Wednesday 4 November 2009

Waiting On...


Earlier I read this latest post by Mrs. B. of The Literary Stew, which is a Waiting on Wednesday post, a weekly event hosted at Breaking the Spine. Waiting on Wednesdays spotlight forthcoming releases that we are anticipating.

I thought this would make a fun post today. I am most excited about the publication of Jasper Fforde's latest book -and the first in a new series- Shades of Grey, due to be published by Hodder & Stoughton in January 2010. I have been waiting for this from early last year when I finished reading his Thursday Next and Nursery Crimes books and now the end is sight.



From Amazon.com: Part social satire, part romance, part revolutionary thriller, Shades of Grey

Eddie's world wasn't always like this. There's evidence of a never-discussed disaster and now, many years later, technology is poor, news sporadic, the notion of change abhorrent, and nighttime is terrifying: no one can see in the dark. Everyone abides by a bizarre regime of rules and regulations, a system of merits and demerits, where punishment can result in permanent expulsion.

Eddie, who works for the Color Control Agency, might well have lived out his rose-tinted life without a hitch. But that changes when he becomes smitten with Jane, a Grey Nightseer from the dark, unlit side of the village. She shows Eddie that all is not well with the world he thinks is just and good. Together, they engage in dangerous revolutionary talk.

Stunningly imaginative, very funny, tightly plotted, and with sly satirical digs at our own society, this novel is for those who loved Thursday Next but want to be transported somewhere equally wild, only darker; a world where the black and white of moral standpoints have been reduced to shades of grey.

From Amazon.co.uk: No one could cheat the Colourman and the colour test. What you got was what you were, forever. Your life, career and social standing decided right there and then, and all worrisome life-uncertainties eradicated forever. You knew who you were, what you would do, where you would go, and what was expected of you. In return, you simply accepted your rung upon the Chromatic ladder, and assiduously followed the Rulebook. Your life was mapped. And all in the time it takes to bake a tray of scones . . .

Eddie Russett lives comfortably in a world where fortune, career and ultimate destiny are rigidly dictated by the colours you can see. Until he falls in love with a Grey named Jane, and starts to question every aspect of the Rulebook. Why are spoons illegal? And what actually happens to all those people who are sent to the Emerald City to Reboot? tells of a battle against overwhelming odds. In a society where the ability to see the higher end of the color spectrum denotes a better social standing, Eddie Russet belongs to the low-level House of Red and can see his own color—but no other. The sky, the grass, and everything in between are all just shades of grey, and must be colorized by artificial means.



Which book are you most looking forward to?


21 comments:

Jill said...

Yea! I didn't know about this one...so glad you're participating!

Anonymous said...

Ooooh thats a tough on, but one I should be able to answer in a week or two as I have a freelance job finding out the best fiction of 2010 hoorah!

I must, must, must read Jasper Fforde, I just know I would love his work! I have about 5 of his novels in my TBR!

This new series looks great.

Annabel Gaskell said...

The Jasper Fforde has gone straight onto my wishlist!

I'm looking forward to two authors' second novels which have been submitted recently, so might be published later next year or the year after even ... from Angela Young and Marie Phillips.

verity said...

This sounds intriguing! I've not read any Jaspar Fforde.

I am waiting for the release of a new Susan Scarlett title (not sure what it is yet) by Greyladies.

Not that I will be buying it!

Lezlie said...

This looks wonderful! I love his Nursery Crimes books, and this is going straight to my Wishlist also.

Lezlie

vvb32 reads said...

interesting play on color words. the nursery rhymes series you mentioned is a fun one too.

Sakura said...

I loooove Jasper Fforde's books and have been waiting for this too! His Thursday Next series is totally inspired, as is his Nursery Crimes series.

Unknown said...

I'm not really that excited about Jasper Fforde. I read the first book in the series and enjoyed it, but it hasn't left me begging for more. I'm sure I'll read some more of his books a t some point, but I am in no rush.

Unknown said...

I'm so looking forward to this one! Love Jasper Fforde!

Paperback Reader said...

Hi Jill, thanks for commenting and for hosting!

Simon, how much fun! I'm looking forward to the new Yann Martel and eventually the new Murakami novels.

Yes, you must read Jasper Fforde!

Annabel, it's the top of my wishlist!

Verity, this is definitely the book I shall be breaking my book-buying ban for.

Lezlie, I hope our wish is met and we both enjoy it!

Hi vvb32, thanks for commenting. I enjoyed the play on words from the synopses.

Hi Sakura, thanks for commenting. Inspired is the perfect description for Fforde; this new books sounds similarly inspired and intrigues me.

Jackie, you read the first book in which series? I wasn't blown away by The Eyre Affair, the first in his Thursday Next, but persisted and loved its follow-ups.

Paperback Reader said...

Hi Bart, I love that you match my enthusiasm!

Anonymous said...

Ooh, I didn't know Jasper Fforde had a new book coming out. I'm glad though he's starting a new series. Much as I love Tuesday I think she's run out of steam, and Nursery Crime has limited mileage.

Stephanie said...

This sounds interesting!

StuckInABook said...

Wow... I don't think there are any. I hardly ever have books I'm waiting to be published - Her Fearful Symmetry was the latest. And The True Deceiver by Tove Jansson - it was quite an unusual feeling, wanting to read a book but not being able to just buy it secondhand on Amazon...!

StuckInABook said...

Wow... I don't think there are any. I hardly ever have books I'm waiting to be published - Her Fearful Symmetry was the latest. And The True Deceiver by Tove Jansson - it was quite an unusual feeling, wanting to read a book but not being able to just buy it secondhand on Amazon...!

Lizzy Siddal said...

Gotta say I'm looking forward to this one also. But I'm even more impatient for Andrea Levy's new novel The Long Song. 91 days and counting .....

Paperback Reader said...

Jane, I agree. This new series excites me.

Hi Stephanie, thanks for commenting. The premise of the book intrigues me and I like the plays on colour.

Simon, there are usually at least a couple of new books a year that I am looking forward to but normally I don't buy a lot of new fiction and it has to be by a favourite author.

Lizzy, glad to know that there's another Fforde fan. I haven't read any Andrea Levy yet.

Karen said...

I love the Thursday Next books and your post has reminded me that I still have ones to read in that series. I might need to start from the beginning I think...

Paperback Reader said...

Karen, how exciting! Sometimes it is best to start from the beginning when continuing with a series.

Jodie said...

Oooo I hadn't heard about this. The description reminds me a bit of The Giver and a bit of oh you know, that Toby Maguire film where they go into the black and white tv town.

Paperback Reader said...

Jodie, I'm sure it could be related to a number of things! I'm not familiar with either the book or film you mention but for me, I was reminded of Nineteen Eighty-Four.