Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
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I want to read this book, it sounds really intriguing.p.s Your English is excellent, I would never have guessed it wasn't your first language
Sophie wrote: "I want to read this book, it sounds really intriguing.p.s Your English is excellent, I would never have guessed it wasn't your first language"
Just for observing our books comparison (we have similar tastes!) I think you are going to love it!!
Thank you for the English comment, I'm so self-conscious about it >.<
Brandon wrote: "I devoured it too! One of my favorite books."
Yay! I'm not alone!!
Well, of course we are not! This book has a lot of praise, but the last status updates, reviews and even topics, often complained about its lenght, pace, etc. whereas for me it was absolutely perfect. Every bit of it. Even the footnotes XD
It made me feel sad for the book, haha.
I am not the world's fastest reader, but I have read this book twice. Something I rarely do. I hope the long discussed plans for a sequel actually happen. This is one of the more fascinating fantasy worlds created in the last few years, and it is in danger of being forgotten. Anyone know if BBC plans to make a series out of it? That actor who plays Holmes in "Sherlock" would be great as Mr. Norrell's assistant.
Richard wrote: "I am not the world's fastest reader, but I have read this book twice. Something I rarely do. I hope the long discussed plans for a sequel actually happen. This is one of the more fascinating fantas..."I don't really like "wasting" (for lack of a better word) my time re-reading books when I have so many others yet to discover. But this is one of those who deserves an annual read or something.
I really hope for the sequel to happen. Have you read The Ladies of Grace Adieu? It helps but it's not the same. I've read that Clarke wants to put her eye on another social class in the sequel, that should be interesting.
I haven't heard anything about the BBC, but it would be cool. I don't see Cumberbatch as Childermass though xD
I would read it for the beautiful use of language even if the story wasn't there, which it most assuredly is. I really hope she plans to write more stories that revolve around this world.
I am really amazed by this book. I don't know about a week because I like to take my time with a book,but I definately could see myself devouring it should I find the time. I put it off for whatever reason despite all the hype about it an am very impressed.
Wasn't to crazy about it, I must say. First 3/4 of the book were quite slow and boring. Last 1/4 was much better.
I thought this book was amazing in its language and setting. But I would have edited twenty thousand words or so, the plot was meandering and unnecessary at times. And I say that as someone who devoured it like candy. For how great it is, I think it could have been better. A real classic.
One of my favourite books of all time too. A masterpiece and so full of dry humour and imagination. Brilliant - please Suzanna, write some more!
Of all the books I have read in recent years this is still my favourite...maybe my favourite of all time. I recommend it to everybody. A wonderful book.
I agree with Zoran, sorry to say. Lots of people told me how good this book was, but it didn't leave me with any great impression, positive or negative. I do agree that it is very well written.
Helen wrote: "One of my favourite books of all time too. A masterpiece and so full of dry humour and imagination. Brilliant - please Suzanna, write some more!"I hope Clarke hears you! Nevertheless, she published some short stories based on the universe of JS & Mr.N, The Ladies of Grace Adieu: And Other Stories, is not the best thing ever, but it helps you cope (?)
Andy wrote: "I agree with Zoran, sorry to say. Lots of people told me how good this book was, but it didn't leave me with any great impression, positive or negative. I do agree that it is very well written."It is well written. I think it's TOO well written. It has this atmosphere of dull and uptight victorian society... and this atmosphere is captured perfectly. Unfortunately, it is a very, very boring atmosphere :-)))
Well, if you guys think that kind of atmosphere is boring then this book was definitely not for you. And that is the kind of thing that one picks up almost from page 1. You were not the kind of readers towars this book was aimed, as I'm not the kind of reader towards... I don't know... Paulo Coehlo books are aimed xD
Well, I guess I'm more for books like "Tehanu" :-p
JS&MN does seem to divide opinion quite strongly. Either you love it or...you don't.
So by the by,I found this great link...it's an attempt to fully document the world in a wiki.http://hurtfew.wikispaces.com/space/menu
I remember incredibly little from the first 100 pages other than tedium but after that it moved at a pretty good clip. Once more, while I can't remember those 100 pages, I never missed them. I get from the structure that she needed those 100 pages to pull off that sucker punch (which worked) and it was worth the wait but I felt that the lobby of her prose could have had better magazines. Where I would give praise wouldn't be the atmosphere but the characters themselves. You get the since that anyone you spend more than 5 pages with is real and in a book this size that adds up. The most impressive thing he does is sneak that servant through the backdoor of the plot and into the forefront. I would argue that he's more central than Mr. Norrell and I totally didn't realize he was a main character until 50 pages later.
All and all, I feel it worthwhile and the first 100 pages or so, a security deposit and a month's back rent on an awesome property. That is to say something that some can't afford but it is pretty good if you can.
after I've read it, I started thinking I'm able to practice magic myself, it's so absorbing, and I loved its wordiness, which is rare with me
Tehanu wrote: "Am I the only one who devoured it?I loved the hell out of this book, from the very first page. I think the narrator did the trick for me, with its pace and its mocking tone towards all of the char..." Nope -- I did too! I loved this book. People get turned off because it looks so thick. But it's really easy reading!
I loved that book! It was sooooooooo amazingggggggg!!!
Technically its not even actually a thousand pages,that's a larger print edition or something. I was able to enjoy my slimmer 800ish real book in a couple months...not bad for me. Now if only there was any more news about the next one. Even if it was a year away.
Beth A. wrote: "Technically its not even actually a thousand pages,that's a larger print edition or something. I was able to enjoy my slimmer 800ish real book in a couple months...not bad for me. Now if only there..."my version was 1000 pages :p
It was the print hardcover paper version? I know virtual reading devices allow you to extend books by a couple hundred pages if you change the size of the font. I think maybe the paperback is longer for a similiar reason. But I assure you mine from the library was 780ish or something like that. That aside it is quite a wordy book regardless,I think even the small size is bigger than the biggest Harry Potter books. I did well to get through this quickly and enjoyed immensely most of the time.
Beth A. wrote: "It was the print hardcover paper version? I know virtual reading devices allow you to extend books by a couple hundred pages if you change the size of the font. I think maybe the paperback is longe..."Yeah, it was paperback. But it was AWESOME :D
And so are the Harry potter books.
It took me more than a month to read it. It's one of my favourute books, but I think it's a novel that needs to be devoured slowly.
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The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories (other topics)Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (other topics)
I loved the hell out of this book, from the very first page. I think the narrator did the trick for me, with its pace and its mocking tone towards all of the characters. I love that kind of narrator.
Even so, the characters and the story would've been compelling to me, because that's my sort of thing.
It's definitely one of my favorite books of 2012 and perhaps my favorite book of all time. I can't wait to re-read it, nor for Clarke to release something new (I read "Ladies..."; I liked it all right but I want a loooong novel).
I would've even wanted for it to last longer, and it even made me want to learn more about the Napoleonic wars.
PS: Sorry for my rusty English!