This is a wonderful series by Jasper Fforde that gives a fresh and very strange view of literature. It may be a little hard to get into at first, and certainly will be hard to understand, but once you get into it you won't regret a thing. The series is immersive, creative, and extremely hilarious. Fforde weaves a world like no other, where every book in history is being performed by tireless actors. In this series, a book is a live performance piece that is projected into your mind from the Bookworld. I find this a very interesting idea to fantasize about.
AGE RANGE TEEN
Though this series really was written for adults, I think that teens can enjoy it equally much. After all, many teens just read adult books. This also incorporates fun and exciting aspects, though, which make it appealing for even those who are just weaning off of middle grade novels (though, in my opinion, you never should wean off of middle grade novels). Some aspects of this series are rather violent, including a skin mask, gangs, and kidnapping, along with quite a few deaths, but more mature readers should be OK. There are sexual themes, but in the two books I have read, nothing happens past kissing and some mild fantasies.
THEMES
Humour
Literature
Books
Personal Identity Mystery
History Adventure
Family
OVERALL RATING 8.3/10
Though the Thursday Next series is definitely funny and well thought-out, it doesn't make it quite to a nine out of ten rating, and therefore will not be on my book suggestions list. There is nothing terribly wrong with it, but there is some unnecessary violence and a few shock value aspects. In my opinion those are, well, unnecessary. On the other hand, this series deals with some things, such as identity crisis, in a funny yet good way. It is mostly just very entertaining, and a little confusing. Definitely start with the first book (The Eyre Affair). PROS Hilarious
Entertaining
Good concept
Good plot
CONS :
A little shock value
Not very meaningful