Jasper Fforde is a wonder and definitely NOT a writer for every reader. I first became fascinate with Fforde by reading his Thursday Next detective books. His continual barrage of allusions can be both exhausting and a great deal of fun that may send you to the internet searching out references you're not familiar with. He also wrote a series called Nursery Crimes, but I didn't enjoy those as much as Thursday Next's books.
Shades of Grey is a very different animal than his detective series. Shades of Grey follows the life of a young man who lives in a futuristic place where your placement in society is based on the color perception that you have. The Greys are at the bottom of the color caste system (the colortaucracy) and the reds are at the top. The more red that you perceive, the more important you are in society.
Edward Russet and his father have come to East Carmine so his father can replace the local "doctor". Through the use of color swatches, Edward's father can help the people of the town. Edward is on a "half-promise" to a red back in his hometown, but he finds a local Grey named Jane incredibly appealing. Add to the caste system is a black-market for spoons (they have become rare and of great worth), a form of addiction called Chasing the Frog, a peaceful death for those who come down with "the mold" in a green room and a very scary world beyond the permalite called High Saffron.
Does all of this seem confusing? Well, if you're a clever reader and somewhat of a Monty Python aficianado, do check Shades of Grey out. To help along the Python humor, this is even a great deal of talk about the "Last Rabbit". If you're looking for something simple and mindless for the beach, this might not be what you're after, but if you want to think a bit and laugh a lot, check out Fforde.
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