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Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

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celesi

PostPosted: Tue Feb 14, 2006 11:00 pm


Has anyone else been reading/has read this new best seller? I'm stuck in about the center, and wondering what everyone's opinions are on the novel.

I can't quite pinpoint to myself what it is about the voice and the grammar that tickles me so, but the trick Susanna uses to mirror Norrell's personality with the prose frequently hangs me up, until there's another stint of the other plot lines/main characters.

For those of you who would like an intro, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell is a novel by Susanna Clarke, a new British author. The story revolves around the title characters, and others who are affected by their actions. Mr Norrell seeks to bring magic back to London, while forcing readers of the books to reclaim their rights as magicians. After a few months/years(can't remember which, sorry! sweatdrop ), a rival magician appears, and Norrell must deal with his competition.

There is an ancient story of a Raven King who used to reign over England, the Faerie realm, and supposedly, part of hell. Norrell is terrified of this guy, and desperate to discredit him in any way. Strange is drawn to the mystic history, and this confliction of opinions I think is a strong portion of the book.

So far, the book seems to be leading, building towards some conflict about or of John Uskglass. ....(spoiler) John Uskglass was the Raven King's name.
My description isn't quite accurate, as I haven't finished, and can't meld it in my mind, as of yet. But I'd like opinions, if you have them!
PostPosted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 7:24 pm


Ooh, that sounds like such a cool book. I love well-written stories about magic or witchcraft. ::adds it too Barnes and Noble shopping list - cringing at the total projected price::

Thanks for bringing it up. I'll post again once I read it. 3nodding


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Drowtung

PostPosted: Wed May 31, 2006 12:08 am


I'm in the middle of reading this wonderful books and I would just like to say that the way she handles magic is exquisite. And Clarke's prose is graceful and poetic. Once I'm done I'll post here again with a full critique.
PostPosted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 10:06 pm


I adore the novel...I personally found the first part of the novel harder to move through, but once Strange appears, it goes along quite quickly...I adore this novel...

Mercuryangel


Tebasile

Moonlight Harvester

PostPosted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 11:25 am


...birds creep over tin roofs, like criminals with tap shoes...
I Hear Thunder


To be honest i just got it because of the neat design!
But i did read it! and i found it hard to read at times, but once you got through the dry bits, its a good book. (:

But Theres No Rain
...stain the glass with windows, extortionate and cold stare...
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General Fiction

 
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