January Recap

The Eyre Affair

We talked about a few different topics from the book when we weren't commenting on the delicious food. The first thing we brought up were the names of the characters. While some of the names seemed unnecessary and degrading, most of the names seemed to describe their character's personalities perfectly. We wondered most about the main character's name, Thursday Next. Although we didn't get into the deep, dark reasons Jasper Fforde would have had for choosing such a name, we wondered at it's significance.

The second topic really had to do with the ability to suspend all belief and dive into a world where pro-Shakespeare and pro-Johnson groups went door-to-door like missionaries and it was expected that time travel, holes in reality and audience productions of Richard III were performed weekly in community theaters. It took some of us - me in particular - a little while to get our bearings and come into this parallel universe. It was uncomfortable at first.

Sometimes, as we were reading, we felt as if we were missing some of the references. Like we didn't feel smart enough to get all of the things he put into the book. Mariann thought that the idea of both characters and readers being able to jump in and out of books is a good idea but felt that Inkheart, by Cornelia Funke, was more entertaining with that same idea.

What we liked best about the book was the thought of some of our favorite characters being alive, interacting with each other and even hoping out of the pages of a book when we aren't looking at the page. Some characters are really that alive for us and this made it all happen. What would you say to Mr. Rochester if given the opportunity?

Extras:

Somehow Renee got off on the inadequacy of Weber State, or any university, to properly prepare future teachers for the reality of teaching. Do I hear doctoral thesis?

Submitted by Renee

Ang's Two Cents:
I agree that there probably aren't many readers who would get all of the references, but it's really fun when you do get one. I've read a lot of Douglas Adams and part of the reason I love Jasper Fforde so much is because he reminds me so much of Adams. It's apparent that he's also a fan because of a few references I've caught. In one book, Thursday complains that she can't find a good cup of tea in the bookworld. This is Arthur Dent's big complaint while he's travelling the universe in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Which brings me to her name. Fforde said in an interview that when his mother wanted to say something was happening next Tuesday, she would phrase it "Tuesday next." He liked the "ring" of that, and for some reason thought it would be a good character name. He says he chose Thursday because it was the most pleasing to the ear, but I think he also borrowed a page from Adams. In Hitchhiker's Guide, the earth is destroyed to make way for an intergalactic bypass...on a Thursday. In this series, Thursday always seems to be saving the world. If you keep reading the series, you'll see that Fforde thought the entire storyline through. For example, one of the scenes from book one pays off on book four.

I missed being with you all on Tuesday and I look forward to getting this class out of the way so I can be with you again!