Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
Penguin Books (2013), 384 pages
Description
The Bookworld's leading enforcement officer, Thursday Next, has been forced into a semiretirement following an assassination attempt, returning home to Swindon and her family to recuperate. But Thursday's children have problems that demand she become a mother of invention: Friday's career struggles in the Chronoguard, where he is relegated to a might-have-been; Tuesday's trouble perfecting the Anti-Smote shield, needed in time to thwart an angry Deity's promise to wipe Swindon off the face of the earth; and the issue of Thursday's third child, Jenny, who doesn't exist except as a confusing and disturbing memory. With Goliath attempting to replace Thursday at every opportunity with synthetic Thursdays, and a call from the Bookworld to hunt down Pagerunners who have jumped into the Realworld, Thursday's convalescence is going to be anything but restful as the week ahead promises to be one of the Next family's oddest.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member norabelle414
My favorite heroine in this world or any other is back. There's no BookWorld in this volume, which is a bit disappointing, but Thursday Next has so much to offer that it's all okay.
This book is, essentially, about the people in Thursday's life. In particular, her brother Joffy, her son Friday, and
Joffy has managed to get a large enough percentage of the world to become members of his church, Global Standard Diety (GSD), that God revealed himself (yes, himself). Suddenly, with the atheists and agnostics on board, the GSD finds itself with leverage power against God. He is pissed, and is going to smite the city of Swindon in a week.
Friday, since the disbanding of the ChronoGuard due to the discovery that the time travel technology they were using will never exist, has no purpose. He joins a support group of other would-have-going-to-be ChronoGuard members, and discovers that all of them are going to be mysteriously murdered before 2041.
Jenny is a mindworm planted in Thursday's head by Aornis Hades, Thursday's nemesis, to make Thursday believe she has a 3rd child. Or is she?
And of course, Thursday has to solve all of these problems, and then some more problems. But she does. Because she's such a badass.
Not the best in the series, but really solidly great.
This book is, essentially, about the people in Thursday's life. In particular, her brother Joffy, her son Friday, and
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her "daughter" Jenny. Joffy has managed to get a large enough percentage of the world to become members of his church, Global Standard Diety (GSD), that God revealed himself (yes, himself). Suddenly, with the atheists and agnostics on board, the GSD finds itself with leverage power against God. He is pissed, and is going to smite the city of Swindon in a week.
Friday, since the disbanding of the ChronoGuard due to the discovery that the time travel technology they were using will never exist, has no purpose. He joins a support group of other would-have-going-to-be ChronoGuard members, and discovers that all of them are going to be mysteriously murdered before 2041.
Jenny is a mindworm planted in Thursday's head by Aornis Hades, Thursday's nemesis, to make Thursday believe she has a 3rd child. Or is she?
And of course, Thursday has to solve all of these problems, and then some more problems. But she does. Because she's such a badass.
Not the best in the series, but really solidly great.
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LibraryThing member mamzel
It's so hard to describe Fforde's stories. They take us inside ourselves, inside books, outside of time, and all around reality. And through them all is a sense of family and humor that keeps everything grounded.
Thursday Next is still recovering from her last adventure when she is made chief
I don't recommend reading this book without having already read the rest of the series, if for no other reason than to enjoy the entire roller coaster ride.
Thursday Next is still recovering from her last adventure when she is made chief
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librarian of the Swindon All-You-Can-Eat at Fatso's Drink Not Included Library. In order to balance the stupidity deficit, they are given a pittance of a budget (you've got to love this!) and the town is scheduled for a smiting. Thursday's daughter, Tuesday, is working on a shield to protect the town. It seems that the Earth will be destroyed by an asteroid because ex-members of the ChronoGuard have received letters from themselves about their future and none of them live to see a ripe old age. And Jack Schitt is back and causing more trouble.I don't recommend reading this book without having already read the rest of the series, if for no other reason than to enjoy the entire roller coaster ride.
