An enjoyable and innovative book, set in an alternate reality where literature rules! I liked this book when I read it a few years ago, and bought this copy to share.

RELEASE NOTES:

“Leap into the Wild” 2008 Challenge release

One of several books released along the Occoquan Trail.

Dear Finder: Welcome to BookCrossing! Thanks for taking the time to visit the site. Please make a journal entry to let me know that you have found this book. If you are new to BookCrossing and choose to join, please indicate that you were referred by kristamd. BookCrossing is a great group to join – membership is free. Your name, email address, or other information will never be shared or sold.

Please take your time and read the book at your own pace. You can make a journal entry when you finish to record your thoughts about the book. Then, when you are ready to send it on its way, make a release note and leave it somewhere “in the wild” for another lucky reader to find. You are also welcome to pass the book along to someone you know, or keep it if you like.

This made my day. I saw that kristamd had released several books along the Occoquan Trail so I decided it was a lovely day to take a hike. I was delighted to find a BookCrossing book, and even happier that it was a book on my wish list! Can't wait to read this.

Now here is a story for literature buffs. Thursday Next works as a kind of literary detective in a world gone mad for books. Kids trade character cards, author homes are top tourist destinations, and (my personal favorite) some theaters put on a regular performance of Richard III a la Rocky Horror Picture Show, complete with audience participation. That last had me giggling. The story is clever and the characters amusing, but I think I would have gotten a lot more out of it had I read the prerequisite novels. Specifically having read Jane Eyre and Martin Chuzzlewit would have helped immensely, but even just a penchant for 18th century literature (Dickens, Bronte, Austin, et al) would have been a huge advantage. After all, it is for those fans that this story was really written. Though there is a whole series of Thursday Next books, I think my next Fforde book will probably be one of his fairy tale retellings. I already know those stories.

I'm doing a little bookkeeping with my BookCrossing books. I brought this book to BookCrosser crrcookie's house during our holiday party on December 13, 2008. It did not come home with me, so I assume it is still there somewhere and will eventually be released into the wild.

I selected this book at the winter holiday meetup, promptly put it aside in a box, and then buried the box under other boxes. I dug the books out tonight and I apologize for taking so long to journal this!

It's in my possession and I look forward to getting to this because I've heard so very much about this series.