Challenge: 50 Books discussion

Hi, everyone! We're a few days away from December (I can't believe it's almost December already!), so I wanted to remind everyone that one of our group reads for the month will be The Eyre Affair (which I'll be moderating). It will be my first time with the book, so I'm looking forward to reading and discussing it with anyone who'd like to join.

Here's my thinking for a reading/discussion schedule:
Dec. 1 - 8: chapters 1-9
Dec. 9 - 15: chapters 10-18
Dec. 16 - 22: chapters 19-27
Dec. 23 - 31: chapters 28-36

My goal is to post discussion questions every Friday or Saturday (so the first set of questions will be around Dec. 8th), and if anyone has anything they'd like to discuss, go right ahead and jump in.

It looks like this will be a fun, easy read, so nothing too hard during the holiday season. Happy reading!

So, if anyone's planning on reading The Eyre Affair with us, let's introduce ourselves. I'll start:

Hi, I'm Tiffany. I've been around Goodreads for a few years. You might have seen my crazy reading lists every year. So many books, so little time!

I don't know what originally made me want to read The Eyre Affair, but after I already had it on my to-read list, it was recommended by Nancy Pearl on KUOW. I also have a friend who's a librarian and likes warm cozy reads, as well as books with engaging characters, and she's referred to this book as one of her all-time favorites, so that sounds like two ringing endorsements!

I'm excited that we're reading this for our December book. I always like to read a good, character-driven fiction in December. It's like a reward for making it through the harder books the rest of the year, but also somehow gets me in the holiday spirit, even if it's not a holiday-related book. There's just something about a good romp (to borrow someone else's phrase) of a book to make me feel merry!

So, who else will be reading this with us? Will it be your first time reading this book, or have you read it before? What made you want to read it?

I'm Meg, and I'm fairly new to Goodreads. I've never read "The Eyre Affair" before; in fact I only first heard of it when I read this post. I have pretty quirky taste in reading, so I was skeptical of any "group reading" until I found a review saying this book is "Douglas Adams-esque". It's been a long time since I've had a good discussion over a book, so I'm happy to be joining you guys!

Oh, no! It's "Douglas Adams-esque"? And here I just finished reviewing The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, saying how I was completely unimpressed by it!

Oh, well. Maybe The Eyre Affair will strike me differently, especially because I have two trusted cheerleaders for it.

Glad to have you joining us, Meg! Hopefully we'll get a good discussion going.

I've been wanting to read this book, so add me to the fun. It has been recommend to me numerous times by people who know my reading style (which is eclectic). I will be interested to hear what the group thinks about it.

Welcome, Sharon! I've already started reading, but just a few chapters, and I'm already starting to see why people like this book. An alternate world, literature, mystery and intrigue ... Hopefully we'll have a fun read with this!

Hi, everyone! It's the end of the first week with The Eyre Affair -- how do you all feel? Liking it? Loving it? Indifferent? Already given up?

Right now, it feels like we're still getting to the point where the action ramps up, so it doesn't seem like there's much to discuss yet. From the description of the book, I *think* there's going to be a whodunnit element, but we haven't yet gotten to the whatdunn part, so we can't discuss yet who we think dunnit!

We're still in the meet-and-greet portion of the book, so with that in mind, some fluffy questions this week: how's everyone liking the character names? The Hades brothers, Acheron and Styx? Or my favorite: Paige Turner. And what about the ability to end up in the plot of the book, like Thursday did with Jane Eyre when she was young? Ooh, fun! If you could jump into any book, what story would you enter?

Also, feel free to add anything you'd like to discuss, but remember: no spoilers, please.

Hi, I was just able to pick up the audio version of this book from the library. I'll be starting it later today. I started reading it many years ago and didn't get too far in it, so let's see how I do this time.

Susan wrote: "Hi, I was just able to pick up the audio version of this book from the library. I'll be starting it later today."

Great, we'd love to have you join!

Since you're listening to it, you can also let us know who the narrator is and how you're liking the audio version.

Well, Tiffany, the narrator, Susan Duerden, has a dream of a voice, but even her narration cannot keep me awake on this book. this is my second try, and although I find the concept fascinating, and although I know Jasper Fforde has a huge following, I am just not enjoying this. I finished the first disc, which takes me somewhere into the third chapter, and I am moving on to something else. I will keep an eye on this discussion to learn what the rest of you got out of it. I hope you enjoy it.

