Reviews

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke

abishop23's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

mmwearly's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I wanted to love this. And for awhile I did.  But…it’s very slow and way too long. Around page 600 I just wanted to be done

ekunes's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

freewaygods's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

griff1n's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

pedanticpenchant's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

astronad's review against another edition

5.0

Oh what a beautiful ending. What a beautiful book.

I was confused, at first, at all the comments talking about it’s slow pacing because I thought it was paced just fine. Then that last 200 pages hit and we were suddenly in a mad sprint.

How enchanting, often funny, overall a great joy.

Susanna Clarke, the woman that you are. After this and Piranesi, I am devoted to consuming all your writing for the rest of my mortal life.

cilly_karma's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

2.5

This was the longest book ever. An interesting story but far far too long and not edited enough. Glad piranesi was the opposite ! 

clarum79's review against another edition

slow-paced

5.0

newyearcarol's review against another edition

4.75

Hard to get into but SO worth it. Ending was incredibly satisfying. Interesting way of expressing the prejudices of the time period while refuting them. Lots of complexity in every character, you understand why Norrell makes his (terrible) choices and why Strange reacts like he does

Loved the footnotes, especially the ones three pages long to explain a vague allusion someone made that has no plot relevance and will never come up again, they made me laugh every time