A review by violetturtledove
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

adventurous funny mysterious reflective relaxing slow-paced

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

5.0

Clarke has created a world here. It's very like our own and yet not, but the details are so precise that it feels it almost could be. Part of it is recognising aspects of British life and thinking 'yes that's exactly how it would be if magic was happening in England'. The characters who populate this world are amusing and intriguing, there is a little of caricature about some of them but they are engaging all the same 

The footnotes throughout, referencing historical incidents and books, plus some antiquated spellings like 'chuse' and 'scissars', make you feel like a contemporary reader within this world. It is after all a world of books as much as a world of magic.

If that sounds tedious to you, well it is a leisurely read, but then a book of 1000 pages can't really be anything else. There are a lot of little side details, but every single one adds to the feel and richness of the world.  There's aspects of politics and military history, I'm not really familiar with the Napoleonic wars so I must admit I don't know how much difference the magic makes. Maybe these bits will have an extra layer for history buffs, on the other hand if you're only after the magic these sections may drag a bit. I did in fact worry that the ending wouldn't feel satisfying after such a long build-up but it hit all the right notes for me.

It's charming, wryly funny, dark, whimsical, the only problem really is that it's so relaxed some will find it too slow. Lots of little things happen but the main plot moves very slowly, you've got to be the sort, or in the mood, to enjoy the leisurely journey.