amhud1030's review against another edition
Thought there would be more excitement and magic. It’s really slow moving and more very old book study of magic.
Reviews seem to point that there isn’t much more magical that happens. Might try it again another time.
Reviews seem to point that there isn’t much more magical that happens. Might try it again another time.
smadams's review against another edition
3.0
This is the tale of two books... where the first 400 pages is a slog and the second 400 pages a decent book! I wouldn't read it again, but I'm glad I did.
readingwithhippos's review against another edition
3.0
This book is not for everyone. If you get a kick out of evocative historical fiction, if you don't mind a little magic and fantasy, and most importantly, if you have the stamina to wade through a thousand pages, then step right up!
But maybe you're more of a commitment-phobe. Maybe you like your books like you like your dates—cheap, fast, and easy. Maybe you need to be free to see what else is out there. If you're not ready to settle down with one book for a week or more, you should probably give Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell the brushoff. (Just try to let it down easy.)
For those of us who like sinking luxuriously into distant time periods and exotic locales far different from our daily lives, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is a great escape. It's the (very long) story of two rival magicians in early 19th century England. If you think about it really hard, I bet you can guess their names.
The titular pair have an embattled relationship over the years, but their chosen profession inextricably links them. Their paths continually cross, with varying results, as they pursue their ultimate goal of restoring magic to England. In Clarke's alternate world, magic used to be practiced as commonly as any of the other trades, but it slowly leached out of the culture until only theoretical magicians remained. Norrell and Strange are unique in that they are actually able to practice magic, though Clarke keeps the inner workings of their methods fairly obscured.
The novel is clearly well-researched*, and the mashup of history and fantasy is seamless and compelling. There's a respectable level of suspense, especially in the second half, when we're anxious for a few particularly unsavory characters to meet their just deserts. However, be warned that the pace is slow. Not tortoise slow. Not snail slow. I'm talking sloth slow. I'm talking standing in a zoo, staring up into a tree, wondering if it's still alive, oh wait I think I just saw it breathe, maybe in a couple hours it'll manage to eat an entire leaf slow.
If most books are like fleeting daytrips or weekend getaways, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is like the long-haul trucker version, Newark to Seattle with no scheduled stops. As long as you're expecting that kind of trip going in, you'll be fine. Get yourself a big cup of tea, maybe a muffin and a cozy blanket, and settle in.
*A note: The actual text of the novel is roughly 850 pages. What brings the total up near 1000 are the copious footnotes Clarke includes throughout. I read this book on Kindle and found it too cumbersome to switch constantly from the footnote section to the main text and back again, so (keepin' it real here) I didn't read them. You may find the extra information enhances your enjoyment, or it may irritate you terribly. I can say I don't feel I missed anything in skipping them. The book was plenty long enough for me already.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
But maybe you're more of a commitment-phobe. Maybe you like your books like you like your dates—cheap, fast, and easy. Maybe you need to be free to see what else is out there. If you're not ready to settle down with one book for a week or more, you should probably give Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell the brushoff. (Just try to let it down easy.)
For those of us who like sinking luxuriously into distant time periods and exotic locales far different from our daily lives, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is a great escape. It's the (very long) story of two rival magicians in early 19th century England. If you think about it really hard, I bet you can guess their names.
The titular pair have an embattled relationship over the years, but their chosen profession inextricably links them. Their paths continually cross, with varying results, as they pursue their ultimate goal of restoring magic to England. In Clarke's alternate world, magic used to be practiced as commonly as any of the other trades, but it slowly leached out of the culture until only theoretical magicians remained. Norrell and Strange are unique in that they are actually able to practice magic, though Clarke keeps the inner workings of their methods fairly obscured.
The novel is clearly well-researched*, and the mashup of history and fantasy is seamless and compelling. There's a respectable level of suspense, especially in the second half, when we're anxious for a few particularly unsavory characters to meet their just deserts. However, be warned that the pace is slow. Not tortoise slow. Not snail slow. I'm talking sloth slow. I'm talking standing in a zoo, staring up into a tree, wondering if it's still alive, oh wait I think I just saw it breathe, maybe in a couple hours it'll manage to eat an entire leaf slow.
If most books are like fleeting daytrips or weekend getaways, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is like the long-haul trucker version, Newark to Seattle with no scheduled stops. As long as you're expecting that kind of trip going in, you'll be fine. Get yourself a big cup of tea, maybe a muffin and a cozy blanket, and settle in.
*A note: The actual text of the novel is roughly 850 pages. What brings the total up near 1000 are the copious footnotes Clarke includes throughout. I read this book on Kindle and found it too cumbersome to switch constantly from the footnote section to the main text and back again, so (keepin' it real here) I didn't read them. You may find the extra information enhances your enjoyment, or it may irritate you terribly. I can say I don't feel I missed anything in skipping them. The book was plenty long enough for me already.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
stacyjenson's review against another edition
2.0
Overrated. While I loved the prose and the allusions to the Raven King, I wondered what in the plot justified a book this tremendously long. I'm not a lazy reader and will joyfully read through long books in multi-volume series, but I'd like a big emotional pay-off if I'm going to read something this long.
anna_pizzichidilibri's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
lauralindahl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
all_piss_and_vinegar's review against another edition
So dull - just a bunch of old men talking
danskireads's review against another edition
1.0
This was really hard work. There are wonderful cul de sacs of flights of fancy… Clarke has an amazing imagination… but it’s wrapped up in a meandering, pointless, tedious, directionless, boring story filled with unlikeable characters. It’s a 1000 pages and there’s no pay off at the end. To my mind, this book fails at the first hurdle for a book of this genre… it fails to entertain.
caseymalsam's review against another edition
1.0
I couldn't get into it. I read 86 pages and didn't care what happened next.