I think this thread's worth reviving... only because I finally found this title at my local BN ever since it was published last year (yeah, not ordering online is the epitome of laziness) and I'm super excited about the fact that it's finally in my hands!

The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde

But honestly, I think *everyone* should first read The Eyre Affair, his first book of a (so-far) 4-part series. I'm hoping a fifth book continuing the adventures of Thursday Next will come out soon. In general, I think it's more enjoyable than Harry Potter. One critic described these books as Harry Potter and Monty Python rolled into one and I sort of agree with him. It's smart, funny, with great characters-- both heroes and villains alike. Heck, even the side characters are worth reading-- and the wacko world (alternate world in the 1980s, all based in the UK area...mostly) is really engaging and fun.

With that said, The Big Over Easy is actually a kind of side story based on what was "created" in the Thursday Next novels. Can't tell you how it is because I haven't read it yet but all I know is that it's a mystery crime novel using nursery rhyme characters and since it's Fforde, there's gonna be a lot of underhanded literary jokes and satire littered all over the place. So any literature and English majors, I can guarantee that you'll get a kick out of them. As for me, I didn't read all the books Fforde satires and references but I still enjoyed them a LOT.

So if you're looking for an idle read that's not your usual cheap-thriller-airplane-ride fare, I strongly recommend Fforde. STRONGLY recommend him. Okay?