Reviews

The Fourth Bear by Jasper Fforde

katrinamariehh's review against another edition

3.0

It's pretty good so far! I definitely enjoy the Thursday Next series more, though, and I'm really excited for the next book coming after Shades of Grey!

holljmck's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.5

taylorhohulin's review against another edition

4.0

This might be the funniest book I've ever read. At the very least, it's in my top five. The story drags a little for about 50 pages in the middle, but it picks right back up at the end for a great finish. Highly recommended for fans of Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams.

mbsteblein's review against another edition

Jasper Fforde is incredibly creative, to imagine "SommeWorld," a theme park based on WWI, and so many other quirky, unexpected things, like the "right to arm bears," which made me laugh out loud each time I read it - but it was always too much to explain it to anyone else without rehashing the majority of the story. If you liked "The Big Over Easy," or the Thursday Next series, this is another treat.

bugaboobear's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

4.75

misha_devi's review against another edition

4.0

4.5 stars.
Jasper Fforde is probably one of my favourite authors. His detail, plot, characters, prose and puns all add up to intensely interesting and unique books that actually match the reviews which promise them to be genuinely satirical and funny. I thoroughly enjoy the literary references he includes and am absolutely going to read more of both the Nursery Crime and Thursday Next series.

devs_reads's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted 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

4.5

apatrick's review against another edition

4.0

I haven't actually read this one in print, just listened to it. Fforde has made my morning commute so much better I started re-reading all of his books. I was listening to this on the way to work and back while reading the Nursery Crime #1 title, The Big Over Easy in my spare time. It was a little confusing to have both of them going in my head at once, but it started a spree and I'm not reading all his books again. It's okay to read this series out of order, but if you haven't read any Fforde yet, you'll want to pick up the Thursday Next series as well, because it's even better than this one.

In this book, Detective Chief Inspector Jack Spratt has to deal with his PDR-ness (Person of Dubious Reality), which may other characters in Reading share. There is also mention of competitive cucumbering, Rambosian cuisine, the Gingerbread Man's murderous spree and many other delights. I think Ashley, the Rambosian officer, is my favorite. Silly fun.

johnnytomatoseed's review

adventurous funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

zoemaja's review against another edition

5.0

I liked this one better than the first - it is still no Thursday Next, but I am starting to really like this world too.

library - audio