Please forgive me for playing the “Jasper Fforde Role-Playing Game”. You see, I am going to try to tell you why you should read some of Jasper Fforde’s books and what they’re about. The game goes something like this.

Me: “You should really read this book, The Eyre Affair”
You: “What’s it about?”
Me: “Well, there’s Thursday… and she’s got a dodo. No, that’s not really it, well, Jane Eyre… literary detective… books, pages… Err, Miss Havisham tries to break a land speed record*…ARGH. Just read the book!”

*Ok, technically, Miss Havisham and her speed record are not in The Eyre Affair, they’re in The Well of Lost Plots, but it read well.

That is the Jasper Fforde Role-Playing Game. You can’t really describe his books with any standard categorization. After attending his talk and reading at Third Place Books tonight, I’m not sure you can describe the man with any standard categorization either. Well, that’s not really true. He’s smart, funny, and (shhh, don’t tell my husband) darn cute. Tonight’s reading was entertaining and funny. As you can probably tell from the little role-playing game above, reading a random section from one of his books isn’t exactly easy. In fact, as my husband put it, we would gladly pay for Jasper Fforde to read his books aloud to us if they always included the commentary as he went along. There was lots of “Well, you have to know that…” and “you see in this world, colors are used…”. He couldn’t get through two sentences without stopping to explain something or other in the book. But that’s why you should read the book. There is so much depth to his books, and the plots are well thought out and intricate, that they are a joy to read.

He confirmed that there will be another Thursday Next book. In fact, he’s working on it right now. On average, he told us that the Thursday Next books take him about 100 days to write, but this book, Shades of Grey, took over 400 days to write.

He showed his intelligence in more than just his talk though. My husband stood in line to get our book signed and as per the norm, the attendants put a post-it on the page with the dedication. My husband asked for “John and Patricia” and Jasper Fforde asked him, when he got up in line, “Are you sure you don’t want Patricia and John?” Smart man, that Jasper Fforde. I need to go back and read The Eyre Affair, particularly since he gave us some insight into the writing process.

The only negative part of the evening was the seating. I really love Third Place Books. The book selection is fabulous, the staff is helpful and pleasant, and even the food court is pretty nice. However, they packed the chairs in so tightly that I was touching the shoulders and thighs of the people on either side of me and my knees were practically touching the back of the chair in front of me (and I’m a relatively small person). Next time Third Place… add just a bit more space around all of the chairs. Just a touch. Please.

Personally, I tihnk the Jasper Fforde books defy a standard classification. There are the nursery crime books, the first focusing on who pushed Humpty Dumpty off of that wall, and the second on Goldilocks and those bears. Then there are the Thursday Next books, which are” literary detective” novels complete with the ability for the lead character to jump in and out of works of fiction. Strictly, the are fantasy, but really, they are so much more.

Mr. Fforde has a new book out, Shades of Grey, and he’s coming to Third Place Books tonight at 6:30 for a reading and talk. If you’ve never been to Third Place Books (either Lake Forest Park or Ravenna), you’re missing out. They have a fantastic selection and are really a neighborhood hangout location. Shop local and show your support for your local booksellers.

Third Place Books
17171 Bothell Way NE
Lake Forest Park, WA 98155

Photographer Michael Lavine’s got a new book called Grunge, featuring an essay by Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore and a whole bunch of excellent photographs of the Seattle music scene from the 80s and 90s, many of which are fresh even to those of us who were around at the time and all of which are stunning documentation of a significant art and cultural movement that continues to reverberate even today.

Lavine will be signing copies of his book on Friday, November 13, down at Olympia’s Orca Books (509 East 4th Ave), and also on Saturday, November 14 at Easy Street in West Seattle (4559 California Ave SW).

Additionally, the book is being celebrated at book release party Friday, November 13 at Neumo’s with musical accompaniment by Brothers of the Sonic Cloth, a band featuring members of Tad and Unnatural Helpers and the legendary Mudhoney. Doors are at 8pm; tickets are a mere $12 in advance and since this show’s likely to be full early, you’re definitely going to want to get them in advance.

Unless, of course, you’re the lucky winner of the pair of tickets Seattle Metblogs has to give away. If you and a guest would like to attend this show–and, believe me, you want to–send us an e-mail with your name and contact info at seattle.metblogs@gmail.com no later than Wednesday, November 11 at noon. Sorry minors, you must be 21 or older to attend this show.

You can check out images from the book on Lavine’s website. After you’re done looking at the Grunge images, I highly recommend checking out his “Real People” portfolio.

