Bookclub Books:

Well, after an exhausting search for my number one choice, I resorted to the shelves in Dublin's Hodges and Figgis and was drawn to the Staff Picks rack. I used to love this feature in American bookshops and in one in particular shop I used to follow all of AJP's recommendations - I figured it was a female. His or her choices were spot on and I felt we would become good pals if we ever met.

Beside this book it said "if you haven't read anything by Jasper Fforde, you should start now." It also expanded on his cult following and added that Something Rotten would "delight all book lovers".

Then I went back to the web, did a massive search and read some reviews on the more reputable international broadsheets and was pretty pleased with my choice.

I am scared that I may have picked something that may really frustrate a couple of the Femmes after a few pages of literary puns, but here's hoping that that won't happen. It being the silly season after all, this should be perfect, I hope! 4/5

Score awarded by Bibliofemme: 3 out of 5

What the other femmes had to say

"Fforde manages to mixes the sublime to the ridiculous with such skill that the reader becomes totally immersed. Fforde possesses an imagination that I am totally in awe of." 4/5

"A kind of Hitchhiker's Guide for bookworms, this instalment took more than 200 pages to take off but when it did it took me with it. The first in the series is now hovering near the top of my beach-read list." 3/5

"I felt Something Rotten tried too hard to be funny, the author trying to squeeze in as many jokes as possible into the book." 2/5

"Enjoyable, like a childrens tv drama but neither witty or intelligent enought to rival the sureal and fantastic work of his most ovious rival Douglas Adams. I wouldn't kick it out of my airport waiting area though." 3/5

"I have to praise him for his amazing imagination, but ultimately I lost pateince with this book more than once. I had no real no investment in the characters or plot and therefore felt the author was just trying to come across clever and cute. Some great points on corporate gloabalization, there could be something in this for an audience fond of sci-fi and literary puns." 3/5

"Although the punning and playfulness were intriguing, this book was too caught up in its own cleverness. Fforde's imagination cannot be disputed, but the merit of this book certainly can". 2/3