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ailurus's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
vaguelyredhead's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, and War
Moderate: Gun violence, Mental illness, and Slavery
Minor: Sexism and Antisemitism
bootrat's review against another edition
I got about 15% of the way into this book, and was considering DNFing it because it was too slow and boring for me. But then I read this passage and decided nope, I'm absolutely not finishing a book that wrote something like this in 2004.
"He had a servant, a very small man no bigger than an eight-year-old child, and as dark as a European can be. He looked as if he had been put into the oven and baked for too long and was now rather overdone. His skin was the colour of a coffee-bean and the texture of a dried-up rice-pudding. His hair was black, twisted and greasy like the spines and quills you may observe on the less succulent parts of roasted chickens. His name was Perroquet (which means parrot). Admiral Desmoulins was very proud of Perroquet; proud of his size, proud of his cleverness, proud of his agility and most of all, proud of his colour. Admiral Desmoulins often boasted that he had seen blacks who would appear fair next to Perroquet."
Absolutely wild that this was thought to be ok just 20 years ago, but no way I'm finishing this racist shit. There's a very real difference between having your characters in 1807 be racist "(like the boasting comment from the Admiral) and writing extremely racist and unnecessary descriptions yourself as an author.
Also, I hated that this book had footnotes?? Like if you're having to throw footnotes in at the end of the chapters of a fantasy novel then your novel isn't doing enough to explain things through the plot and the prose. And reading this as an ebook made footnotes even more insufferable as I couldn't flick back easily to understand what the hell each footnote was referencing. Just so unnecessary.
"He had a servant, a very small man no bigger than an eight-year-old child, and as dark as a European can be. He looked as if he had been put into the oven and baked for too long and was now rather overdone. His skin was the colour of a coffee-bean and the texture of a dried-up rice-pudding. His hair was black, twisted and greasy like the spines and quills you may observe on the less succulent parts of roasted chickens. His name was Perroquet (which means parrot). Admiral Desmoulins was very proud of Perroquet; proud of his size, proud of his cleverness, proud of his agility and most of all, proud of his colour. Admiral Desmoulins often boasted that he had seen blacks who would appear fair next to Perroquet."
Absolutely wild that this was thought to be ok just 20 years ago, but no way I'm finishing this racist shit. There's a very real difference between having your characters in 1807 be racist "(like the boasting comment from the Admiral) and writing extremely racist and unnecessary descriptions yourself as an author.
Also, I hated that this book had footnotes?? Like if you're having to throw footnotes in at the end of the chapters of a fantasy novel then your novel isn't doing enough to explain things through the plot and the prose. And reading this as an ebook made footnotes even more insufferable as I couldn't flick back easily to understand what the hell each footnote was referencing. Just so unnecessary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
fraeyalise's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What a lovely, lovely story that exists in our world with us, and what a pleasure it is to exist at the same time.
This book will stay with me for a long time. It was very detailed and long winded, but the details could not be cut without substantially changing the story and making it worse.
Everything builds so slowly, it moves like a thunderstorm.
The ending made me cry, all my feelings are very complicated about it, but I am happy with the ending and how everything wrapped up.
I'm so grateful that we, the Readers, got to see the entire story with all the parts.
I was a bit intimidated by this book because of the length, but I am so glad I found the courage to begin it. What a world. What a story.
This book will stay with me for a long time. It was very detailed and long winded, but the details could not be cut without substantially changing the story and making it worse.
Everything builds so slowly, it moves like a thunderstorm.
The ending made me cry, all my feelings are very complicated about it, but I am happy with the ending and how everything wrapped up.
I'm so grateful that we, the Readers, got to see the entire story with all the parts.
I was a bit intimidated by this book because of the length, but I am so glad I found the courage to begin it. What a world. What a story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Classism
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Forced institutionalization, and Grief
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, and War
In a book set in the 1800s England during the Napoleonic Wars with one of the main characters being a Fairy with no regard for human life, there is a fair amount of horrors that come with it. Also in a book with over 1000 pages, there's no way to have a story without some potentially triggering content. I will say Clarke does an excellent job of talking about sensitive topics, and mentions of some of the more horrible things, while blunt on purpose, are thankfully brief.macliffe's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The 3 stars I gave this book are purely because Susanna Clark is a genius. I still can barely believe this book was written in The 21st Century. It perfectly captures the 19th or early 20th century British literary style, down to spellings and slang. The footnotes made the world feel so real, like a lost piece of history, grounded in reality yet fantastical. It could have been a perfect book.
The fatal flaw of this book is simply its length. If it had been about 300 pages like Piranesi, it would have been flawless. But 800+ pages of no plot, or at most a vague and confusing plot, does not work, at least for me. This book could have easily been condensed to half its size, and I have no clue why it’s so long and slow. I think she learned from this book because Piranesi is the perfect length while still maintaining the fantastical magic, worldbuilding, and plotless mystery that she does so well.
The fatal flaw of this book is simply its length. If it had been about 300 pages like Piranesi, it would have been flawless. But 800+ pages of no plot, or at most a vague and confusing plot, does not work, at least for me. This book could have easily been condensed to half its size, and I have no clue why it’s so long and slow. I think she learned from this book because Piranesi is the perfect length while still maintaining the fantastical magic, worldbuilding, and plotless mystery that she does so well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Confinement, Death, and Racism
Minor: Antisemitism
adverb17's review against another edition
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Blood, and War
Moderate: Animal death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racism, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Fatphobia and Slavery
amsswim's review against another edition
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Colonisation, War, and Classism
Minor: Gun violence, Mental illness, Self harm, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
nefariousbee's review against another edition
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Racism, Sexism, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Drug use, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, and Death of parent
Minor: Gore, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
lizziaha's review against another edition
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, Sexism, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, War, and Classism
Moderate: Gun violence, Slavery, Antisemitism, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault
thecriticalreader's review against another edition
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.
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Mental illness, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Slavery, Antisemitism, and Religious bigotry