It’s not for everyone, but I enjoy it.Īs for the story itself, The Big Over Easy asks: who killed Humpty Dumpty? As expected, dear Mr. In that way, his writing can seem a bit cheesy. Names are rarely just names – they are often mildly disguised puns intended to be revealed as the reader stumbles into them again and again. If I read at my normal pace, I miss the subtleties in his naming and his clever turns of phrase. I am typically a fast reader, but whenever I’m reading Fforde, I have to take things slowly. Like the rest of his works, The Big Over Easy is a shining example of his wit and creativity. His worlds – always on the edge of some form of magical realism, if they must be categorized at all – are bizarre and curious, and never fail to be interesting. The Big Over Easy is a prime example of Jasper Fforde’s cleverness and control over the English language. A popular fiction novel that can weave serious philosophy into its narrative always earns huge bonus points with me. Prometheus has an incredible monologue on pages 271-273. It makes no difference to someone new to Fforde's books, but I think those that have read TN would feel a stronger connection to the characters here when The Well. I wish I'd picked this book up directly after reading The Well of Lost Plots. Now this is legislation I can get behind.Ĥ. The new measures, part of the Criminal Narrative Improvement Bill, have been drafted to avoid investigations looking clichéd. Which brings me to another quote:Īnyone who finds a corpse while walking their dog may be fined if proposed legislation is made law, it was disclosed yesterday. I'm equally sure he definitely meant to write a satirised murder mystery and this was easily the closest I've ever read to my blog's namesake movie, Murder By Death, which in my totally biased opinion is the acme of mystery satire. I had a really hard time reading this and not drawing parallels.ģ. I'm pretty sure Fforde had no intention of writing a satire (based on what I've found on the interwebs) about the sensationalism of the free press, but this is definitely a case of current events shaping a reader's interpretation of the text. 'Well,' said Pewter, 'you know the person who always borrows books and never gives them back?'Ģ.

Pewter led them through to a library filled with thousands of antiquarian books. Easily the most highly quotable book I've ever read. I have so many random thoughts about this book.

The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde