I caught this book in the new Hughes & Hughes in Ennis, down by the river… the praise on the front cover: “Perfect, perfect comedy. A cross between Flann O’Brian, Father Ted, and Morrisey…” from Tommy Tiernan was what got me to pick it up and bring it home with me. Now, I know, you’re thinking, who is Tommy Tiernan to tell me what to read?

Well, no one, it turns out. The Irish comedian may have stormed America some time back, but his career as a book critic has, sadly, not taken off, as of yet. To be fair, it is slightly Flann O’Brian-ish. In that it mentions a bicycle or two. And it is certainly madcap like The Third Policeman or At Swim-Two-Birds. But is it a patch on those two books? Err, no. Then again, not many are.

I’ve just started the online continuation of the levels two and three that Julian Gough is writing, so it’s not over yet. But the bits I read (Level One through to the first 30 or so words of Level Two) were reasonably funny, entertaining, and, for the most part, witty. The jacket quote let me down a bit, but it’s not a bad way to pass your time.

I’ve read Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next series, and had long been meaning to get into the Big Over Easy. As we’re now reading most of these nursery rhymes over again (and again, and again) to our 1+ year old, it seemed even more appropriate. I ran across the audio book in the Winchester library, picked it up, and listened to it over a few weeks on the short drive into work.

What an excellent, excellent book. The audio book is cast perfectly, Jasper Fforde is back with sparkling writing again, for the most part. I’m guessing the little break from the same characters and scenarios he’d done so well over and over again in the Thursday Next series was a major relief for himself, who, by the latest in the series, seemed to have hit a little bit of a rut.

Now this is what I imagined the godawful Gregory Macguire novels could have been. As it was, I struggled through Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, and don’t think I’ll ever touch another thing written by Greg.

The book is funny, fun, and a great read. Or listen.