Delightful concept for a novel - an alternate time with parallel historical events; yet, some of their history has been oddly altered. For example, they use airships instead of jets.
Watch for puns they're everywhere!

Jasper Fforde is very funny. This series is well worth your time. He uses so many references to great literature (as well as poor literature) and it's caused me to go back and do some re-reading. The plot lines are mysteries/ adventure while at the same time revolving on how the story lines we all know are changed by Thursday Next and her counterparts to end up the way they are today, as she jumps from book world to book world. Read the Thursday Next books before the Nursery Crimes books.

Jasper Fforde's book "The Eyre Affair", first in his Thursday Next series, tickles my fancy, my funny bone, and my curiousity. The alternate reality he has created never ceases to amaze and amuse me, and the characters feel very real, even when they're traveling through time or hunting vampires or encountering famous literary characters like Mr. Rochester. Oh, and the villains? Delightfully horrid, easy to loathe, and also far too much fun. More please!

Thursday Next is the British Kinsey Millhone (Sue Grafton). Both are clever, gun-toting, crime solving heroines straight from 1985. Jasper Fford must giggle outloud when he writes about evil characters like Jack Schitt and Acheron Hades. With names that these, how can this book be anything less than a wild rhumpus of a literary ride. An Eyre Affair is the first book I've read in this series and I can't wait to read the rest!

Fforde certainly conjeurs up some interesting scenarios. Fun and easy reading, one to take to the beach. However I don't think I'll be reading any of the sequels.