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LibraryThing member foggidawn
The Woman Who Died a Lot by Jaqsper Fforde is the seventh book in the Thursday Next series, a set of books that I can never coherently explain or summarize. They are a delightfully witty alternate-reality story about . . . and that's where it all breaks down. At that point in summarizing, I usually
In this book, Thursday is recovering from a nearly-successful assasination attempt which has her grounded from the Bookworld, possibly permanently. There's plenty going on in Swindon, however, as the government looks into reinstating certain SpecOps departments, the Almighty appears to be preparing a Smiting for the Swindon town center, the Goliath corporation has something nefarious up its sleeves, and Aornis Hades is playing her usual mind games with the members of the Next family.
It's all good fun, of course, and I did enjoy it, but I missed the Bookworld and all of its wacky denizens. The next book in the series promises a return to that world, so that's something to look forward to.
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start blathering about Swindon and dodos and bookjumping and LiteraTech and the ChronoGuard and Landon and Thursday and Uncle Mycroft's inventions and Acheron Hades and so forth, and none of that means anything to you unless you have read the books. Basically, if tongue-in-cheek meta-ficion sounds like your thing, you should give this series a whirl.In this book, Thursday is recovering from a nearly-successful assasination attempt which has her grounded from the Bookworld, possibly permanently. There's plenty going on in Swindon, however, as the government looks into reinstating certain SpecOps departments, the Almighty appears to be preparing a Smiting for the Swindon town center, the Goliath corporation has something nefarious up its sleeves, and Aornis Hades is playing her usual mind games with the members of the Next family.
It's all good fun, of course, and I did enjoy it, but I missed the Bookworld and all of its wacky denizens. The next book in the series promises a return to that world, so that's something to look forward to.
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LibraryThing member FMRox
Thursday Next is kept quite busy with her family life and the general misdeeds of others. She tries to tackle the Jenny mind-worm, help Swindon be saved from a smite from God, fit into her new career as the chief librarian of Wessex after Special Operations have been disbanded. This is all while
In this latest fantastic tale, Fforde continues to enthrall, entertain and make us readers laugh with witticism and action. The characters are further developed as they grow older, more previous secrets revealed. This is one of the best series ever!
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keeping up with her family with Landon Park-Lane as her enduring supporter, her brother the head of the international religious group, her son who becomes one the Chronoguard (time travelers police) biggest hero and her daughter Tuesday, a brilliant scientist races to find a way to keep part of Swindon from being eradicated by the smiting.In this latest fantastic tale, Fforde continues to enthrall, entertain and make us readers laugh with witticism and action. The characters are further developed as they grow older, more previous secrets revealed. This is one of the best series ever!
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LibraryThing member bell7
The latest in the Thursday Next books moves up in time to 2004. Thursday is now getting close to middle age and slowed down by her injuries in One of Our Thursdays is Missing. Swindon is in danger of smiting from God, the SpecOps are being reinstated, Thursday finds herself the head of the Wessex
If that sounds confusing, well, the books can be. They're delightfully clever and punny and, let's face it, over-the-top ridiculous. The series is such that you really have to read them all, and in order, to have a hope of following what's going on. This one is much the same. Recommended if you're enjoying the series - though I would recommend spreading out a reading of all the books, as this particular brand of silliness and aren't-I-clever moments will get old if you down them all at once.
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Library Service, the mindworm of Jenny continues, and Goliath is up to their old tricks - this time, they are creating "Day Players" who keep taking Thursday's place. Can she figure out everything that's going on and save the day again?If that sounds confusing, well, the books can be. They're delightfully clever and punny and, let's face it, over-the-top ridiculous. The series is such that you really have to read them all, and in order, to have a hope of following what's going on. This one is much the same. Recommended if you're enjoying the series - though I would recommend spreading out a reading of all the books, as this particular brand of silliness and aren't-I-clever moments will get old if you down them all at once.
