It's a little difficult to explain with any kind of brevity the premise of the Thursday Next series. They take place in a parallel universe, essentially quite similar to our own except that steam power prevails over any other technological advancements, the Crimean War is still being fought, time travel is possible and literature is arguably the most important commodity of the human race. It is particularly significant for the protagonist, Thursday, at any rate. As a law enforcement agent for SpecOps, she works to prevent relatively petty crimes such as forgery - that is until she becomes swept up by much more bizarre events.I am currently reading the third of Fforde's seven (and counting, with an eighth to be released soon) book series, entitled The Well of Lost Plots, and although they are not the best written texts in the world - lacking the depth of character that I would count on to make a book really special, and sometimes erring on the side of simplicity, language-wise - I do enjoy them. Considering how complex some of Fforde's ideas are, including pretty abstract notions such as being able to hear and communicate via footnotes whilst residing within Wordsworth's Daffodils, I personally think that the plainness of his writing is often necessary. If he got too flowery, these books would be very dense and difficult indeed.
On another positive note, the character of Ms Next is extremely likeable. No-nonsense and human, she shoulders the role of a 'strong, independent woman' - clichéd as it sounds - simply by being a regular person. She is funny and competent and caring. She also brings a note of normalcy to the strange, occasionally very far-fetched, world that she inhabits. Being able to relate to the protagonist is the key to my fondness for these books, aided by the elements of science fiction and the supernatural which make appearances throughout.
Finally, I would definitely recommend this series for anyone who considers themselves a bit of a literature geek. As an English graduate, I really appreciated the many references and jokes which rely on a knowledge of literary works, the English language and writing itself. And who doesn't love something that makes you feel smart? I really admire the ability of a writer not to talk down to their readers, and that's another thing Fforde's got going for him. If you're not into your classics in a big way, it isn't essential to follow the plot or anything, but be warned - you may not enjoy these books as much as the next bookworm. In conclusion, perhaps not the most accomplished saga you will ever read, but some interesting concepts and, above all, a lot of fun.
