Reading Rut Buster: The Thursday Next Series
You too? #118
It happens to the best of us. Despite the bestest of best intentions, sometimes we get into reading ruts where nothing’s quite doing it for us. This is a dreary Eeyoreian state for any reader but for me, it’s especially newletter-existential when I want to share books I love but unfortunately everything I read feels … ehn.
I accidentally read Spare, which - PTSD and mental health are real issues and Prince H seems a likable chap but I can’t say I loved it. Hell Bent? Not nearly as good as Ninth House, big ehn. Once I Was You? A powerful testimony to the immorality of our immigration policy, among other things, but as a written memoir? I must report is was sort of ehn. And just the THOUGHT of reading Pulitzer-Prize winner Demon Copperhead is a big ehnnnnnnn for me, with that hot-footed fatigue feeling like a kid being dragged to a boring museum on summer vacation.
Yes, yes, I know, none of this is the upbeat reading recommendation engine you come for - but! here’s where the narrative turns a corner! In desultory desperate hope of restarting my reading engine, I picked up a book that Very Clever Reader Jill L. suggested, like, a year ago - The Eyre Affair, the first in a series of sci-fi-fantasy-mystery books that’s tailor made for formerly enthusiastic readers.
And? It did just the trick. I am loving them so far and maybe you will too!
Power Summary: In an alternate reality 1980’s Great Britain where time travel and cloning are normal, history is constantly changing, and literature is essentially the governing ethos, Special Ops Detective Thursday Next works in literary detection. When beloved literary characters start to go missing from their books, she’s tasked with hunting down the mastermind.
First of all, anyone who attempts time travel world building is a hero in my book because it’s so heady and complicated. And then to layer on innumerable literary references from Shakespeare to Brontë to Bacon in a completely accessible but not dumbed-down way - well, I think this is an uncommonly smart mystery series.
And it’s all done with a charming, cheeky wit and winking playfulness. Basically every name and proper noun is an allusion to something else (some less subtle than others), every character has a good mix of realism and theatrical brio, and it’s all funny while still having enough mystery tension. Great for fans of the Rivers of London series.
Heads up - these are extremely quirky. I’m sure many readers will find them a little twee, so I can’t say the Thursday Next series is for everyone. I think there are elements that can please sci-fi fans, fantasy fans, and mystery fans, but most especially it’s for readers and people who love books, and a good kickstarter back to loving books.
Plus! I’m going to go ahead and call this a five-lamber. Yes, there are murders, but they’re mostly off-page or not scary/gory. Five lambs FTW!
Have you read these books? Let me know if you’re heart emoji or vomit emoji!
Notes from the Field
The Your Weekend Reading community (us, that’s us) reports back on The Covenant of Water, and so far it is remarkably favorable!
Kat “tore through it,” calling it “amazing” and says, “Abraham Verghese is a masterful storyteller and although the book is long, the chapters are short which makes it a less intimidating (more approachable?) read. The story stays with you for days afterwards... I still feel like I am living with the characters, and watching their lives unfold.” Well! Like, that’s a good review!
Sebastian read all ten thousand pages in a week and says, “Oprah called this ‘unputdownable’ and so do I.” Two credible sources! Plus, lifting the book will get you those Michelle Obama arms, probably, so that’s a bonus.
If you’re reading this or any other Book of the Year, leave a comment and share with the community for future Field Notes!
If you’re still reading:
Aww, thanks! (waves gratefully)
This week, all links go to cutie-pie indie bookstore Point Reyes Books. Whenever I see a bookstore in a sweet town, I’m 99% thrilled and 1% sad bc then *I* can’t be the one to open a bookstore there. Anyway, support indie bookstores, friends!
Honorable mention shout out to Chapter One Books in Ketchum, ID. No online shopping but worth stopping by! I was charmed by the stern handwritten sign in the YA section that said “Sarah J Maas is not YA; it is in the adult section.” Too right!
I’m taking a week or two off from newsletters but don’t forget that the archive not only has more fun mysteries (like here) as well as all other manner of books. I’ll miss you!
A final fun mystery reminder: Glory Be, by BFF and great reader Danielle, comes out in October and YOU can support one of our own by pre-ordering! I’ve read it and can confirm that you won’t regret it.