or did the boat sink?
Nooooo.....

On the subject of "Shades Of Grey", it's an excellent book and has been well-received. It's popular in US and will become a trilogy. If you type 'jasper fforde' into Google, it always comes up with that one first. It is very different to his other styles, with a male protagonist Eddie Russett whose Dad cures people with colours, and it has dystopian overtones which I found disturbing. You would really enjoy it because I think Eddie and his 'girlfriend' Jane have a good love-hate relationship going on. As usual Jasper does post a WARNING: Those perceptible to Enhanced Cortex Chromatic Stimulation should not enter.

Hope you are having a fab long weekend!

[Gannon]

Howdy howdy Maud. I checked my order and "The Fourth Bear" is not due to arrive until the fourth of next month. It is coming by sea. I nearly bought a limited edition of "Shades of Grey" the other day but I thought I would ask what you thought of it first. I ended up buying a signed first edition, first print of "Tim" by Colleen McCullough. Would you believe that I have never read it before? Please let me know what you think of "Shades of Grey" I seem to remember that you said it was not as good as his other stuff.

Hope you are having a fantastic weekend.

Gannon, my finger nails are bitten back to the quick with worry. Has your book arrived yet or did the boat sink?
Nooooo.....

On the subject of "Shades Of Grey", it's an excellent book and has been well-received. It's popular in US and will become a trilogy. If you type 'jasper fforde' into Google, it always comes up with that one first. It is very different to his other styles, with a male protagonist Eddie Russett whose Dad cures people with colours, and it has dystopian overtones which I found disturbing. You would really enjoy it because I think Eddie and his 'girlfriend' Jane have a good love-hate relationship going on. As usual Jasper does post a WARNING: Those perceptible to Enhanced Cortex Chromatic Stimulation should not enter.

Hope you are having a fab long weekend!

No Maud, "The Fourth Bear" has not turned up yet. I have high hopes of it turning up this week. You have sold me on "Shades of Grey", from the photograph it looks like a beautiful edition."Cures people with colours", sounds most intriguing.

Hope you are having a fab long weekend (good old Queen) too.

Ps I must say that I am very disappointed in your declining number of posts. Come on Maud pull the socks up, remember the saying, "It is better to have left a post, then to have not left a post", or was it "A bird in the hand, is worth two in the bush", no thats not it, is it "better to have loved and lost, then to never have loved", no is it............Ahhrrr I can't concentrate, your avatar keeps distracting me.

[Maud Fitch]

No Maud, "The Fourth Bear" has not turned up yet. I have high hopes of it turning up this week. You have sold me on "Shades of Grey", from the photograph it looks like a beautiful edition."Cures people with colours", sounds most intriguing.

Hope you are having a fab long weekend (good old Queen) too.

PS I must say that I am very disappointed in your declining number of posts. Come on Maud pull the socks up, remember the saying, "It is better to have left a post, then to have not left a post", or was it "A bird in the hand, is worth two in the bush", no thats not it, is it "better to have loved and lost, then to never have loved", no is it............Ahhrrr I can't concentrate, your avatar keeps distracting me.

Oh, Gannon, you've made my weekend LOL LOL LOL I can't stop smiling now!!!!!

They were doing a fashion photo shoot at our local second-hand book shop and this model appeared in print. I can honestly say that I have leafed through one or two of those books behind her but have no other claim to fame.

You made a brave attempt at a quotation but perhaps I could suggest the likes of Robert H Schuller who said "I'd rather attempt to do something great and fail than to attempt to do nothing and succeed." Er, on second thoughts, that doesn't work either.

Anyway, I'm reading through three books in The Spellmans series by Lisa Lutz (sooo sorrry, Jasper, but I couldn't wait for Thursday Next in July without a bit of padding) and I'm finding it amusing, contemporary, annoying and perhaps not as in-depth as I'd expected.

On the subject of Queen's birthday long weekend, I just heard that Prince Phillip is still in hospital where he'll celebrate his 91st birthday. Hope I reach that age. Heck, I'd just settle for 90. What's your ideal age - with mind intact?

[Fran]

@Maud
OH Thank God .... I thought that avatar was you & I was feeling seriously inadequate.

Agree The Spellmans are not "high literarure" but they are an entertaining bunch IMO & good for a bit of wind down reading. Have I invented a new genre there "wind down reading"

[Gannon]

No Maud, "The Fourth Bear" has not turned up yet. I have high hopes of it turning up this week. You have sold me on "Shades of Grey", from the photograph it looks like a beautiful edition."Cures people with colours", sounds most intriguing.

Hope you are having a fab long weekend (good old Queen) too.

