Hidden Gem: Shades of Grey
Shades of Grey: The Road to High Saffron
By Jasper Fforde
Do not confuse this with Fifty Shades, because other than a similar-ish name this book could not be further away from that infamous novel. I have mentioned this book in one of my blog posts about world-building. Still, this book goes beyond fantastic world-building with complex characters, an ever-twisting plot, and an ending that makes you think hard about the choices we make, sacrifices, and what someone is willing to do for the greater good.
This book came onto my radar because of Early Riser. Another fabulous book from Mr. Fforde, a creative commentary on corporate pharmaceuticals and the damage they are willing to inflict for a profit. But that book is worthy of its own post, so we will leave that there. Anyway, thanks to this book I was recommended Shades of Grey. This book was instantly on my best books of all-time list. One that I will never get tired of reading and rereading. In fact, with each reread I find a new little hidden pop culture reference (the Muppets, and a board game).
In the future, man has regressed. Society is divided into a class system that decides where you live and what jobs you are allowed to work as you fulfill your civil obligation. This hierarchy is designed solely by what color one can see. Pupils no longer dilate to allow humans some sight in the dark, and many folks can see no color at all called the Grays. The system goes from gray at the bottom with those who can see purple at the top wielding the most power and respect. Enter the protagonist: Eddie Russet, a red who is harboring a secret. After pulling a prank, he along with his father are sent to a village on the outer fringes where people are more into bending the rules instead of following them, and in this society the rules mean everything. The Russet’s are a family who see the color red and Eddie is looking forward to becoming a full citizen, ready to fulfill his civil obligation, marry and that’s about it. His life is laid out in front of him, that is until Jane a gray, comes into his life and not only changes his notion about love, but about what life can be.
This book is a creative, albeit strange, commentary on social hierarchy and what it means to live a life of freedom, as well as what kind of sacrifices one must make for the betterment of all. The end of the novel leaves the reader feeling uneasy yet with a glimmer of hope. While the novel falls in the dystopian category, something truly unique about this piece of work makes it stand out in the genre. With the horrible mistreatment of the grays, it is not hard to see the similarities in our society about how we treat those of “lesser professions” as if they are somehow less than despite doing a job that is relied upon. We saw this with COVID and workers considered essential, yet low on the social ladder. It is worth a read or two. With not only the commentary subtly hiding in the words, there are hidden pop-culture references and a fun story with characters you cannot help but root for.
