Reviews with content warning for Mental illness - Jonathan Strange & il Signor Norrell

Personally not the most enjoyable reading experience. Footnotes all the way until the end and often ramblings about some academic dispute (completely fictional). However, the writing style was very interesting and detailed (sometimes a bit too detailed imho). Yet, about 200-300 pages less wouldn't have been missed if taken away.

The main characters were quite unlikable. Yet interesting. Books don't always need heroes and likables as main character, so it was a good choice made by the author. However, the likable characters that were in the book were not treated fairly and came a bit short, I'd say. Would've liked to see more of them and less "academic" rambling and footnotes. But this also is part of an amazing world building.

I still don't know from whose perspective this book is written and who is "I". Not sure if it matters anyway. Unexpectedly, it became rather dark towards the end.

This book might be triggering for some. It contains words of racism and is a bit sexist (surprised, since the author is a woman). But it also seems like a hyperbole of white male societies, especially the English ones. Topics such as slavery and female emancipation are treated in an interesting yet maybe a biy subtle way.

In short: well crafted, but a bit long.

Recommended season: late autmn/winter

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vaguelyredhead's review against another edition

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dark mysterious slow-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

3.0

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adverb17's review against another edition

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funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

A great version of a great genre combination! Clarke did her homework to write like it's the 1800s; as far as I can tell through the voice the social commentary is poignant and funny (a few questionable words were used). Well-done characters, intrigue, and moral grayness. I was glad to be in this world for as long as this book was; really it needs more length/different pacing in the ending to give a more satisfying conclusion to all that build-up. I like how the magic system isn't strictly defined--makes it almost dark academia thematically.

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amsswim's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I loved this book. Scratches the same itch as Good Omens does for me in some ways. I do attribute it to getting me back into fantasy, I started this last year and got 40% through then my hold went up. Finally was able to finish it now and I'm happy I did.

For lovers of magical fantasy and characters with significant interpersonal relationship issues, this is the books for you. Love the footnotes and constant character pov rotation.

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nefariousbee's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

almost a thousand pages and I keep asking myself, what was this all for? I thought that there would be some major reveal, a plot twist, something majestic to make up for that long ass set up but. there wasn't. questions were not answered, it didn't even really *end*, no big character arc was finished... I don't know. I don't know why I bothered to finish this. I guess it's kind of easy to read. and it's atmospheric sometimes. but don't read this for the characters, don't read it for the magic system (there isn't one), don't read it for the plot...
the imagery and some moments were really strong. I can't deny that and I don't want to. but I just can't figure out why there needs to be so much of it.

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lizziaha's review against another edition

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slow-paced

3.5

This book reads like a classic. I’ve seen it described as a slow burn but I’m not sure it’s burning towards anything really. The author clearly has mastery over characterization and tone, but I found it boring. I wished there had been more focus on the women of the story. And I wished that the characters did anything. There is never really a moment that the pace quickens. There is hardly a climax and even less of a conclusion. It wasn’t a bad way to spend 21 hours, but I probably wouldn’t reread.

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lindseyhall44's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“This is to be mortal, and seek the things beyond morality.”
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is one of the longest books I have ever read, but also one of the best. Clarke flawlessly blends historical fiction with fantasy, while taking care to write in the style of the period. I’ve heard it described as if Jane Austen wrote about magic, which feels spot on. Although this may not be for everyone, don’t be put off by the length. The ending is well worth it:)

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thecriticalreader's review against another edition

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mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

0.5

Context:
I borrowed Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clark from my library through the Libby App. It is the second book by Clark that I have read; I read Piranesi in 2023 and gave it 4 stars.

Review:

On paper, I should have loved Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. I love historical fantasy, I love slow-paced nineteenth-century literature, and I love books that immerse you in a historical setting. I am the sort of person who would love nothing more to attend a History of Magic class taught by Professor Binns. Unfortunately, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell is a huge miss for me.

Before I talk about what I don’t like, I want to talk about the positives. I am immensely impressed by Clark’s ability to mimic the nineteenth-century prose style, something that many authors attempt but few do successfully. The writing is atmospheric, witty, and occasionally beautiful. Additionally, it is clear that Clark knows an enormous amount about early-nineteenth-century history and English folklore, and her knowledge pervades every aspect of this book. In this sense, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell is an admirable and unique triumph of literature.

Unfortunately for me, I despised the book’s characters and plot. And when you’re reading a novel of this size, it helps very much to like at least one of these things. Every character, except for two or three side characters, is selfish, petty, and arrogant. (Oh, and Mr. Norrell is canonically against the emancipation of Jews and Catholics, so that’s great /s). It can be entertaining to read about terrible people about if they are written with intention and care, but they are not. Are they supposed to be insufferable? Why do they act the way they do? Why should we care about them and what they do? I have no answers. Furthermore, there is little to no character development throughout this enormous book. The two or three characters that aren’t insufferable receive little-to-no screentime, so to speak, and have little agency. It appears that Clark tries to make a point about racism, slavery, and sexism, but her flat treatment of the female characters and the one black character rubbed me the wrong way.

My problem with the plot is partly a matter of taste because this book largely revolves around English fairies and the Otherworld. I’m someone who dislikes fairytales and fairies because they strike me as meanspirited and nonsensical (which funnily enough describes the characters in this book), so this element of the book did not work for me as a result. In general, however, this book DID NOT NEED TO BE 800-1,000 pages (depending on the edition) long! It could have easily been 200-300 pages. The plot of this book is discursive, muddled, and nonsensical. I actually DNF’d the book at the 50% mark but decided to push through in case it got better. As miserable as it was, I am glad that I read the ending, which I think wraps things up as well as could be expected and gave me a little bit more perspective about how the author wants us to view the main characters.

The Run-Down:

You might like Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell if . . .

· You love fairy tales, historical fantasy, and nineteenth-century history/literature

· You want to read about deeply flawed main characters

· You don’t mind reading pages upon pages of material that doesn’t really pertain to the main plot

· You like books that explore the darker side of magic

You might not like Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell if . . .

· You like well-written characters that you can root for

· You don’t want a read an 800-1000-page book that could have easily been 250 pages

A Similar Book:

A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians by H.G. Parry (I rated it 4 stars).

Similarities:

· Historical fantasy epic that reimagines major European historical events with magic

· Very slow-paced, well-researched, and historically dense

· Some real-world historical characters

Differences:

· A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians focuses on late-eighteenth-century history; Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell focuses on early nineteenth-century history

· A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians plot more strictly follows historically accurate events and explores concepts of oppression and colonialism; Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell diverges from historical events and is more interested in the relationship between its titular characters

· A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians has morally upright main characters but a darker tone; Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell has selfish main characters but a slightly lighter tone overall

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