If Graham Chapman and Bungle from Rainbow chanelled the spirit of George Orwell into a dystopian novel, it might end up something like Jasper Fforde's Shades of Grey. Different to that which I have previously read of his books, this was not a stand-alone novel as I first thought, but the first of a new series that has only just begun. And on the basis of this one, I'm not complaining.
A very interesting concept, a world where people see in shades of colours and everyone knows their rank in the hierarchy depending on their colour precentage and the ranks between them. Filled with Fforde's trademark humour, punnery, plays on words and similar, it took the concept, tied it to the Dulux dog, and ran with it all the way. Perhaps not as laugh out loud funny as his Nursery Crimes series (well, currently two), it was still a very entertaining and interesting read.
Eddie Russett may make for an unlikely hero, but like all the best everymen, you can relate to him. Not sure I can relate to a love interest who threatens to punch his lights out every other line, but Jane is certainly entertaining. My favourite character, however, is the Apocryphal man, who everybody can see, but due to the Rules which control life extremely tightly, everyone must pretend he's not there and ignore him. Unless you have loganberry jam, in which case he's your very own genie. You get the idea. Although I had a fair idea where the book was going to go, it was a fun ride and I'm looking forward to getting on the train next time it rolls into Oxford Blue.
Number: 36
Title: Shades of Grey
Author: Jasper Fforde
Category: Books with colours in the title
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