If it seems like First Hill’s Sorrento Hotel has been around forever, that’s because it has. Well, relatively speaking, in Seattle time.

This year the Sorrento is celebrating 100 years. Part of the festivities is a Midnight Symposium series which has its second installment on November 11 with author Lesley Hazleton. Hazleton, who has written four books about the Middle East and Jerusalem, will be presenting “The Ugly American, or the Roots of Arrogance in Ignorance”.

For a mere $50 each, 40 guests will gather in the Sorrento’s 7th floor penthouse at 8pm for an evening of dialogue and discussion led by Hazleton, a hearty stew, wine and a large bottle of whisky to be shared by all. Guests who think they may require additional fortification are encourage to bring a bottle or two to share with the class.

If you’re interested, e-mail nightschool@hotelsorrento.com. for reservations or more details.

6:00 PM – Julie Whitesel Weston: The Good Times Are All Gone Now: Life, Death and Rebirth in an Idaho Mining Town
Elliott Bay Book Co.
The story of how a small town turned into a Superfund site. I think it has something to do with mining, the usual reason in the American West. Of course, I live near a Superfund site that has nothing to do with mining, so what do I know?
[LINK]

6:00 PM – Selden Edwards: The Little Book
Queen Anne Books
Romance, history, and time-travel.
[LINK]

7:00 PM – Greg Hofmann: No Surrender
Richard Hugo House
“Local artist, writer and zinester Greg Hofmann reads from his debut illustrated novel, “No Surrender.” Featuring additional performances by author Isaac Marion and musical acts Bagheera and Josh Powell.” -RHH
[LINK]

7:00 PM – Rowan Jacobsen: The Living Shore: Rediscovering a Lost World
University Bookstore U-District
Jacobsen is slightly less alarmist about our wee sweet Olympia oysters, than he was about honeybees. Did you know that honeybees are not native to North America? Olympia oysters are. Perhaps one should keep such things in mind when writing books about THE END OF THE WORLD.
[LINK]

7:00 PM – Dr. Donald C. Johanson: Lucy’s Legacy: The Quest for Human Origins
Town Hall Seattle
Ah, yes, where did we come from, or rather, who?
[LINK]

7:00 PM – Ryan Boudinot: Misconception: A Novel
University Bookstore U-District
I am looking forward to reading this book, but I hate titles that end with “A Novel.” No, really? Finding it in the fiction section apparently is not clue enough, I need “A Novel” writ large on the cover and spine?
[LINK]

7:30 PM – Glen Chilton: The Curse of the Labrador Duck: My Obsessive Quest to the Edge of Extinction
Town Hall Seattle
Winner of this month’s “Most Awesome Title” Award. I want to see Chilton’s collection of 55 stuffed ducks. Hey, he’s Canadian: I’m sure if I stopped by unannounced one day, he’d totally invite me in for tea and duck-gaping.
[LINK]

7:30 PM – Lauren Weber: In Cheap We Trust: The Story of a Misunderstood American Virtue
Elliott Bay Book Co.
I’m fascinated by the new interest in frugality, savings, and conservation, really. Suddenly, I’m not a cheap-skate, TV-less freak of nature: I’m thrifty and admirable. How charming.
[LINK]

7:30 PM – Ray C. Anderson: Confessions of a Radical Industrialist: Profits, People, Purpose—Doing Business By Respecting the Earth
Town Hall Seattle
Hear a carpet company CEO talk about creating a sustainable business. Bill McKibben thinks Anderson is a “hero.” YMMV.
[LINK]

8:00 AM – Diane Ackerman: Dawn Light: Dancing with Cranes and Other Ways to Start the Day
Elliott Bay Book Co.
I’m sure that having a morning presentation about a book on the joys of dawn is a lovely idea, but I have to get up at O’Dark-Thirty to catch a bus for work. And on a Monday, no less. Wah!
[LINK]

7:00 PM – John Webster: discusses Shakespeare
University Bookstore U-District
Totes awesome!
[LINK]

7:30 PM – David Byrne w/ Others: Bicycle Diaries
Town Hall Seattle I’ve been eagerly awaiting this book, but tickets are $30! If you have the dosh, go see Mr. Byrne be his interesting self in re: bicycles.
[LINK]

Saturday, September 26, 2009

12:00 PM – Carola Dunn: Sheer Folly
Seattle Mystery Bookshop
#18 in a series set in the ’20s. Adorable.
[LINK]

