The Eyre Affair - from Keri's perspective

I have to agree with Aunt Annette that this was not my favorite book. It was confusing to say the least, especially since I had never read Jane Eyre and didn't know much about British history. However, it did inspire me to do some research into the Crimean war and to ask my student workers about the actual ending of Jane Eyre which helped clear some things up for me.

My feeling is that the book, and specifically Thursday's father's character, was trying to say that someone had gone into the past to change the future for their own gain. Though it was never said directly, I felt that most likely it was Goliath who had done so specifically so that they could control. Certain things mentioned made this seem true - like the long-lasting Crimean War (which actually ended much more quickly in reality) which was heavily dependent on Goliath for weapons and security.

I also liked the idea of the bookworms and the ability to enter works of literature, but as they discovered it could be used in harmful ways like killing a main character or trapping someone from reality in fiction. I did enjoy the idea of taking a vacation into a novel like the Japanese woman did for her clients. I would love the opportunity to step into Gone with the Wind or Wuthering Heights. :)

I found much of the novel confusing because it was somewhat similar to reality, but completely different in other ways. Like Aunt Annette, I had a hard time believing that in a world where they could time travel, carry somewhat sophisticated weapons, and clone animals that they would be flying in airships and so obsessed with Shakespeare, Bacon, etc.

As for the love connection it didn't bother me too much even though so much time had passed. I believe it is entirely possible to still have a connection and love after all that time...especially when there was a deep friendship and some tragedy in their past. I wanted Landen and Thursday to get back together and was happy that she did not end up with her partner Bowden.

Some interesting quotes:

"...the bedside drawer. It was full. Apart from the Gideon's Bible there were the teachings of Buddha and an English copy of the Koran. There was also a GSD volume of prayer and a Wesleyian pamphlet, two amulets from the Society for Christian Awareness, the thoughts of St. Zvlkx and the now mandatory Complete Works of William Shakespeare."

"(Wordsworth speaking) 'Everything that I once was is now here; my life is contained in my works. A life in volumes of words; it is poetic."

"Goodness is weakness, pleasantness is poisonous, serenity is mediocrity and kindness is for losers. The best reason for committing loathsome and detestable acts - and let's face it, I am considered something of an expert in this field - is purely for their own sake. Monetary gain is all very well, but it dilutes the taste of wickedness to a lower level that is obtainable by almost anyone with an overdeveloped sense of avarice. True and baseless evil is as rare as the purest good -"

"Forgive and forget is all very well, but no one was going to forgive and forget my brother. Anton's name was mud and that was solely down to Landen."

"...we all make mistakes at some time in our lives, some more than others. It is only when the cost is counted in human lives that people really take notice. If Anton had been a baker and forgotten the yeast, nothing would have been made of it, but he would have f...ed up just the same."

"The first casualty of war is always truth. Landen was trying to redress that. Don't think that he didn't agonize long and hard over it - it would have been easier to lie and clear Ant's name. But a small lie always breeds a bigger one. The military can ill afford more than it has already. Landen knew that and so too, I think, did our Anton."

"It was the dismay that I would always feel the same rather than the dismay over the unpleasant ending to the evening which upset me most."