Thursday Next: Worth the trouble?

[Ashnak]

Amazon just told me that if I liked Pratchett, I'd like Julian Fforde's books about Thursday Next, but I've never heard of them before.

Background: I'm looking for something light (as in not intricate, not as in not long) and fun. My wife and I read to each other most evenings, and we shy away from Dark, Dismal, Depressing, Detailed Dismemberments.

Is it worth getting engrossed in the series?

[The23SidedDie]

I hated the one I got halfway through. I'm not sure why, but something about the way the first-person narrative just got to me.

However, my coworker who lent the book to me love love loves it. So it might be an acquired taste.

[David Goodner]

I've read the first one, and enjoyed it. I've skimmed some of the others when they crossed my desk at work, but never quite had the urge to hunt them all down and read them.

Probably worth a look. Do you have a public library where you could try one for free?

David G.

[Fritzef]

I'd say go for it--I've only read the first two, but found them very amusing. You might also like Fforde's books about Inspector Jack Spratt of the Nursery Crime division--I've read The Fourth Bear, in which Spratt investigates the Goldilocks situation, though much changed from the Southey story. Fforde's stuff is definitely on the light, not the dismal side--though surprisingly inventive.

[Seroster]

My recommendation would be to get them from a library because I'm not sure how much they'll reward rereading. That's just how much I liked them (or not). My feeling is that the first book, or first two, were best. Although it might have been the third that had a really awesome intro chapter.