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LibraryThing member Judiex
The beginning of THE WOMAN WHO DIED A LOT has a very quick recap of previous Thursday Next books when Thursday meets with a psychiatrist as she attemptst to get out of semi-retirement. The main plot of this book is to try to prevent the destruction of the world. Her family plays a prominent part in
As in all the previous books, this science fiction/fantasy is filled with subtle wittiness and a good plot. There are subsitutes for characters--who knows if Thursday is the real one or a fake?--and plausable character interaction. What I especially liked, though, was the unexpected situations and philosophical questions the story raised.
It proposes "the Readable BookWorld makes up for only 22 percent of visible reading matter--the remainder is thought to be a the unobservable remnants of long-lost books, forgotten oral tradition and ideas locked in writers' heads when they died. This material is researched in the Dark Reading Matter department as they try to determine "new ideas, plots and characters as well as a better understanding of the very nature of human imagination, and perhaps why the story exists at all." Wouldn't it be interesting to find all those great stories we've forgotten or that were never composed? What did Charles Dickens really plan as the ending of Edward Drood?
Religion is a secoond area of exploration. If God wanted everyone to believe the same, why were slightly different versions given to the messengers?
And, the most important for this story, are are lives preordained? If so, how does that affect the way we live? What if we knew our futures decades ahead of time? Could or should we try to change them?
As always, I easily put my mind into Jasper Fforde's capable words and had a terrific journey.
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it with each of her children displaying his/her personality and ability.As in all the previous books, this science fiction/fantasy is filled with subtle wittiness and a good plot. There are subsitutes for characters--who knows if Thursday is the real one or a fake?--and plausable character interaction. What I especially liked, though, was the unexpected situations and philosophical questions the story raised.
It proposes "the Readable BookWorld makes up for only 22 percent of visible reading matter--the remainder is thought to be a the unobservable remnants of long-lost books, forgotten oral tradition and ideas locked in writers' heads when they died. This material is researched in the Dark Reading Matter department as they try to determine "new ideas, plots and characters as well as a better understanding of the very nature of human imagination, and perhaps why the story exists at all." Wouldn't it be interesting to find all those great stories we've forgotten or that were never composed? What did Charles Dickens really plan as the ending of Edward Drood?
Religion is a secoond area of exploration. If God wanted everyone to believe the same, why were slightly different versions given to the messengers?
And, the most important for this story, are are lives preordained? If so, how does that affect the way we live? What if we knew our futures decades ahead of time? Could or should we try to change them?
As always, I easily put my mind into Jasper Fforde's capable words and had a terrific journey.
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LibraryThing member Gwendydd
What fun! For the past few Thursday Next books, I started to question whether Fforde should really be continuing the series or if he should have stopped after book 3 or 4. But this one is fantastic, and goes back to the flavor of the first book. Like all of them, this one is hilarious and full of
The Thursday Next universe is a bibliophile's alternate reality, and this book focuses on librarians. It's really fun imagining gun-toting librarians in book-shelf-camouflage fatigues storming people's houses to seize overdue library books.
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incredibly creative and zany ideas. The plot isn't quite as complicated as some of Fforde's other books. The Thursday Next universe is a bibliophile's alternate reality, and this book focuses on librarians. It's really fun imagining gun-toting librarians in book-shelf-camouflage fatigues storming people's houses to seize overdue library books.
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LibraryThing member readafew
The Woman Who Died A Lot is the 7th book in the Thursday Next series. For those who haven’t read any of the previous books, I would recommend starting with one earlier in the series. The series does build on previous books.
Thursday is still recovering from the almost successful attempt on her
Thursday is offered a job, and though it isn’t what she expects she is well suited for it. Jack Schitt is also back and causing plenty of mischief once again. It seems to be related to some ‘Day Player’ activity.
Thursday’s been trying to find Aornis, the mnemonomorph, since no one knows where she disappeared to while transfering from TJ Maxx. There are plenty of hints on where she’s hiding.
Tuesda y is desperately trying to complete the anit-smite shield, since the almighty has scheduled a smiting at 2:00p.m. in downtown Swinden. Goliath Corp, has offered an alternative plan to the smite shield, for a hefty fee of course. And like most major Goliath endeavors, it is unethical. When Thursday finds out what it really is, she finds herself torn between sticking it to Goliath once again or letting them go ahead.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book, it wasn’t my favorite of the series but it was definitely high on the list. Though, to be honest I felt most of them were pretty good books. These books are humorous and Fforde loves his meta humor, and I have to say I like it too. The book world makes appearances in all the novels but since the last book was almost entirely in the book world he seems to have left it almost entirely out of this one. Great book, excellent series, lots of fun.
Thursday is still recovering from the almost successful attempt on her
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life in the last book. She still walks with a cane and she’s addicted to her patch painkillers. She’s bored, and wants to get back to work, even though she doesn’t really need to. Thursday is offered a job, and though it isn’t what she expects she is well suited for it. Jack Schitt is also back and causing plenty of mischief once again. It seems to be related to some ‘Day Player’ activity.
Thursday’s been trying to find Aornis, the mnemonomorph, since no one knows where she disappeared to while transfering from TJ Maxx. There are plenty of hints on where she’s hiding.
Tuesda y is desperately trying to complete the anit-smite shield, since the almighty has scheduled a smiting at 2:00p.m. in downtown Swinden. Goliath Corp, has offered an alternative plan to the smite shield, for a hefty fee of course. And like most major Goliath endeavors, it is unethical. When Thursday finds out what it really is, she finds herself torn between sticking it to Goliath once again or letting them go ahead.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book, it wasn’t my favorite of the series but it was definitely high on the list. Though, to be honest I felt most of them were pretty good books. These books are humorous and Fforde loves his meta humor, and I have to say I like it too. The book world makes appearances in all the novels but since the last book was almost entirely in the book world he seems to have left it almost entirely out of this one. Great book, excellent series, lots of fun.
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LibraryThing member ethel55
Most of the action takes place right in Swindon, with Thursday hoping for a good job with the reformed SO team she used to belong to. Things don't happen quite as our beleagured heroine wants most of the time, so of course, when the head librarian job is offered up, she takes it. Although Tuesday
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and Friday plays large roles in this story, their ages finally making them very useful characters and storylines, Goliath still looms large in Thursday's life too. The fate of part of Swindon is going to rely on Thursday's ability to suss out Goliath sent Day Players and keep the righteous safe. I would never suggest someone start in the middle of this series, but I encourage anyone to pick up The Eyre Affair and see if they can stop from continuing through each book. Thursday is a generation crossing favorite around here. Show Less
LibraryThing member horomnizon
If you love books, I can't imagine you wouldn't enjoy the Thursday Next series. Unless you really hate all things British, in which case, skip it. I'll admit to missing a few references here and there to British people/things, but for the most part, I get it and I love it.
While Thursday's travels
There are several passages where I really did laugh out loud while reading - one in particular pertaining to meeting the stupidity requirements by not funding the libraries, because what could be more stupid than that?
If you haven't read the whole series, start at the beginning...it's well worth it. Feel free to laugh at the literary jokes even if you don't quite understand them because you used Cliff Notes instead of reading Jane Eyre or Pride and Prejudice...it will make you feel smarter. Fforde is the best author I know at taking the topic of literature and turning it into comedy.
While Thursday's travels
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in the Book World had gotten a little convoluted, although no less fun, this takes us back to Swindon and stays in 'reality' - which in these books qualifies as science fiction. She's still fighting Goliath and there is certainly plenty to tell us what TN7 will be about, in fact at times it feels like this whole book is a set up to what will happen next, but that's not a bad thing. There are several passages where I really did laugh out loud while reading - one in particular pertaining to meeting the stupidity requirements by not funding the libraries, because what could be more stupid than that?
If you haven't read the whole series, start at the beginning...it's well worth it. Feel free to laugh at the literary jokes even if you don't quite understand them because you used Cliff Notes instead of reading Jane Eyre or Pride and Prejudice...it will make you feel smarter. Fforde is the best author I know at taking the topic of literature and turning it into comedy.
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LibraryThing member JBD1
One of the better Thursday Next books in the series, I thought. Fforde's on form, and while we don't get to venture much into the BookWorld this time, libraries and their importance in society are one of the major elements here. Fforde's even dedicated the book "To all the librarians who have ever
Filled, as usual, with Ffordean flights of fancy, biblio-puns, and some of the most amusing characters in literature (plus a very slow dodo).
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been, ever will be, are now," and there are a whole bunch of absolutely fantastic quotes about librarians and librarians throughout.Filled, as usual, with Ffordean flights of fancy, biblio-puns, and some of the most amusing characters in literature (plus a very slow dodo).
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LibraryThing member RandyMetcalfe
Thursday Next returns for a seventh outing, a bit battered, achy, and with a pronounced limp, but otherwise in fine form. A few years have passed in Swindon, enough time for Thursday’s children, Tuesday and Friday, to have reached their active teen years. SpecOps has been disbanded, but there are
Jasper Fforde is once again writing with the confidence and verve that one expects of the creator of Thursday Next. There are plenty of twists and turns here with the introduction of Day Players—replicants whose lifespan is predictably announced in their name—and the extreme bendiness of the event timeline, which solves as many plot problems as it creates. There is even a gradual introduction of DRM, Dark Reading Matter, which undoubtedly will form the basis of Thursday’s next great adventure.
If you followed Thursday Next through the previous roller-coaster novels, then you will definitely want to stay in the car for this exciting turn around the track. Recommended for Thursday Next fans. Others may want to stick to safer fare, or better yet get started with the first in the series and catch up.
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reports that it may be resuscitated. Unfortunately, Thursday is overlooked in her application for head of the service, but, luckily for us, she is offered the post of head of the Wessex Library instead. It’s a library that packs a punch, especially given the full combat librarians of the Special Library Services (SLS). As you would expect from a Thursday Next novel, the grasping and mendacious global corporation, Goliath, is also back in the form of none other than Thursday’s old nemesis, Jack Schitt. Expect gunplay, a high body-double count, and the odd smiting from that Olde Testamente player of yore.Jasper Fforde is once again writing with the confidence and verve that one expects of the creator of Thursday Next. There are plenty of twists and turns here with the introduction of Day Players—replicants whose lifespan is predictably announced in their name—and the extreme bendiness of the event timeline, which solves as many plot problems as it creates. There is even a gradual introduction of DRM, Dark Reading Matter, which undoubtedly will form the basis of Thursday’s next great adventure.
If you followed Thursday Next through the previous roller-coaster novels, then you will definitely want to stay in the car for this exciting turn around the track. Recommended for Thursday Next fans. Others may want to stick to safer fare, or better yet get started with the first in the series and catch up.
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LibraryThing member reading_fox
Not as funny as it thinks it is. Besides it is repetitive and doesn't take the series any further. Also I hate time travel, and not even FForde has managed to make this funny. He did very well to remove the possability of time travel a couple of books back, and I wasn't impressed to find it
Thursday was recovered, injured but alive at the end of 6, after spending some time in the Bookworld. The 'real' world is somewhat confusing, and much time has passed since the beginning of the series. There is nowa plan to re-instate Literary Detective branch os Spec-Ops (i don't remeber them ever being disbanded?!). And Thursday obviously expects to be the chief if not only candidate for director. However her injuries are against her and she ends up as head of the sponsored library instead along with her own team of special forces - but no budget. Meanwhile various one-day (uninjured) copies of herself keep infiltrating her family, and similar copie sof her old adversory Jack Schitt from Goliath keep trying to steal unique manuscripts. This leads ot lots of confusing violence, and weird mental bodyhopping. Thursday also has (still? I thought this got erased) a mindworm from Aeornis Hades to deal with.
None of it make smuch coherant sense even with the rules of Thursday's world. I kept hoping for some kind of wrap up and explanation but none really came. maybe I should have re-read the whole series to keep track of it all. There are obviously many funny moments, but nothing as outstanding as the early books.
Far from the best of the series.
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resurrected. It is a direct follow on from book 6 and should not be read as a standalone.Thursday was recovered, injured but alive at the end of 6, after spending some time in the Bookworld. The 'real' world is somewhat confusing, and much time has passed since the beginning of the series. There is nowa plan to re-instate Literary Detective branch os Spec-Ops (i don't remeber them ever being disbanded?!). And Thursday obviously expects to be the chief if not only candidate for director. However her injuries are against her and she ends up as head of the sponsored library instead along with her own team of special forces - but no budget. Meanwhile various one-day (uninjured) copies of herself keep infiltrating her family, and similar copie sof her old adversory Jack Schitt from Goliath keep trying to steal unique manuscripts. This leads ot lots of confusing violence, and weird mental bodyhopping. Thursday also has (still? I thought this got erased) a mindworm from Aeornis Hades to deal with.
None of it make smuch coherant sense even with the rules of Thursday's world. I kept hoping for some kind of wrap up and explanation but none really came. maybe I should have re-read the whole series to keep track of it all. There are obviously many funny moments, but nothing as outstanding as the early books.
Far from the best of the series.
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LibraryThing member lexieconyngham
Loved this as usual, with another quirky plot, wildly imaginative puns and twists, and loads of clever allusions. Not sure if it's just me, but there seems to be more direct satire on real-life names like Richard Dawkins and TK Maxx (these two are probably not often grouped together!. I've missed a
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few of this series but reading out of sequence is fine - it just means I want to back and enjoy the ones I've not read yet! The early ones bear re-reading, I find, too. Show Less
LibraryThing member devenish
Thursday Next is back,but not this time in BookWorld regretfully. Although there is much about Swindon,Goliath and Smiting there is little about BookWorld itself. For me personally,this was slightly less enjoyable than the earlier episodes. We are promised 'Dark Reading Matter' in the next,Next
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book. Can't wait (but I suppose I will just have to). Show Less
LibraryThing member infjsarah
I just loved this. Mr Fforde is back on form. It's entertaining and funny and satiric. Tuesday is feeling her age and the results of previous adventures but still manages to end up as Head Librarian of Wessex Library Services and pursue the bad guys.
One of the best dedications ever - I just wish
One of the best dedications ever - I just wish
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libraries were as valued in the UK as they are in this alternate reality. Show Less
LibraryThing member HiramHolliday
Another great book about Thursday Next, with yet a new twist to it and a well known adversary .
A future collision between earth and an asteroid, a wrathfull Deity instigating a cleansing by fire, Goliath attempting to take over the Dark Reading matter it is all happening in this book. Great
A future collision between earth and an asteroid, a wrathfull Deity instigating a cleansing by fire, Goliath attempting to take over the Dark Reading matter it is all happening in this book. Great
LibraryThing member 4leschats
While everyone in Swindon prepares for an Almight smiting, Tuesday is trying to perfect an Anti-Smote shield the save the city while Joffe makes backup plans. In the meantime, the ban on time travel alters Friday's trajectory from a leader in the Chronoguard to a murderer. And, what of mind worm
Typical, hilarious Fforde antics ensue!
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child Jenny? As Thursday faces domestic woes and recovers from the assassination attempt in the previous volume, she finds herself again battling Goliath who keeps replacing her with synthetic clones while trying to adapt to her new role as head librarian.Typical, hilarious Fforde antics ensue!
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LibraryThing member carolvanbrocklin
Hysterical as usual, even if there were several places where the plot just got away from me and I really didn't know what was going on. Usually, though, it was like Fforde knew that that was happening so he would help you along. Perfect for "Just Librarians".
LibraryThing member TinaC1
More fun, humour, quirkiness, fantastic and unique ideas in the world of Thursday Next. Mysteries abound all nicely tied up at the end.
LibraryThing member Esquiress
I love Thursday Next and the books that are about her, so this book was no letdown. The only thing different about The Woman Who Died a Lot and some of the other books is that there were fewer references to literature in this one, because Thursday was not necessarily doing her normal Literary
However, the book was still very tongue-in-cheek and sometimes laugh-out-loud funny. I really like the way Fforde writes these books, and I cannot wait until the next in the series, Dark Reading Matter, comes out!
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Detective antics.However, the book was still very tongue-in-cheek and sometimes laugh-out-loud funny. I really like the way Fforde writes these books, and I cannot wait until the next in the series, Dark Reading Matter, comes out!
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LibraryThing member DeweyEver
market to those who follow the Thursday Next series. not standalone.
LibraryThing member matamgirl
4.5 Stars but I don't give out many five star reviews. This was fantastic. As a librarian I love the alternate version of librarians that Fforde has created. This book unlike the earlier ones was set in the real world not in Book World and while I suspect that that might bother some people I liked
There is resolution to a lot of things that happened earlier which is nice because I was wondering whether those things would get resolved.
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it. Thursday's real world is a little insane too. There is resolution to a lot of things that happened earlier which is nice because I was wondering whether those things would get resolved.
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LibraryThing member CassieLM
I was so disappointed with the last book in this series; I was afraid Thursday Next had jumped the shark. Thank GSD this book redeemed it. I laughed out loud several times. And was tickled by the cleverness of Fforde. Though it's still not quite as brilliant as the first three/four. I can't wait to
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read the next Thursday Next. Show Less
LibraryThing member A_Reader_of_Fictions
Thursday Next and I have been on quite the journey in the last week or so. As I've mentioned, I have generally either not much liked or nigh loved all of the prior Thursday Next books. The Woman Who Died a Lot finally proves that I can actually like two Thursday Next books in a row, so huzzah for
This Thursday Next book starkly stands out from the rest. The entirety of this book takes place in the real world. Of course, it's Fforde's version of the real world, which reaches high levels of ridiculousness on a slow day. Seriously, there is no BookWorld in this novel, by which I mean the reader doesn't get to go to the BookWorld which does still exist. Since the BookWorld has generally been my favorite part of the series, I was really bummed when I figured that out, but, surprisingly, it worked out.
The saving grace here was that The Woman Who Died a Lot successfully weaves together a few overarching plots, something that failed to happen in First Among Sequels. Rather than feeling like a bunch of jokes welded together artificially, this felt like a story. I will say, though, that there seemed to be a bit less humor in this one overall, as well as less of the literary references, so, if that's what you loved, you will perhaps be disappointed.
Thursday Next is not her usual, gun-slinging, hardcore self. At the end of the prior book, she was discovered injured and her wounds have not yet healed. To walk, she must lean upon a cane and she's developed a Dr. House level addiction to painkillers. Our girl does not have all pistons firing. Because of her physical torments, she doesn't have the strength to read herself into the BookWorld. On the plus side, Spec Ops is reforming, so there will be plenty of work to do. Unfortunately, the job she gets offered is not head of the literary detectives but head librarian.
My favorite bits had to do with the library. Fforde certainly nails some aspects of library service, but I think the librarians of our world would love to live in his. In Swindon, librarians receive huge salaries (and get chauferred to work where a chef cooks the meals) and the libraries get huge budgets. On top of that, librarians have huge political sway and are among the most respected and intimidating people in the community. Librarians, what say you? Shall we decamp to Ffordelandia posthaste?
