andropunk's review against another edition
i love susanna clarke so much but i just couldn’t get into this book right now. maybe another time :(
nturner76's review against another edition
Slow, unlikeable characters, too long for the pace
jkwriting24's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
sofstriestoread's review against another edition
challenging
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
biblihas's review against another edition
5.0
glad to still enjoy this book immensely many years since first reading, and since watching the tv show so many times. I like thinking that Susanna Clarke was trying to write Piranesi but this book kept getting in her way and she had to write this before writing Piranesi. A true 1000 page mystical calling. I long to be behind the sky, on the other side of the rain </3
snowbenton's review against another edition
3.0
This book felt like a hipster version of Vanity Fair, and while I love Thackeray for his slowly developing story and growth of characters and the world around them, Clarke has too modern a style to handle that effort with any sort of grace. This is a plodding book, and the attempt at witty asides and footnotes served to make me roll my eyes more than appreciate her wit. This book patted itself on the back far too often for my liking and was not well-written enough to justify its length.
If you can forgive it for its shortcomings and unnecessarily long chapters, it is an interesting idea: what happens in the early 1800s if magic has been gone from England for years, and one old crotchety magician begins to bring it back? How will his celebrity change the face of England as admirers flock to his side and he gets involved in the war with France? What happens when his apprentice begins to overshadow and question him?
I would recommend to surly hipsters and lovers of old-style books.
If you can forgive it for its shortcomings and unnecessarily long chapters, it is an interesting idea: what happens in the early 1800s if magic has been gone from England for years, and one old crotchety magician begins to bring it back? How will his celebrity change the face of England as admirers flock to his side and he gets involved in the war with France? What happens when his apprentice begins to overshadow and question him?
I would recommend to surly hipsters and lovers of old-style books.
the_cackling_crow's review
5.0
This is a masterpiece. Five stars is not enough.
(BTW, I HATE SPOILERS, so you will NOT find any here.)
Forget everything you think you know about how a novel should be written. Ms. Clarke makes her own rules and the result is astounding. I think it is best to approach Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell without any expectations, and to surrender and be led on its sublime odyssey.
In this brilliantly written epic literary historical fantasy (I suppose that is its sub- sub- sub-genre), we are transported to the early 19th century where we meet some very engaging magicians and follow them on their paths, and we explore English magic and its history.
I was swept away by the style in which this is written, which is very much like a British classic, so it flawlessly captures the time in which it takes place. The prose is magnificent - Ms. Clarke sculpts the language to create a beautiful work of art, with incredible intricacy.
I think the story is phenomenal - the reader has no idea where it may take him/her, and I was delighted with every twist, every turn. It starts slowly, and the story line builds, ever so gradually, but steadily and teasingly, progressing toward a crescendo - all at a slow pace that's almost maddening, but it's such a tantalizing and exciting experience that I didn't want it to end. It gives the reader (me, anyway) the sense that something tremendous will happen. And of course, it does.
I adore the characters, all of whom are brilliantly crafted and every one of them jumps off the page. I found each of them fascinating and memorable, some venturing into "favorite characters" territory.
Ms. Clarke deftly blends historical figures and events, English folklore, a fascinating background of magic, and amazing characters to form an alternate history that is seamless, richly detailed and uniquely hers. And she makes it believable.
There is more elaborate detail in this book than I have probably ever seen, well, anywhere, making the world-building pretty much incomparable. Copious footnotes educate us about this alternate history and its events, figures and countless other things of interest with magnificent detail.
It's also hilarious. The dry and often dark humor fitting naturally into the already fantastic story makes this book soar into the realm of the finest works I've ever read. It made me laugh out loud, chuckle to myself, and probably sit there with a dorky grin on my face through a lot of scenes.
The magic is dazzling and creative, and each spell seems to brilliantly reflect the personality of the person casting it. It's perfect.
The story does move slowly, and it took me a little while to really get absorbed - I think I needed to get used to it and adjust myself accordingly. But once I did, I grew more enthralled with every page.
I knew by about halfway through that this book would be heading to my favorites list, regardless of how it may have ended. I'm confident it will remain there forever, and that it will be a book I want to reread countless times.
