From the Bookshelf of Sci-fi and Heroic Fantasy…

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

Susanna Clarke

Start date: June 21, 2015

Finish date: July 14, 2015

Discussion: Book Discussions

Discussion leader: Andreas

Why we're reading this: Hugo Award Winner 2005
#64 on NPR's Top 100 SF/F novels of all time (2011 poll) http://www.npr.org/2011/08 …more
[close] Hugo Award Winner 2005
#64 on NPR's Top 100 SF/F novels of all time (2011 poll) http://www.npr.org/2011/08/11/1390858...
#2 on Locus Magazines Best Fantasy novels of the 21th century http://www.locusmag.com/2012/AllCentu...

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What Members Thought

Jan 05, 2009 Jim rated it did not like it

Shelves: 1paper, fantasy, 2fiction, did-not-finish

I tried the book & then the audio book. I just couldn't work up any interest in the story or the characters. All of the main characters were worthless & the story was just LONG. After reading over 100 pages in the book, I tried the audio book & my thoughts kept wandering until I wasn't sure how much of it I had missed, but most of it.

The footnotes were the most interesting parts, but they were very long, some taking several pages. Possibly the book could have been salvaged for me if they'd been ...more

22 likes · Like · see review

Apr 16, 2011 Tracey rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, 18th-century, alternate-universe, kitten-squisher

Someone asked me my opinion on JS&Mr.N, and what I came up with was "dense and chewy". Until I reread it one fine day (or, given it's a kitten squisher, many fine days), let that stand as my review. ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Dec 25, 2011 mina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Epic! Touching! A must-have!

This marvellous fantasy consists of 3 parts.
Some of you probably stopped reading after a few first chapters, but I think Clarke wrote it in a boring way deliberately, to follow the tedious character of Mr Norrell, the First Magician. But you have to get through it to understand the basic story, since the prophecy of the fates of Mr Norrell, Jonathan Strange, and even English itself, is written in the first part of the book.

The second part is written in more enthusiast ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Mar 04, 2021 Scot rated it it was amazing

Shelves: amazing, fantasy

A truly grand tale.

Filled with characters that you love and despise all at the same time.

An expose on magic realistic enough to believe.

Thoroughly enjoyable and readable and filled with fun footnotes that are as humorous as the saga.

I would say, I like Childermass, could not choose, I am both a Norrellite and a Strangeite, equally at home with my nose in a book or letting my wild imagination or intuition flow.

Highly recommended for all of you magicians out there or anyone that believes in its ex ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Mar 31, 2014 Laura rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell can really reward the patient reader, which is not my usual reading persona. But the carefully drawn main characters, exceptional use of the historical period as context, and beautiful dark writing all came together in a quite memorable and sustaining and surprising way in this epic fantastic novel.

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