Reviews

Early Riser by Jasper Fforde

highfiveasquid's review against another edition

5.0

Inventive, funny, original, and with staggeringly tight twists and turns. Simply delightful. Couldn't put it down. Any scifi fan would love Fforde. As a reader I kept thinking "well that couldn't possibly work" right before some narrative device or plot twist proved me wrong.
Beautifully orchestrated chaos.

cradlow's review against another edition

adventurous

5.0

nglofile's review

4.0

Fforde's welcome return to storytelling is a thoughtful romp that keeps you on board even if you occasionally lose direction. Since density and singular whimsy are the author's hallmarks, this comes as no real surprise, but here both the ideas and the pacing have a bit more heft. I may not have been as thoroughly immersed as in the past, but this is a fabulist dystopia that tickles and entertains.

audiobook note: Narrator Thomas Hunt's performance is a welcome grounding to the swirl of characters, world-building, conspiracies, and quirk. Usually I save audio for regular re-reads of Fforde so that I don't miss details and delights upon first exposure, and the choice not to do so for this book might have proven the wisdom of my usual practice. That said, Thomas Hunt so well realizes the bewilderment, earnestness, and wackiness of Charlie Worthing's experience that I cannot regret.

johanna_st_john's review against another edition

4.0

The level of detail! The imaginative world! I liked this so much more than expected. 4.5 from me.

bramboomen's review against another edition

3.0

When I read "Shades of Grey" by Fforde, I was sold. It ticked all my boxes in its humor and absurdity. When reading this book, I guess I expected something similar, which left me kind of disappointed. The execution was done quite well I think, I really like the way Fforde writes, but the story as a whole was a little forgettable. It introduced us to the new world fairly hurriedly and the story seemed shorter than it should have been as well, I didn't really have the time to get invested in either the story or the world. I think this book should have been part of a larger whole to have been really memorable.

moo_remus's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

A really cool concept and a gripping adventure/mystery. Started out lighthearted but really got into it around halfway through and couldn’t stop reading it. 

courthansen12's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

katieohara's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

If this is your first time reading Jasper Fforde, please note it is very easy to get lost and give up. The first 75 pages will be utterly confusing, but Jasper Fforde lays it out for you in time. 

ansl's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

ruthmaloney's review against another edition

4.0

My first Jasper Fforde and I'll be looking forward to more. Gentle, funny, thought provoking and fantastic world building.