Another delightful plotline deals with the imminent smiting of Swindon by God, pissed off by Joffy's insistence upon a meeting. A good smiting always proves who's the boss. To prevent this, Tuesday races to complete her Anti-Smite shield, while Goliath Corporation offers a backup that is, of course, nefarious. One fun litte nugget of info to come out of this is that this is an alternate universe from our own likely, since Joffy references that in some alternate realities people are stupid enough to think homosexuality is a sin. Never have I been prouder of my home universe. (Hint: heavy sarcasm)
The final arc involves Friday, who, along with the rest of the people who would have been in ChronoGaurd, receives a letter informing him what his life would have been and what it will be. He discovers that in a few days he will murder one of his classmates, go to prison, and get out just in time to be murdered with a baseball bat. Even with ChronoGuard shut down, it still manages to mess with lives and event lines in rippingly confusing ways.
The Woman Who Died a Lot is perhaps the most mainstream and accessible of Fforde's books, though, of course, trying to pick up the series here and understand anything would be like trying to understand LOST without watching every single episode. The ending makes it clear that at least one more Thursday Next book is in the works, and I suspect there will be lots of BookWorld action. Holla!
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that. While this one did not entertain me quite so much as 1, 4, and 6, I found it a solid read without any slow spots.This Thursday Next book starkly stands out from the rest. The entirety of this book takes place in the real world. Of course, it's Fforde's version of the real world, which reaches high levels of ridiculousness on a slow day. Seriously, there is no BookWorld in this novel, by which I mean the reader doesn't get to go to the BookWorld which does still exist. Since the BookWorld has generally been my favorite part of the series, I was really bummed when I figured that out, but, surprisingly, it worked out.
The saving grace here was that The Woman Who Died a Lot successfully weaves together a few overarching plots, something that failed to happen in First Among Sequels. Rather than feeling like a bunch of jokes welded together artificially, this felt like a story. I will say, though, that there seemed to be a bit less humor in this one overall, as well as less of the literary references, so, if that's what you loved, you will perhaps be disappointed.
Thursday Next is not her usual, gun-slinging, hardcore self. At the end of the prior book, she was discovered injured and her wounds have not yet healed. To walk, she must lean upon a cane and she's developed a Dr. House level addiction to painkillers. Our girl does not have all pistons firing. Because of her physical torments, she doesn't have the strength to read herself into the BookWorld. On the plus side, Spec Ops is reforming, so there will be plenty of work to do. Unfortunately, the job she gets offered is not head of the literary detectives but head librarian.
My favorite bits had to do with the library. Fforde certainly nails some aspects of library service, but I think the librarians of our world would love to live in his. In Swindon, librarians receive huge salaries (and get chauferred to work where a chef cooks the meals) and the libraries get huge budgets. On top of that, librarians have huge political sway and are among the most respected and intimidating people in the community. Librarians, what say you? Shall we decamp to Ffordelandia posthaste?
Another delightful plotline deals with the imminent smiting of Swindon by God, pissed off by Joffy's insistence upon a meeting. A good smiting always proves who's the boss. To prevent this, Tuesday races to complete her Anti-Smite shield, while Goliath Corporation offers a backup that is, of course, nefarious. One fun litte nugget of info to come out of this is that this is an alternate universe from our own likely, since Joffy references that in some alternate realities people are stupid enough to think homosexuality is a sin. Never have I been prouder of my home universe. (Hint: heavy sarcasm)
The final arc involves Friday, who, along with the rest of the people who would have been in ChronoGaurd, receives a letter informing him what his life would have been and what it will be. He discovers that in a few days he will murder one of his classmates, go to prison, and get out just in time to be murdered with a baseball bat. Even with ChronoGuard shut down, it still manages to mess with lives and event lines in rippingly confusing ways.
The Woman Who Died a Lot is perhaps the most mainstream and accessible of Fforde's books, though, of course, trying to pick up the series here and understand anything would be like trying to understand LOST without watching every single episode. The ending makes it clear that at least one more Thursday Next book is in the works, and I suspect there will be lots of BookWorld action. Holla!
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Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2012-07
Physical description
384 p.; 5.1 inches
ISBN
0147509769 / 9780147509765