Susan wrote: "Well, Tiffany, the narrator, Susan Duerden, has a dream of a voice, but even her narration cannot keep me awake on this book. ..."

Aw, that's too bad, Susan. But, like I said with The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, to each his own. Just because it seems like *everyone else* loves the book doesn't mean you have to. And it's better to realize that now, rather than once you've finished it and then wonder why you wasted a week of your life reading a book you disliked :)

Hello, everyone! How are we doing with The Eyre Affair? I'm about halfway through it, and I'm still waiting for what (I thought) was played up as the major plot of the story. As I was finishing up chapter 18 last night, though, something was said that made me think we're about to come up to that plot. Can't wait!

So what do we think of the little tidbits at the beginning of each chapter, the excerpts from related books, like A Life in SpecOps and Thursday Next--A Biography? Fun and whimsical? Insightful? Annoying? Skip them?

My two questions for this week:
1) For those who have read Jane Eyre, do you feel like you have an advantage over those who haven't read it? Are there things you get that you might not if you hadn't read Jane Eyre? I wonder because (I'm going to mark this as a spoiler, just in case, but I don't really think it is) (view spoiler)[we read early in the book that Thursday entered Jane Eyre when she was a child and interrupted the plot by startling Rochester's horse. Later, in the current time, Rochester comes to her in a dream and tells her that she actually changed the plot of the story (hide spoiler)]. I wondered, then, if it matters that I haven't read Jane Eyre: do I *need* to have read the book to understand what happened? Am I missing something huge by not knowing the plot? (view spoiler)[Does knowing the story make Rochester's comment an "Oh my God! It makes sense!"? Does Jane intervening completely change the plot from the "original" plot of Rochester and Jane just "bumping into each other" and "speaking briefly"? Is that a major turning point in the book? (hide spoiler)] (I don't even know if what I'm saying makes sense. Maybe I need to go read Jane Eyre.)

2. Last week I asked what book you'd jump into if you could. Now we know, though, that jumping into books doesn't just make you an observer, but an actor in the story. So if you could jump into one story to *change the events*, what story would you enter, and what would you change (and why)? What do you think would come of that change?

Tiffany wrote: "And what about the ability to end up in the plot of the book, like Thursday did with Jane Eyre when she was young? Ooh, fun! If you could jump into any book, what story would you enter?"

I realized last night that I never answered this! I think if I could enter any one story, it would be Anne of Green Gables. Yes, it's a girly choice, but Anne is such a likable character and it would be fun to run around for the day with her, partaking in her adventures.

But what story would I enter with the sole purpose of changing the events? I'm going to have to keep thinking about that.

I read The Eyre Affair a long while ago, and absolutely hated it.

However, I must comment on the question about which book one might want to jump into, and I love the Anne of Green Gables answer. That is one of the most remarkable books I've ever read, and I agree with Tiffany that Green Gables would be the place to land!

Rose

Obsessedreader wrote: "I read The Eyre Affair a long while ago, and absolutely hated it. ..."

Ooh, Rose, would you mind telling us why you hated it?

I hated The Eyre Affair because all the characters were annoying. Everything they did just bothered me!

Rose

Obsessedreader wrote: "I hated The Eyre Affair because all the characters were annoying. Everything they did just bothered me!

Rose"

hehehe. I can see that :)

I know it's not Friday/Saturday, but I happened to think about this the other night while reading.

If 12/21 really were the end of the world, would you be happy with this being one of the last books you read (or THE last book)? Obviously, if Rose were doing the group read with us, she'd say "NOOOOOO!!!!!" What about anyone else?

Tiffany wrote: "I know it's not Friday/Saturday, but I happened to think about this the other night while reading.

If 12/21 really were the end of the world, would you be happy with this being one of the last boo..."

I'll have to agree with Rose, not because I dislike this story, but I don't really like it either. If it was my last book I think I'd rather read something very profound or funny or both!

i read a review and it seemed interesting so when i saw it as group read i thought i could give it a try:)
just started so no opinions yet

Not in the group read as I read this ages ago - and I LOVE Jasper Fforde, how can you not love a book in which the protagonist's boss is named Braxton Hicks? I know a lot of guys might not get that, but years later it still makes me smile. So, yes if the world ended tomorrow, I would be very happy to be reading this or any of his other books.

