From the Bookshelf of Apocalypse Whenever

Shades of Grey
by
Start date
May 18, 2018
Finish date
June 1, 2018
Discussion
AW BOOK CLUB (spoilers)
Discussion leader
Gertie
Why we're reading this
Discussion begins June 1st, 2018:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

"From the bestselling author of …more

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Group Discussions About This Book

* Nominate books for the next discussions! (fall)
By Gertie , Please go nominate books for book club! · 25 posts · 69 views
last updated 5 hours, 33 min ago
* August 2025: Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey
By Gertie , Please go nominate books for book club! · 24 posts · 37 views
last updated Aug 08, 2025 03:48PM
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What Members Thought

Becky
Feb 01, 2010 rated it really liked it
When I picked this up at the bookstore, the clerk warned me that it was not a Thursday Next novel. I brushed him off because I've really enjoyed everything that Fforde has written -- this was no exception!

I struggled through the first 75 pages or so of "Shades of Grey" as I tried to acclimate to the new world that is being presented. We have a society in which people are categorized (and social standing determined) by their abilities to see different colors - a Colortocracy. Purples are at the t
...more
Hectaizani
After finishing this book I can only say that I wish the sequels were available now because I have so many questions.

A dystopian novel of a society that has risen from the ashes of Something that Happened. We're never told what that Something was. It's not even really alluded to even obliquely. Society has devolved into a caste system based on color. One's place is determined by the colors one can see and how finely they can perceive gradations of those colors.

There is a system of unbreakable r
...more
Megan
I was surprised that I liked this as much as I did. It's highly abstract, amazingly weird, mildly amusing; droll even. The book definitely got better as it went along, although I found the end to be disappointing (but perhaps mostly because it was such a tease). Now I have another series from Jasper Fforde that I can't wait to read the next of!
UPDATE: I've been awaiting the next book in this series for YEARS.
...more
Christy
Mar 15, 2009 rated it liked it
I usually love Jasper Fforde, but this book was just okay. Although he builds a really intriguing world, it takes a long time for things to get going and this is perhaps too obviously the setup for an ongoing series. Having said that, Fforde has definitely piqued my interest and I will be reading the later books in the series.
Rebecca
Mar 04, 2010 rated it liked it
Shelves: listened
Reminded me of the silliness of Terry Pratchett, but with a more recognizable world.
 Michelle
May 02, 2011 rated it it was amazing
Are the sequels out yet???
Micaella
Jan 25, 2016 marked it as to-read
great premise but. eh.
Krazykiwi
Jan 11, 2010 marked it as to-get
Jenny
Jan 25, 2010 rated it liked it
GG
Feb 28, 2010 rated it it was amazing
Shelves: love
Luzcasa
Aug 11, 2010 marked it as to-read
Cole
Sep 29, 2010 marked it as to-read
Vicky
Jan 03, 2011 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: audiobook
Amber
Dec 08, 2019 rated it really liked it
Shelves: library, read-to-me, 2019
Jess
Jul 12, 2012 marked it as to-read
Shelves: backlist-2012
Jessica
Aug 08, 2012 marked it as to-read
Shelves: borrowed, fiction, 2012
Heather
Jun 13, 2014 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
O'Rissa
Oct 14, 2015 marked it as to-read
Jess
Jan 30, 2016 marked it as to-read
Nicole Adrienne
Jan 15, 2018 marked it as to-read
Shelves: fiction, audiobooks
Michele
Jan 28, 2018 marked it as to-read
Gertie
Oct 10, 2018 rated it it was ok  ·  review of another edition
Gwyn
Feb 27, 2019 marked it as to-read
Assumpta
Nov 19, 2020 marked it as to-read
William
Jun 24, 2021 marked it as to-read
Shelves: apocalyptic
Jane
Mar 16, 2022 marked it as to-read
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