So, Ms. Clarke, about that sequel... :)
People seem to either love this book or hate it. I'd highly recommend it if:
- You enjoy reading classics, particularly British ones (or don't mind their style) (otherwise the style might lose you)
- You appreciate dry humor (and dark humor) (if you don't see the humor, it will lose a tremendous amount of its charm, maybe most of it)
- You like fantasy, but you're not looking for a fast-paced, action-packed, Hollywood blockbuster-type of book (it's not)
- You don't mind a slow-paced story with an immense amount of detail and you don't mind taking your time with it (this is essential)
It will also help if:
- You appreciate prose and enjoy colorful use of language (that made me savor it)
- You appreciate world building (the amount of detail may otherwise annoy you)
I can't say enough good things about this book. I'm not exaggerating when I say it's one of the best I've ever read.
(BTW, I HATE SPOILERS, so you will NOT find any here.)
Forget everything you think you know about how a novel should be written. Ms. Clarke makes her own rules and the result is astounding. I think it is best to approach Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell without any expectations, and to surrender and be led on its sublime odyssey.
In this brilliantly written epic literary historical fantasy (I suppose that is its sub- sub- sub-genre), we are transported to the early 19th century where we meet some very engaging magicians and follow them on their paths, and we explore English magic and its history.
I was swept away by the style in which this is written, which is very much like a British classic, so it flawlessly captures the time in which it takes place. The prose is magnificent - Ms. Clarke sculpts the language to create a beautiful work of art, with incredible intricacy.
I think the story is phenomenal - the reader has no idea where it may take him/her, and I was delighted with every twist, every turn. It starts slowly, and the story line builds, ever so gradually, but steadily and teasingly, progressing toward a crescendo - all at a slow pace that's almost maddening, but it's such a tantalizing and exciting experience that I didn't want it to end. It gives the reader (me, anyway) the sense that something tremendous will happen. And of course, it does.
I adore the characters, all of whom are brilliantly crafted and every one of them jumps off the page. I found each of them fascinating and memorable, some venturing into "favorite characters" territory.
Ms. Clarke deftly blends historical figures and events, English folklore, a fascinating background of magic, and amazing characters to form an alternate history that is seamless, richly detailed and uniquely hers. And she makes it believable.
There is more elaborate detail in this book than I have probably ever seen, well, anywhere, making the world-building pretty much incomparable. Copious footnotes educate us about this alternate history and its events, figures and countless other things of interest with magnificent detail.
It's also hilarious. The dry and often dark humor fitting naturally into the already fantastic story makes this book soar into the realm of the finest works I've ever read. It made me laugh out loud, chuckle to myself, and probably sit there with a dorky grin on my face through a lot of scenes.
The magic is dazzling and creative, and each spell seems to brilliantly reflect the personality of the person casting it. It's perfect.
The story does move slowly, and it took me a little while to really get absorbed - I think I needed to get used to it and adjust myself accordingly. But once I did, I grew more enthralled with every page.
I knew by about halfway through that this book would be heading to my favorites list, regardless of how it may have ended. I'm confident it will remain there forever, and that it will be a book I want to reread countless times.
So, Ms. Clarke, about that sequel... :)
People seem to either love this book or hate it. I'd highly recommend it if:
- You enjoy reading classics, particularly British ones (or don't mind their style) (otherwise the style might lose you)
- You appreciate dry humor (and dark humor) (if you don't see the humor, it will lose a tremendous amount of its charm, maybe most of it)
- You like fantasy, but you're not looking for a fast-paced, action-packed, Hollywood blockbuster-type of book (it's not)
- You don't mind a slow-paced story with an immense amount of detail and you don't mind taking your time with it (this is essential)
It will also help if:
- You appreciate prose and enjoy colorful use of language (that made me savor it)
- You appreciate world building (the amount of detail may otherwise annoy you)
I can't say enough good things about this book. I'm not exaggerating when I say it's one of the best I've ever read.
oneclumsybat's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
mureeenuh's review against another edition
Found out that my kindle wasn't showing me all of the footnotes, so I'm waiting until I can read a physical copy.