Recently Read: The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde

The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

SRP (Summer Reading Program) Why Bite: The premise is clever and funny and the story is entertaining even if parts were somewhat predictable.

This author was recommended to me, and even though I wanted to read his “Thursday Next” series as a way of introduction, I came across this novel at the library instead. Our town’s little library has spent quite some time and resources in developing a large collection of mystery novels, and the only library sponsored book club for adults focuses on that specific genre.

The novel started out slowly, introducing the characters and environment. That’s to be expected, I suppose. It soon picked up after the discovery of Humpty Dumpty’s murdered body. If it weren’t for the nursery rhyme motif, this would be a typical detective novel, with stereotypical characters, false leads, obstacles, clues that make little sense at the time, and an assortment of plot twists (some predictable, some unexpected) that lead to a outlandish conclusion after a climatic confrontation between the protagonist and antagonist. It was refreshing that it didn’t end quite the way I expected it to, though many parts along the way felt painfully predictable to me. The novel is also written with tongue-in-cheek humor that often leaves the reader in stitches.

By the way, it’s hard to write a review of a mystery novel without giving too much away. Sorry if I fail.

Fforde deftly navigates through nursery rhyme, folktale and mythological lore to weave a story that leads you down familiar paths before veering askew. For example, we expect Jack to take an axe to the beanstalk, but instead he grabs a chainsaw. Eventually the reader learns to expect the unexpected in this regard. Unfortunately it doesn’t carry over into the character development or standard elements of the basic detective story, which appears to be formulaic. There is the main protagonist, the unlikely hero with a bad track record and unassuming demeanor. There’s his partner/sidekick, a woman who would rather not be there and doesn’t like him at first. She almost betrays him, but predictably has a change of heart once she gets to know him. There’s the typically astute forensics experts who are sage when it comes to life in general, and a crew of officers/subordinates with absurd quirks but otherwise rather efficient at their work. Of course there is the self-absorbed competitive coworker who sabotages the protagonist’s case in an effort to increase his own prestige, and turns out to be the biggest coward of all despite a reputation to the contrary. Then there is the antagonistic boss who starts out against the protagonist but eventually comes around. The villains aren’t any less two dimensional and predictable. The unlikely subject turns out to be even more sinister than the more likely choice.

What kept this novel from being a run of the mill, mundane detective story was not just the nursery rhyme motif. Certainly, though, it helped. This would have just been a mediocre story with a gimmick if Fforde didn’t lead the reader through a deceptively complex plot in which multiple motives, twists and turns are discovered. Spratt doesn’t just solve one murder, but uncovers a series of underhanded activity that baffles the reader as much as it does the characters. Some of the plot twists were predictable, such as Mary’s change of heart. But the twists and turns in the investigation were often not at all predictable. Other than the reader knowing full well in the beginning that Humpty Dumpty didn’t commit suicide and that the first trail will no doubt end cold, many of the twists weren’t nearly as predictable. I knew they would eventually come across a goose, but I didn’t expect where. And I certainly would never have guessed Spongg’s master plan. So, the plot kept me on my toes, so to speak. The way Fforde starts each chapter with excerpts from fictitious publications, often poking fun at nursery rhymes, mythology, folk tales and detective stories, also greatly added to the experience. These were particularly clever and often quite funny.

I’m just going to have to put a spoiler alert on this review, aren’t I?

While I would have loved to see more debt to the main characters, this novel was a fun ride. I hope to read more Fforde, but perhaps I will take a break from “Nursery Crime” (I understand there is more to the series) and try the first novel in the “Thursday Next” at some point.


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Recently Read: The Cat Who Had 14 Tales (Cat Who...) by Lilian Jackson Braun

The Cat Who Had 14 Tales (Cat Who...) by Lilian Jackson Braun
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

SRP Why Bite: This is a lighthearted collection of whimsical stories about cats, and two or three darker ones.

This was not what I expected after having read The Cat Who Could Read Backwards. I thought this collection of short stories would be in the same vein as the series of mystery novels. Not so. Instead of tales of suspense and mystery, these were mostly whimsical tales about various cats, not unlike Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. A few stories included in this collection, such as “The Dark One,” “SuSu and the 8:30 Ghost,” and “East Side Story,” “The Sin of Madame Phloi” were darker, more sinister in tone. In fact, I would say they were downright macabre. Only a couple stories, in fact the first and last stories bookending this collection, were actual mysteries. A few stories touched on supernatural themes, such as witches and ghosts, but I was most surprised to discover one science fiction story. “The Cat Too Small for His Whiskers” was inventive and comical. I enjoyed that one particularly well.

Actually, I enjoyed most of the stories, but not all. The two that were actually mysteries reminded me much of the qualities that I liked in the first of The Cat Who … series. The last story, “Tragedy on New Year’s Eve,” was particularly interesting. It was written in the form of a series of letters from a mother to her son, in which she describes how she solved the mystery of a tragic car accident. The cat actually plays a minor role in the story and is not developed as much as a character as the cats in the other stories, but the principle human character is well developed and the plot itself shows Braun’s strength in developing a good mystery.

Like any collection of short stories, some are better than others. Overall, this is a good read if you like stories about cats, but maybe not so much if you don’t.


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Recently Read: "The Cat Who Could Read Backwards" by Lilian Jackson Braun

This is a novel I read last November. It was a fun read.

The Cat Who Could Read Backwards by Lilian Jackson Braun
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a fun read. I was looking for something light to read, and this series was recommended to me. I used to be into mysteries when I was a young girl, but I had gotten out of the habit of reading them. This was a refreshing change of pace for me.

I have not been good about keeping up with the latest releases of new authors. I often lament that I don't read enough of current writers, that I tend to gravitate towards classics and novels written by those long since passed away. So, at first, I was hesitant to try this series. After all, it was written, and takes place in the 1960s. I can forgive dated work by my favorite writer, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., but a novel that for all I know was a dime store mystery? Luckily, I finally put aside my literary snobbery and picked up the book.

I found it to be highly enjoyable and well written. The writing was infused with quick wit and wry commentary on society that I hardly noticed how dated certain aspects. The plot moved along at a nice pace, the clues were clever enough that the ending wasn't obvious and even included a couple twists I didn't see coming. And, even though I don't care much for cats in general, I rather enjoyed the title character. Making the feline not only a central participant in solving the crime but also a three dimensional character is a clever literary device. Even though I happen to be a dog person, I don't really see this technique working with any other type of pet. A Siamese cat is perfect, and one of the most human-like breeds of the species. In short, there was no other choice for Braun to make.

There are over 25 books in this detective series. I will probably eventually read them all. While not the most complex or profound book I've ever read, it was more enjoyable that many novels written today in the genre. I liked it so much I passed on my copy to my mother. I can't do that with most novels written in the last 10-20 years. They always seem to involve multiple sex scenes. I once read a murder mystery that centered around a librarian and a man solving her father's murder. Practically every other chapter was soley the two principles having sex. It seems many mass produced novels these days are hybrids of various genres and romance novels. There is something to be said for the old fashioned novel that assumes you know what happens when the characters close the bedroom door.

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