The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

Thirteen at reading group for this book with 10 people starting the book and 7 finishing it. We had two new attendees (thank you, ArmadilloCon). One person submitted comments via email. The meeting was held at the home of Judy Strange and Jeff Hurst in North Austin. Sold as SF and marketed as a biblio-mystery, this book throughly amused and entertained some readers and confused others. Comparisons were made to the work of Gene Wolfe and Monty Python, which proves how much territory this book covered. Some of the group had read Jane Eyre, but those who hadn’t didn’t feel that got in the way of enjoying the book. But those who had felt they recognized many of the references tended to be more positive in their review than others. They enjoyed the hectic pace and clever connections. For some people the plot was too much at once, convoluted rather than intricate. Others likened it to watching Roman candles, describing it as a neat display with no plot. Another said it “zinged all over the place.” Regardless of whether they liked the book as a whole, everyone liked the puns. Afterwards dinner was at Mongolian Grille on Research.

— Judy Strange