Ana wrote: "i read a review and it seemed interesting so when i saw it as group read i thought i could give it a try:)
just started so no opinions yet"

Feel free to let us know what you think as you go :)

I've been having internet problems all week, so I'm going to ask this week's question while I'm still able to talk to you all.

The front page of my copy of the book says it was awarded the 2003 Alex Award from the Young Adult Library Services Association. Do you think this is a young adult book?

I was quite surprised that it was considered YA, mainly because there's a fair amount of language I wouldn't use in a YA book. Also, it just doesn't *feel* to me like a YA book (not because it doesn't have vampires or the like, but ... it just doesn't feel right/YA).

What do you think? YA or not?

There is also a character named Jack Shit, and I don't think that is too clever

Susan wrote: "There is also a character named Jack Shit, and I don't think that is too clever"

Yeah, I was surprised when I saw his name. I mean, I know kids (and adults, too) know swear words, but it just seems so ... gratuitous, I guess. I mean, yeah, it's kinda funny that there's that little play on the phrase, but I thought it was unnecessary.

Which would be why I don't get the YA thing, because there's a lot of cleverness with names or references that I don't think translate to a younger audience. Maybe that's just me. I know that Braxton Hicks would've gone right over my head before friends started having babies.

Donna wrote: "Which would be why I don't get the YA thing, because there's a lot of cleverness with names or references that I don't think translate to a younger audience. Maybe that's just me. I know that Braxt..."

I agree. When hearing about Fforde's books before, I assumed that the reader would have to be literature literate to understand the novel and to get the plays on words, which did not immediately bring YAs to mind.

I'm going to jump in on this reply--because I do comment on many posts. What I CAN'T do is start my own posts! I've been trying for two years now--I read over 100 books a year, and would love to list them, but I can't figure out how to do it.

Can someone clarify the process for me so that I can start 2013 in a more pleasing fashion?

Rose

Hi, Rose (and anyone else trying to figure out this same issue) --

When you want to start a new discussion in a group:
1) Go to the group's page (for this group, it's http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/2...).
2) Go to the Discussion Board section of the page (right under the group's header, and any group reads info).
3) On the right side of the "Discussion Board" title bar, click "new," which will add a new thread to the group.
4) In the "topic" space, name your thread ("Rose's 2013 books," for example).
5) If you're writing about a specific book or author, you can add the name to the "this topic is about" field. If you want to put your thread in a specific folder (like when we put our personal reading lists in this group in an alphabetic folder), click on the folder drop down and pick which folder your discussion should go in.
6) Type what you want in the comment field.
7) When everything's done, you can click on "(preview)" in light grey at the bottom left, next to the "post" button, then post it when you're done. Your new discussion will show up in the folder you chose, marked as "new" for everyone to read!

Susan wrote: "Donna wrote: ..."

I think any reader could read and enjoy the story (although I still am not so sold on how much YA readers would enjoy it. It just doesn't feel like something they'd want to stick with for very long...just something about the ... writing style? plot? I don't know), but if you're literature literate, as Susan said, it helps you get the humor in it *more*. You can enjoy it without being lit (or life) literate, but you'd get more out of it if you've had experience to know what Braxton Hicks means, or what really happens in Jane Eyre (which I'm adding to my to-read list for next year, just so I know!) or Martin Chuzzlewit, or any of the other little plays on words.

So, since we're finishing up with the year and The Eyre Affair this week, I figured I'd just ask if anyone has any last comments. Like the book? Hate it? Funny? Wish you hadn't read it? Your new favorite book? Anything else to add to the discussion?

Susan wrote: "Donna wrote: "Which would be why I don't get the YA thing, because there's a lot of cleverness with names or references that I don't think translate to a younger audience. Maybe that's just me. I k..."

I agree, there is a lot of "in jokes" and one of the reasons Thursday is a LitTech (sorry I don't have my kindle with me so I can't look up the correct title).

