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

• Rated 5 stars

“ Books on tape! This is very long and complicated, I "read" it while washing dishes.”

• Rated 4 stars

“After more than a month I finally finished it so hurrah to me! Well, it was quite an adventure, I must honestly say it dragged sometimes, there were a lot of footnotes, which were sub-stories, and there were really unnecessary characters, but generally it's an excellent piece of work. It starts off really slow then picks up the pace when Mr Norrell arrives, after a few more characters enter Jonathan Strange. They way Susanna Clarke wrote the characters was really brilliant, they're like no other. She was able to introduce them, give them life and sometimes death, and most of them are not what they seem. The magic done here was extensive and not really for kids. I like how she described the spells and how magic was used in the war, and the character manipulation of the fairy always referred to as "the gentleman with the thistle-down hair". The events were astounding and unpredictable, it's really a fresh treat than the usual 'abracadabra'.”

• Rated 4 stars

“A fun read.”

• Rated 5 stars

“One of my favorite books! This will take about 100 pages to hook you in, so be patient. It's really wonderful!”

• Rated 5 stars

“favorite book of all time.”

• Rated 3 stars

“Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel by Susanna Clark was a book I picked up after browsing and reading the dust cover. A fun story of English magic in the time of the mad King George III (~1780-1820). The 'fun' comes from the use of evil faeries and magic and war and how they play together in the work. ”

• Rated 4 stars

“A wonderful grownup fantasy. Imagine a world where once magic reigned and a king who was a magician ruled in this world and in others. Then imagine it is hundreds of years later, magic seems to have left, except for one person - Mr Norrell, who takes a pupil, Jonathan Strange. These two men return magic to England, as the prophecy fortold. But what else does this prophecy say, and what does it mean? and in the end, who is really a magician? ”

• Rated 4 stars

“Heard this was a good book so gave it a try. It wasn't what I was expecting but I ended up really enjoying this book. It is about two magicians in England, and describes an alternate history of magic in England, as if it really existed. It reads like an old literary classic so it is not a quick and easy read, but I found myself really enjoying this story. If you are in the mood for something a little different, then I suggest this book.”

• Rated 3 stars

“I read this book a few years ago (writing in 2009) after lots of publicity that it was the next big fantasy / magical book after Harry Potter. The premise was similar in that there are parallel worlds - real and magical. I enjoyed the book, but was underwhelmed in total. And that's about all I remember.”

• Rated 3 stars

“Its a bit slow at times, but I enjoyed it overall.”