PS I must say that I am very disappointed in your declining number of posts. Come on Maud pull the socks up, remember the saying, "It is better to have left a post, then to have not left a post", or was it "A bird in the hand, is worth two in the bush", no thats not it, is it "better to have loved and lost, then to never have loved", no is it............Ahhrrr I can't concentrate, your avatar keeps distracting me.

Oh, Gannon, you've made my weekend LOL LOL LOL I can't stop smiling now!!!!!

They were doing a fashion photo shoot at our local second-hand book shop and this model appeared in print. I can honestly say that I have leafed through one or two of those books behind her but have no other claim to fame.

You made a brave attempt at a quotation but perhaps I could suggest the likes of Robert H Schuller who said "I'd rather attempt to do something great and fail than to attempt to do nothing and succeed." Er, on second thoughts, that doesn't work either.

Anyway, I'm reading through three books in The Spellmans series by Lisa Lutz (sooo sorrry, Jasper, but I couldn't wait for Thursday Next in July without a bit of padding) and I'm finding it amusing, contemporary, annoying and perhaps not as in-depth as I'd expected.

On the subject of Queen's birthday long weekend, I just heard that Prince Phillip is still in hospital where he'll celebrate his 91st birthday. Hope I reach that age. Heck, I'd just settle for 90. What's your ideal age - with mind intact?

Maud, Maud, thank the lord you are still with us. I thought we had lost you, you have now put a big smile on my face. I hope you are enjoying our long weekend. I have been spending it working on my study/library. I have now decided to paint the room so I will have to take the three shelves(that it has taken me all weekend to put up) down. I am not sure what colour to go with. I suppose it does not really matter because I plan on having books from floor to ceiling on three of the four walls. When I finish, I am heading over to Fran's to put up some shelves for her.(if only she knew how bad a handyman I am, she would never have asked hehehe)

The way things are going Jasper will have finished his new book before "The Fourth Bear" arrives. I don't want to put the mocker on myself but I am very confident that it will turn up late this week. It has taken so long that I am expecting to open up the box and find the title of the book changed to "The Three Bears".

I don't know if you are a fan of Michael Connelly or not but I have a limited edition of his first novel "The Black Echo" on its way to me. It is bound in leather, signed and numbered. There were only 100 ever published. I am a big fan of his Harry Bosch novels. I am also a big fan of John Connolly, must be the Irish in me. (Connolly is Irish isn't it?)

On the writing front, if you are wondering. I have not stopped writing but I have become sidetracked. I love the character of "Neman" so much that I have been writing a short story about him. I feel that he is the strongest and most interesting character in the novel. It is set after the novel (so you know that Neman will survive). It is so fun writing with the "baddie" as the protagonist. I will send you the manuscript when I have finished and you can go over it.

As long as I can still read and get around and am happy with life, I don't mind how old I get to. Don't settle for 90 Maud, push on and go for the 100. I hope when we get to that age(touch wood) we are still happily conversing. Just think I may be able to sell my Jasper collection for a million dollars.

I hope you have a fantastic last day of our long weekend, and I have my fingers crossed that you will post just a little bit more regularly. Remember, "It is better to.................. Ahhh you get the message.

Ps If you have the time come to Fran's with me and help with the shelves.

[Maud Fitch]

@Maud.
OH Thank God .... I thought that avatar was you & I was feeling seriously inadequate.

Agree The Spellmans are not "high literature" but they are an entertaining bunch IMO & good for a bit of wind down reading. Have I invented a new genre there "wind down reading".

Thanks, Fran. That’s certainly boosted my ego to think I could be thought to be that curvy. I’m sure you are a fair cailín yourself.

The Spellmans are growing on me. Once I became used to Lisa Lutz writing style (Kate Atkinson uses parentheses and Lisa Lutz uses footnotes) I settled in to enjoy the ride. A lot of loopy family humour! And, yes, I think you have just coined a new genre “Winddown Reading”. It’s perfect after a hard day at the office. Quick, Fran, patent it now!

I don't know if you are a fan of Michael Connelly or not but I have a limited edition of his first novel "The Black Echo" on its way to me. It is bound in leather, signed and numbered. There were only 100 ever published. I am a big fan of his Harry Bosch novels. I am also a big fan of John Connolly, must be the Irish in me. (Connolly is Irish isn't it?)

On the writing front, if you are wondering. I have not stopped writing but I have become sidetracked. I love the character of "Neman" so much that I have been writing a short story about him. I feel that he is the strongest and most interesting character in the novel. It is set after the novel (so you know that Neman will survive). It is so fun writing with the "baddie" as the protagonist. I will send you the manuscript when I have finished and you can go over it.