I'm struggling with this book (would love to finish it before 2012), I appreciate Jasper Fforde writing style, but its not my "cup of tea" and I can see why I haven't read him previously.

I find it very interesting that those of us who are commenting a lot in this thread are mostly in the "not my cup of tea" camp, when all I'd heard about it before was how great it was! So far, Donna's the only one who *is* in the "my cup of tea" camp!

Tiffany wrote: "I find it very interesting that those of us who are commenting a lot in this thread are mostly in the "not my cup of tea" camp, when all I'd heard about it before was how great it was! So far, Donn..."

I love these reading challenges because we get to discover authors that maybe we normally wouldn't read. However we also read authors that we mightn't read again - but I wouldn't change it.

Thank you, Tiffany, for posting instructions on posting. I will be giving it a try!

Rose

it is such a slow read...i have spent a lot of time reading it and i am only 15%through it i don't understand why because i like it so far

Tiffany wrote: "I find it very interesting that those of us who are commenting a lot in this thread are mostly in the "not my cup of tea" camp, when all I'd heard about it before was how great it was! So far, Donn..."

OK, Tiffany, I'll weigh in.
I read The Eyre Affair about 10 years ago and have read 5 of the 7 in the Thursday Next series. I enjoyed the heck out of the first one. To me, Thursday Next could be read on multiple layers, but certainly one should be a Reader to appreciate the book, i.e. someone who reads more than a handful of books a year and/or appreciates literature and words in general. Clearly anyone in this challenge *is* a Reader! :)
Having read 5 in the series, I found Thursday Next to be a Summer Read. I tried reading at least one of the other books in the winter, and I lost interest. BUT later that year, by the pool, with my girls splashing, and me working on my tan, I devoured it happily.
That's just my $0.02.

Yes, I love Jasper Fforde. I appreciate the cleverness and the respect for his reader's intelligence. And if nothing else, he is totally original. If this wasn't your cuppa, try HIS "Shades of Grey". Thankfully nothing like that over hyped POS that took over the world this year.

Also, Tiffany, you haven't read "Jane Eyre"?!! That was like a rite of passage when I was in junior high school. It's one of the templates for the modern romance genre. Go on, give it a try.

Diane wrote: "OK, Tiffany, I'll weigh in. ..."

Thanks for that, Diane! I was hoping that this book would be a nice, light read for the holiday season (don't want anything too deep while you're planning presents and baking cookies), but maybe we need sun and warm weather, too. I might try the second book some summer.

Any chance you like the later books more than you like the first book? The blurbs (of course) sound good, but I don't know if that's just hype to sell books, or if their plots really are better.

Donna wrote: "Also, Tiffany, you haven't read "Jane Eyre"?!! That was like a rite of passage when I was in junior high school. It's one of the templates for the modern romance genre. Go on, give it a try."

*bashful* Nope, never read it. I'm not a very girlygirl, so I've tended to stay away from Austen and her ilk. A few years ago, though, I listened to Pride and Prejudice and actually enjoyed it. Whether it was the writing or the narrator's voice that sold me on the book, I'm not sure. But I did enjoy it, and I know that Jane Eyre is a classic, so I'm going to give it a try.

Ok i finished it earlier today and i enjoyed it. It was clever and different but I don't think it was as light and whimsical as it was trying to be, in fact it was hard work at times. I think the biggest flaw is that theres too much going on in the way of subplots. I know its the first of a series but it was hard to know which story we were supposed to be committing to. For instance the father being on the run, the war, the brother in the war, the shakespeare author, the spike/vampire thing, time rips, the goliath evil corp - the list goes on with none of them resolved. Also some of the references were pretty obtuse. i had to google the Crimean War to distinguish fact from fiction and even though i read Jane Eyre in June i still had to think twice about the storyline.

I did like it i think it would improve with a 2nd read but it would really benefit from a brutal edit.

Nicola wrote: "Ok i finished it earlier today and i enjoyed it. ..."

Oh, I *so* wanted Spike to be a big character in this book. I see on Wikipedia that he appears in later books, though; but still, Fforde teased me with this character I liked, and then we hardly ever saw him! And the Goliath Corporation -- yeah, that was one subplot that I thought could have been gotten rid of. Maybe it comes back later, but that was definitely one plot that made the overall book feel muddled.