Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell: A Novel (edit title)

• Rated 4 stars

“An engrossing book, and despite its length, it never felt slow. It likely could have been edited down (as is true of most any work of 1000 pages), but it traces an entire decade, and in so doing provides an excellent story.

The ending ties things together without feeling forced or cheap, and I was left wanting to know more, to experience more.

All that said, I'm not sure that the book is a truly "good" book - does it have value beyond entertainment? I'm not yet sure. Even if it does not, it's very good at entertaining, and creating something of a new style - Austen + Fantasy, perhaps.”

• Rated 0 stars

“I'm only a couple of pages into the book, but I think it is a great fantasy book. It's perfect for Harry Potter fans who simply can't get hold of enough magical reads.”

• Rated 0 stars

“Well written and interesting. A good story and an enjoyable read.”

• Rated 5 stars

“I can't give this book justice in a brief review. It was fascinating, mesmerizing and really different.
Strangely enough, pun intended, I recently began thinking about it again and may re-read.
Even if you think you don't like fantasy/magic type books, if you value good writing, you will appreciate it.”

• Rated 5 stars

“Since the departure of The Raven King from England magic has become quite defunct in practice. In fact there are no longer anymore magicians left in the country, or at least not until the appearance of Mr. Norrell. Bent on returning English magic to its former glory in the public eye Mr. Norrell astounds everyone with his magical acts. Soon another magician, Jonathan Strange, appears on the scene and though their differences instantly set them apart Strange becomes Norrell’s pupil. Together they set out to reestablish magic in England; beset the perils of wicked faeries, public conjecture and above all each other.

Susanna Clarke’s first novel flows effortlessly into an epic fantasy to rival Tolkien and Rowling; yet she writes with all the superior lyricism and social wit which Jane Austen possessed. For any reader of fantasy who also happens to be a fan of Austen this novel is a dream come true! Clarke is a brilliant new writer with a flair for writing rarely seen in contemporary authors.

Personally, I enjoyed this book immensely! Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is my favorite book of the year thus far. Clarke’s characters were not the usual heroic figures without fault; each possessed his or own idiosyncrasies and flaws which severed to animate them as believable people. Mr. Norrell is a sad little old man who fears everything but nothing so much as that his power and influence over English magic might be diminished. Jonathan Strange on the other hand is a charming, courageous, tolerably handsome young man who is excessively arrogant.

Whenever the plot seemed to lag I was still continuously amused by Clarke’s flourish for language and poetical passages. I have seen many reviews which criticized Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell for being so long and full of detail and yet after 1000 pages I am dying to read more! Clarke’s gothic world of magic, wicked faeries, mysterious kings, and great magicians has bewitched me and I can scarcely bare to leave it!
”

• Rated 0 stars

“I enjoyed this unusual, meandering story. 850 pages long, I was intrigued for most of the book and did not regret seeing it through to the end. Clark's writing style is compared to Jane Austen and Charles Dickens and rightly so. Her characterization and social commentary are so like Austen, but the story reads more like a fantasy. I would recommend it to a patient reader!”

• Rated 5 stars

“It's magic!”

• Rated 4 stars

“It is quite confusing at times with the long footnotes, but in whole it's a very interesting book. Well written and mysterious...”

• Rated 3 stars

“The book was well written, but I was disappointed by the fact that I read far too many pages for such little payoff. ”

• Rated 4 stars

“harry potter for adults (i like harry potter too). magic in a mature and "grown-up" kind of way. very original, eerie, and entertaining to the end. ”