As long as I can still read and get around and am happy with life, I don't mind how old I get to. Don't settle for 90 Maud, push on and go for the 100. I hope when we get to that age(touch wood) we are still happily conversing.
Just think I may be able to sell my Jasper Fforde collection for a million dollars. Hope so, Gannon!!!!!

Thank you for the l-o-n-g reply, Gannon. First of all, FANTASTIC!! I love Neman!! A short story featuring Neman is perfect. He’s got so much going for him, a real anti-hero, a protagonist who could easily rise to the ranks of cult baddie. Also, you have no idea how much I’ve been hanging out for another instalment of your work. “The Plug” should be finished but perhaps a Neman prequel could kickstart it.

I’m very sorry to advise that I am not a fan of Michael Connelly nor his Harry Bosch novels. I have read a few - including “Nine Dragons” - and found them racist and violent. Sorry to be so negative. I guess Connelly writes for a man’s man type of market.

@ Gannon @ Fran.
My "on the wall" tiered bookshelves have been painted deep red and it's a stunning backdrop to my older volumes.
I know my way around a hammer and nails but my forte is making fantastic afternoon teas, so when you’ve finished the book shelf carpentry, I will fortify you with delectable goodies.

Bye for now.....

[Fran]

@Gannon
I might have to reconsider my invitation to you ..... when I read that half way through doing the shelves you changed tack and decide to go painting I had a terribe déjà vu moment. I already have one gent with a propensity to "change horses mid race" and a patalogical inability to return & complete the original project. My frail nerves just could not cope with two.

[Gannon]

@Maud

Your bookshelves sound beautiful. Maybe you can design the shelves for Fran, Fran can build them and I can have a nice cup of tea and oversee the whole project. What a team.

@Fran

What do you think about that idea? Working together we could have the shelves up in no time, well that depends on how fast you work really. Then we can put our feet up, well my feet will already be up. Open up a nice bottle of wine, well that depends on what you have in the cellar really, and discuss books and stuff.

@Maud and Fran

Hope you both have a wonderful week.

[Fran]

@Maud

Your bookshelves sound beautiful. Maybe you can design the shelves for Fran, Fran can build them and I can have a nice cup of tea and oversee the whole project. What a team.

@Fran

What do you think about that idea? Working together we could have the shelves up in no time, well that depends on how fast you work really. Then we can put our feet up, well my feet will already be up. Open up a nice bottle of wine, well that depends on what you have in the cellar really, and discuss books and stuff.

@Maud and Fran

Hope you both have a wonderful week.

@ Gannon
Further discussion of division of labour will be required .... I foresee talks late into the night

[Gannon]

@Maud

Your bookshelves sound beautiful. Maybe you can design the shelves for Fran, Fran can build them and I can have a nice cup of tea and oversee the whole project. What a team.

@Fran

What do you think about that idea? Working together we could have the shelves up in no time, well that depends on how fast you work really. Then we can put our feet up, well my feet will already be up. Open up a nice bottle of wine, well that depends on what you have in the cellar really, and discuss books and stuff.

@Maud and Fran

Hope you both have a wonderful week.

@ Gannon
Further discussion of division of labour will be required .... I foresee talks late into the night

Ok, now your talking. Ahh..did someone say something about a bottle of wine. It will help our discussion, I think these talks are going to take a long, long time before we work out that you(cough, cough...err) WE are going to do the labour.

[Maud Fitch]

We could meet up at the Online Book Club Pub and thrash it out. We can draw shelf diagrams on virtual serviettes (paper napkins) and test colours on drink coasters (using Jasper Fforde "Shades Of Grey") and texturise with potato chips (crisps) and when we are jolly enough, we can tackle the real job. Whose house first?

(Better bring plenty of drop sheets)

[Gannon]

We could meet up at the Online Book Club Pub and thrash it out. We can draw shelf diagrams on virtual serviettes (paper napkins) and test colours on drink coasters (using Jasper Fforde "Shades Of Grey") and texturise with potato chips (crisps) and when we are jolly enough, we can tackle the real job. Whose house first?

(Better bring plenty of drop sheets)

Sounds like a great idea Maud. I am now thinking of making the library two stories high with the old ladders on wheels that you use to get to the top of the shelves. I think you would be great for designing it, I would really like the old fashioned look with beautiful timber. I would also like a nice old world table with a nice comfy chair on the second level where you can research or just lay back and relax reading. Ok here is a pen, coasters and serviettes lets get to work. Wow, Fran has already finished the wine, where is SKM. GASCON..........