What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

I have been looking for this book for nearly ten years. I half think I imagined it... but I know somewhere it exists! My memory is not great, but if you know what this book's name is I would be beyond thankful.

The book was a classic fantasy novel for the most part- fairy tale land. It was older- maybe written in the 80s or 70s? The outstanding feature of the book was that the characters were actually alive within the book and the story was told from their perspective.

The main character was a girl (she might have been a princess but for the life of me I don't know) and she was able to communicate with the "owner" or "reader" of the book which I believe was a young man or woman who had been given the book by their grandparent.

The only scene I really remember is that the book was somehow being destroyed and the only way for the character to survive was to jump into another book.


Please, I beg of you... does anyone know this book? Any vague or similar names would be wonderful... and if you actually know it- eternal favor! I want this book back!

I'm moving this thread to the Unsolved folder. More people will be likely to see it!

Was this book for children, teens or adults?

And, can you clarify what you mean by "the characters were alive in the book?" Do you mean the characters were living within the pages of the book within the *actual* book?

Do you remember any other fantasy elements besides the characters jumping from the pages of the book?

Sounds kind of like the Jasper Fforde books where Tuesday goes into a book or the characters escape out into the "real world." Or the Inkheart books where the little girl reads herself into a book. But I don't think it's either of those, maybe something similar though.

Sounds like the Great Good Thing. Sorry I can't link it for you, I'm on my iPod.

The Great Good Thing by Roderick Townley for the link.

Thanks Serendi

Just going to second that it sounds like The Great Good Thing! (on a similar Librarything group, this is a very commonly forgotten book :] )

The only book I can think of in which the characters are self-aware is Sophie's World, but that's probably not it. It does have a main character who's a girl and the reader is also a girl being given the book by her father, I think. But it wasn't a fairy tale book.

Janelle wrote: "Sounds like the Great Good Thing. Sorry I can't link it for you, I'm on my iPod."

OH MY GOODNESS YES!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!

Holly wrote: "Just going to second that it sounds like The Great Good Thing! (on a similar Librarything group, this is a very commonly forgotten book :] )"

YES! IT IS! I found it in my old high school library probably my freshman year and it had an older leather cover. I remember feeling so inspired by it but I couldn't find it after I read it the first time. I have it on order by Amazon as we speak!

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! I can't even tell you what it means to me to be able to find this book and buy it for my own children. I am just moved that after so long I finally have the title of this long forgotten novel. BLESS YOU ALL!

Glad to hear it was the right book!