Friday, July 30, 2010

July 2010

Alison's turn to choose gave us Shades of Grey: The Road to High Saffron by Jasper Fforde. We gave it 3 1/2 stars.  Lunch was at Gourmandise in downtown Salt Lake City at 250 S 300 E.

Leslie says: I love Fforde's style, humor, and wit. This book did not disappoint. There is definite benefit in at least reading the jacket cover before trying to dive in, because otherwise it might take a lot longer to get into this world. Can't wait for the second installment! 

Alison says: 3 1/2 stars! Jasper Fforde has the most amazing mind! I'm looking forward to discussing this book with the "book lunch girls" in a couple of weeks. I'm also looking forward to reading the sequels.

Natalie says: This book definitely grew on me. I didn't like it very much in the beginning - I felt like Fforde was just trying to be clever, and that there were a lot of references I wasn't getting. It was hard to figure out at first. I really like how he brought everything together at the end, though, and I will read the next book in the series when it comes out.

Sue says: Totally lived up to my expectations of Mr. Fforde's quirky characters and interesting world view. It was hard at the beginning to really understand and insert myself into his chromatically-controlled society, but once I started to feel a part of his world and understand its norms, my understanding was tipped upside down. Just what I expect from books. Very fun.

Karen says: This was my first time reading Jasper Fforde, what an incredible imagination! It took me awhile to get into his world, but by the end I was enjoying the characters and story. I'm looking forward to this month's book lunch to discuss it. 

Holly Says: As a satire of planned economies and repressive governments, Shades of Grey’s subject matter reminds me of so much of what I’ve read—Hunger Games, 1984, Fahrenheit 451.  If you combined two children’s books, Phantom Tollbooth by Norton and You are Special by Lucado, creating something more adultish, this could be it.  Looking for a clever book on the evils of societies power over their populations through inane regulations—you found one!