Shades of Gray

I first read The Eyre Affair ages ago . . . probably in 2003. (Which feels like ages ago.) Since then, I've read everything Jasper Fforde has written. He's one of the few authors where I'll run and buy the hardcover as soon as it's published. His newest book, Shades of Gray, is a departure from his usual fare where characters jump in and out of books, mixing and mingling with fiction's greatest characters, to solve crimes.

Gray is set in the future. Something has happened to bring an end to civilization as we know it and a new human race has taken over earth. These new humans have limited sight--many people can only see one color, and those are the lucky ones. The rest see only in grayscale. This sounds bleak--and there is a bleakness to this world--but the book is full of Forde's quirky humor. One of the many mandates of the heavy-handed government is the leapback, when certain technologies are forbidden. One leapback prohibited the manufacture of spoons, so they are now a precious commodity. People cherish their spoons--if they are lucky enough to have them--and bequeath them to their heirs.

It is that despotic government, however, that gives the book its dark undertone. Citizens are subject to rules and regulations over every aspect of their lives--what clothes they can wear, when and where they can eat, what books they can read. But, in the midst of this oppressive world, Eddie Russett, with his high perception of red, is questioning the way things are and looking for ways to implement change. This, of course, gets him in trouble. He is banished to the outer limits of the civilized land where he uncovers even darker elements of the government. But, in Fforde fashion, he meets a girl and has some fun adventures on the way.

If people haven't read Fforde, I'd recommend starting with The Eyre Affair and the other Thursday Next books. But, if you're already familiar with his milieu, Shades of Gray won't disappoint!

P.S. I went to an author event for this book, and he said that he's working on a new Thursday Next novel.

My Life in France

Julia Child's My Life in France was one of the most enjoyable nonfiction books I've ever read. (Which, admittedly, isn't very many.) I've never seen her cooking show, so my only picture of Julia is Meryl Streep's portrayal in Julie and Julia, but the same joie de vivre in Meryl's performance comes across on the page. One of her most endearing traits is her habit for nicknaming everything and everyone--her first Paris apartment on Rue de l'Universite was Rue de Loo, and her cookbook work was cookery-bookery.

Also noteworthy is that she really didn't start cooking seriously until her mid- to late-thirties. I still have time! But when she started cooking seriously, she took it very seriously . . . trying every recipe over and over to find exactly the right combination of ingredients and technique. She broke cooking down to a science, and she wanted every recipe in her cookbooks to be fool proof.

There was one part of the book that I did not find so enjoyable: the discussions she and her editor had when it came time to name Mastering the Art of French Cooking. She goes into detail about the different names that were proposed and the sales manager's objections . . . it all just reminded me too much of work! Actually, it was the part of the book I probably related to most.

In any case, it's a great read--I think it would even be interesting for people who don't like to cook. Because I do enjoy cooking, it made me want to get into the kitchen and try something new!

Quote of the Day

"I think reading a novel is almost next best to having something to do."--Margaret Oliphant (1828–1897) (As seen in the Lonely Hearts Book Club column in the LA Times Magazine)

My thoughts exactly! Which is why I look forward to curling up with Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde tonight. The perfect end to a very long week!

Kids' Book Roundup

I spent December reading through several kids books: Noisy Outlaws, Unfriendly Blobs . . . a compilation published by McSweeney's, The Story Girl by L. M. Montgomery, and The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum.

I got Noisy Outlaws when it was published in 2005 because it was a fundraiser for 826, the series of writing centers started by Dave Eggers, and because it included stories by Nick Hornby, Neil Gaiman, and Jon Scieszka. It's a clever book--the stories are accompanied by some amazing artwork, especially by Shelley Dick--and it includes a comic, a crossword puzzle, and even a dust jacket where you can write your own story. There was a contest when the book was published. The stories were all amusing, but Jon Scieszka's stands out: "Each Sold Separately" is a 3-page dialogue written mainly in advertising slogans. ("'I got it,' he says. 'Got what?' says the girl. 'The real thing.' The girl looks in the bag. 'Wow. You just did it. You obeyed your thirst.'")

I was a huge fan of the Anne of Green Gables series when I was younger. A couple of years ago, I visiting Prince Edward Island as part of a Canada/New England cruise and took the Anne tour. Even though it was a rainy day, it is as beautiful as the books make it out to be! We visited both Green Gables and the home where L. M. Montgomery had lived with her grandparents. That's where I picked up The Story Girl, because one of the episodes in the book involves a blue chest that is still at the house. It's not Montgomery's best work, but it was entertaining enough, recounting the summer pursuits of several children on a farm on PEI. The central character, The Story Girl, resembles Anne a bit, but doesn't have her spunk.

The Wizard of Oz was--and still is--one of my favorite movies. Unfortunately, I'd say this is one of the rare instances where the movie is better than the book. But probably because the movie is such a classic and I watched it so many times. But, the book does include episodes that were not in the movie and I was surprised to find characters from Wicked that I thought were the invention of Gregory Maguire. I've had this book forever--since I was two years told--but this was the first time I've read it. I was horrified to find that my two-year-old self had scribbled on just about every chapter-opener page! Luckily, I'd been wise enough not to scribble over any of the words!

I'm down to 30 books from my list of 59 and am celebrating this halfway point by going off-list and reading a book I just received for Christmas: My Life in France by Julia Child. (Yes, I did become interested in reading this only after seeing Julie and Julia!)