Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell.

[Teresa Edgerton]

Since so many here have read this book, I do hope we'll have the best turn out yet for the April Book Club discussion! (Not so subtle hint.)

 

[aarti]

I enjoyed the book a lot, but I'm a bit of a sucker for the Regency era of English history! I did find the footnotes somewhat distracting, at first, but once I realized that they were fully integrated into the rhythm of the story, I got more used to them. That said, I don't know when I will *re*read the book. But I like having it

I didn't know it was the Book of the Month. Maybe I'll try to join in, if I can remember it well enough, and if work starts to slow down. And before I go on my exciting trip to the South Pacific Oh, April is a busy month!

 

[Somebloke]

I enjoyed the book a lot, but I'm a bit of a sucker for the Regency era of English history! I did find the footnotes somewhat distracting, at first, but once I realized that they were fully integrated into the rhythm of the story, I got more used to them. That said, I don't know when I will *re*read the book. But I like having it

I didn't know it was the Book of the Month. Maybe I'll try to join in, if I can remember it well enough, and if work starts to slow down. And before I go on my exciting trip to the South Pacific Oh, April is a busy month!

I personally loved the footnotes- they managed to really, really push you into the alternate world that was being created. And I loved the way that magic would appear to be nonthreatening....until you remember some of the older fairy tales that were out there.

 

[Adasunshine]

I absolutely loved this book although I admit to thinking it started slow but my perserverance paid off and it's now one of my favourite books.

There was another thread on this... *searches forum*

http://www.chronicles-network.com/f...-mr-norrell-3.html?highlight=Jonathan+Strange

Voila!

I go into more detail in that thread (as do some others)

xx

 

[kaneda]

I think I'm the only person who actually didn't mind the start of this book *shrugs*. Personally, I loved the beginning of the book, it was about 150 pages in that I stopped caring. Then I loved it again at the beginning of part 2. Same story - about 150 pages into part 2 I stopped caring. Then part 3, which I loved.

 

[Sathai]

I really enjoyed reading this book. I wasn't sure if I would becasue I had heard on another forum that it was boring. I liked the old fashioned writing style and storyline though.

Has anyone read The Ladies of Grace Adieu?

 

[GOLLUM]

I really enjoyed reading this book. I wasn't sure if I would becasue I had heard on another forum that it was boring. I liked the old fashioned writing style and storyline though.

Has anyone read The Ladies of Grace Adieu?

Not yet but surprise, surprise I'm getting a copy of that book!

 

[Winter Lord]

It wasn't too bad, better as alternate history, and not a fantasy.

Last I'd heard, there was a movie in the works.

 

[DeepThought]

I really enjoyed reading this book. I wasn't sure if I would becasue I had heard on another forum that it was boring. I liked the old fashioned writing style and storyline though.

Has anyone read The Ladies of Grace Adieu?

Got a trade paperback copy of that one with illustrations, had it on the shelf for about a month, infact. I've not read it though, but flipping through some of the pages I've noticed a few stories quite probably set in the same world as Jonathan strange and Mr Norrel.

Cheer's, DeepThought

 

[Sathai]

Last I'd heard, there was a movie in the works.

I have misgivings about that. Hopefully they won't butcher the book by making it into a trendy fantasy film.

 

[Bikewer]

I'm about halfway through, and I'm finding it delightful. I've always been one to enjoy clever prose, (I've read The Worm Oroborous several times) and Clarke delivers.
There's a subtle, underlying humor all through the book, very dry and understated, and very clever.
The extensive footnotes remind me of Jack Vance, who could add further inventions to his already-invented worlds which added a sense of reality.
Clarke has really nailed both the writing style and manners of the period.

 

[Wayward Ho!]

I absolutely loved this book, indeed I haven't enjoyed a book so much since I read The Lord of the Rings (with much wonderment) as boy. It helped that the Regency period is one of those periods that excite me, both historically and literally (?) and that I am one of those strange folk who enjoy footnotes rather too much. Pages and footnotes are like tea and biscuits no? I can't praise this book highly enough, and believe me I have tried, though I've yet to persuade any of my friends to read it...

 

[Mary Hoffman]

i absolutely agree - loved it. Got 2 daughters and husband to read it too and they felt the same.

Mary

 

[Ursa major]

I'm glad the last few posters have enjoyed this book.

While the very high quality slipped a little here and there, I have to say that as I approached the end of the book, I found myself wishing that it was even longer. (And I speak as someone who prefers SF over F and isn't really into magic.) The footnotes gave its setting a richness that I wasn't expecting. Marvellous

 

[flygin]

I just couldn't get into it, and didn't care about any of the characters. I got about 150 pages in, put it down one night, and never picked it up again. That was over a month ago. That hasn't happened to me since I tried to read The Corrections, and I despised that book. Maybe I'll try again. I'm glad it was a b&n bargain book, and I didn't pay full price for it.

 

[Lenny]

Just found this interesting bit of information about Clarke's next full-length novel:

She is working on a new book that begins a few years after the closing events of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. This new work will focus on different characters, as Ms. Clarke has become interested in Childermass and Vinculus and the people basically a bit lower down the social scale and less intrigued by the rich and famous.

Susanna Clarke - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yay!

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I was particularly intrigued by those two characters, Childermass and Vinculus -- it always seemed like there was so much more to tell about each of them -- so that's very good news. (But I would still like to know what ultimately happened to Jonathan and Arabella.)

Thanks for posting that, Lenny.

 

[williamjm]

(But I would still like to know what ultimately happened to Jonathan and Arabella.)

Maybe we'll find out in a footnote

 

[Daenerys]

I waited a long time before I actually bought it. But it was worth it. It's not an 'easy read' in the way you can zoom through a book. But if you like to work at reading a book, this is great. In fact, I both dread and a looking forward to re-reading the book.

If you haven't gotten into it after 150 pages though, just stop reading it. Maybe you'll pick it up later. And if not, not a big deal.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

If you haven't gotten into it after 150 pages though, just stop reading it. Maybe you'll pick it up later. And if not, not a big deal.

I agree. Unlike some books, it's doesn't turn into something else entirely after 150 pages. If the characters and the style haven't grabbed you by that point, don't stick around waiting for the pace to change, because it won't.