The Well of Lost Plots - Jasper Fforde

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jasper_Fforde - This is the third book in the Thursday Next Series (started with The Eyre Affair and Lost In A Good Book), which features the apprentice agent of Jurisfiction, studying under Miss Havisham (of Great Expectations fame). Her adventures take place in the world of fiction where she hops from book to book, encountering famous characters, and talking her ways out of difficult situations. She fights off those who would reduce fiction to mere text, and helps stock characters fulfill their dreams of becoming leading roles with names and backstories. This is a difficult series to explain to someone who isn't familiar with it, but if you were an English major and/or really into books and grammar, definitely check it out. Fforde gets a little carried away at times, but he is extremely clever. My favorite part of this book was the BookWorld Awards - which honored, among others, The Magus for most confusing plot (I myself have never been able to get through it) and Heathcliff (of Wuthering Heights) for most troubled male lead.