Shades of Grey

Shades of Grey: the Road to High Saffron, by Jasper Fforde, 390 pages

In this world that is like our own, but far in the future and apparently in Wales, the population has limited ability to see the color spectrum.  The higher end of the spectrum that one can see, the higher their social status.  Young Eddie Russet is at the bottom of the spectrum- in the Reds- just barely higher than the Greys, who see the world only in shades of grey.  When a series of mishaps takes Eddie away from his home and to the fringes of society, he begins to question the system and realize that right and wrong is not as black and white as he thought, but really more like... shades of grey. (THAT'S THE NAME OF THIS BOOK, YOU GUYS!!)

This book was such a treat!  (But for reading, not eating.  Don't eat this book.) It's just that it was full of smart writing- the kind where you have to pause for a minute in order to go look things up.  It was also pretty hilarious.  I just loved lines like this:  "I'm not a big fact person," said Mr. Crimson, who was honest, even if a twit.  "Unproved speculation is more my thing."  (p. 221)  Eddie reminded me of a more likable Arthur Dent- he is caught up in a world that is so bizarre that it isn't even totally explained to the reader- you're just sort of taken along for the ride and you catch the bits of the scenery that you can.  I would say that this is primarily a work of world-building.  But when the world is this fascinating, it's a really fun place to hang out in for about 390 pages. Looking forward to the sequel that may or may not happen!