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Katie's Keepers
May 2003 :: The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
What is a literature-based alternative reality mystery? Well, The Eyre Affair is one example of such.
Fforde's introductory novel to the Thursday Next series is a wonderful example of modern-day storytelling. Come visit a world where Shakespeare's Henry V is based on audience participation a la Rocky Horror, dodos are pets, the Crimean War is still happening, time travel is possible, and the Goliath corporation rules all. Set in England in 1985, Thursday Next is assigned to the LiteraTecs, otherwise known as SO-27. Assigned to the protection of literature, she hunts out militant Baconians (you do know that Francis wrote Shakespeare, not Bill), tracks down those who would defile Byron by changing his lines, and her new case of figuring out who is killing off literature's great characters.
Jasper Fforde is one of the most original thinkers that I've come across in a long while. He has made literature engaging, accessible, and enjoyable through this highly innovative series. This series can be read on so many levels, that you have to read it over again as soon as you finish. This is the first in a series that Mr. Fforde has said will last at least four books. Be sure to also check out the websites for the author and series at www.jasperfforde.com and www.thursdaynext.com to learn more about the world in which Thursday operates.
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Discussion Questions:
1. What did you think of the premise of the story?
2. What do you think are history's top five turning points?
3. What did you think of Thursday Next compared to other recently popular mystery heroines like Eve Dallas, Stephanie Plum, and Kinsey Milhone?
4. Do you think that a corporation like Goliath could take control of a country as totally as it has in our world?
5. If you could change the end to one of literature's "greats", which would it be and why?
6. What did you think of the live characters who could jump into books by just thinking of it?
7. If you could have just one of the inventions in Thursday's world, what would it be?
8. What do you think the theme of this book was?
9. What did you think of Thursday's growth as a character throughout the book?
10. After reading this book, how would you describe it and why?