Hanging on every word with Gus Monet
Oracle reviewer Gus Monet reviews “Lost in a Good Book” by Jasper Fforde, part of the Thursday Next series
This genre-bending novel book features an action/adventure plot that merrily forays into the realms of fantasy and science fiction. “Special guests” coming into the story include the Red Queen and the Cheshire Cat from that inspiration for so much juvenile literature, Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland”. Also making an appearance is Edgar Allan Poe and his famous poem “The Raven”
With a mesmorizing cast of characters and sassy humour,”Lost in a Good Book” is a great cliffhanger of a novel for ages 12 and up.
Thursday Next, a literary detective with a knack for being able to jump into books (and I mean jump right inside them) wakes up one morning to find that her husband has mysteriously vanished! Thursday will do everything in her power to get him back, but she also has to find some way of stopping the world from ending next week! (no pressure or anything).
FFforde’s characters are superbly fleshed-out, staying in your head for days and even weeks after reading; even the minor players are memorable.
As to the plot, just at the point where I was sure my interest must flag, I would turn to the next page and Fforde would leave me hanging again. And unlike some novels for young readers, the side plotting is intricate, but never detracts from the main story.
I highly recommended this book, so out of five stars, I give it three and a half.
Review copy of”Lost In A Good Book” by Jasper Fforde (soft cover
published by Penguin Canada) was provided by Collected Works Books,
1242 Wellington Street www.collected-works.com
OMG! Y R sew articlte!
Congrats Gus…Your First article in the history of humankind!
Dad
What a great review. It really gives me a sense of what this book is about and what would appeal to a young reader. I think I will pick up a copy for my 12 year old niece. (Nice to get a young reviewer perspective for a change.)
Suesan