5:00 PM – Robert L. Bergman: Mindless Psychoanalysis, Selfless Self Psychology and Further Explorations
Elliott Bay Book Co.
“Plain spoken and deeply personal yet theoretically sophisticated essays on questions that matter to psychoanalysts, psychotherapists, and anyone with a serious interest in human nature. Written with humor and grace, [this book] takes us on a remarkable exploration of the author’s own psyche as well as our own. Dr. Bergman’s first book is a gift, a deep meditation about what our field and, more importantly, about the mysteries of being human.” – Daniel Jacobs, M.D.
[LINK]

7:30 PM – William Dewey: Without a Soul to Move
Elliott Bay Book Co.
Another post-9/11 novel, set in Denver, by a New Zealand-based writer.
[LINK]

*

Sunday, September 27, 2009

2:00 PM – June Cotner: Dog Blessings
Barnes & Noble University Village
“Calling all Pet Owners and Lovers — Enjoy a special visit with author June as she shares her wonderful book of dog stories and blessings — you’ll laugh, cry and bond with all our guests and their pets!” –B&N
[LINK]

2:00 PM – ReAct Theatre: The Agony & The Agony
Elliott Bay Book Co.
The last offering in Elliott Bay’s Tenth Annual Staged Play Reading Series.
[LINK]

6:30 PM – Dahr Jamail: The Will to Resist: Soldiers Who Refuse to Fight in Iraq and Afghanistan
University Temple Church
A benefit for Coffee Strong.
[LINK]

7:00 PM – Colin Beavan: No Impact Man: The Adventures of a Guilty Liberal Who Attempts to Save the Planet, and the Discoveries He Makes About Himself and Our Way of Life in the Process
University Bookstore U-District
Hopefully this will turn out to be better than My Suburu, but I don’t know yet. Have you read it? Fill me in! (Not that My Suburu was terrible, it just wasn’t as interesting as anticipated. Also, the author of My Suburu thought he was funnier than he actually is. Tragic, really.)
[LINK]

7:30 PM – Charles P. LeWarne: The Love Israel Family: Urban Commune, Rural Commune
Elliott Bay Book Co.
The local historian is at Elliott Bay to promote his book about a bunch of people who didn’t much believe in promoting things.
[LINK]

7:30 PM – Jason Whitmarsh: Tomorrow’s Living Room
Open Books
The poet will read from his first full-length collection, which won the 2009 May Swenson Poetry Award from Utah State University Press.
[LINK]

4:00 PM – Lorene Edwards: Canning and Preserving Your Own Harvest and Hortus Miscellaneous
Queen Anne Farmers Market
A canning demo and signing. Yum.
[LINK]

7:00 PM – Samantha Scholfield: Screw Cupid: The Sassy’s Girl’s Guide to Picking Up Hot Guys
University Bookstore U-District
This is not flipping familiar gender roles. This is totally buying into gender roles. This is a literary Sadie Hawkins and it makes the top of my head pop off.
[LINK]

7:30 PM – George Bowering & Kathleen Flenniken: Poetry Reading
Elliott Bay Book Co.
Bowering, two-time Governor General’s Award winner, and the author of over 70 books, has also served as the first Canadian Parliamentary Poet Laureate. He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, was awarded the Order of British Columbia, has taught all across Canada and Europe, and has served as writer-in-residence at the University of Rome. He will read from his new collection of poems, The Box. Flenniken will read from her first collection, Famous.
[LINK]

7:30 PM – Max Blumenthal: Crises Among the Radical Right
Town Hall Seattle
“Investigative journalist Max Blumenthal is famous for his left-leaning articles and videos, and lately he’s leaning even further—right into the personal lives of the Republican Party’s extreme right-wing forces. Blumenthal, author of Republican Gomorrah, says the GOP’s leading figures have more in common than just their power in conservative ranks: personal lives stained by crisis, ranging from mental illness to murder. Inspired by the work of psychoanalyst Erich Fromm, who asserted that the fear of freedom leads anxiety-ridden people to embrace authoritarianism, Blumenthal maintains that a culture of personal crisis has defined the radical right, transforming the nature of the Republican Party for the next generation and setting the stage for the future of American politics. Presented by the Town Hall Center for Civic Life, with University Book Store.” -Town Hall
[LINK]

7:30 PM – Reading: Trading Places
Richard Hugo House
“Poet Daemond Arrindell, cartoonist David Lasky and novelist Cienna Madrid “trade” genres with each other and read from new work created in a form that isn’t their norm.” -RHH
[LINK]