Reviews

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

wander_er's review against another edition

2.0

I enjoyed the descriptive, Victorian prose, but it began to bog down the plot towards the end. The footnotes were entertaining at first, but reading each one turned into quite a chore and broke the narrative flow.

That being said, there was some clever commentary on the upper-class English society and the rights of women and servants in those days, etc., etc., which I enjoyed.

antoniad's review against another edition

adventurous funny reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

momoj8's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative mysterious tense slow-paced

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

1.25

adastrame's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

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

4.5

I have read this book about 20 years ago in German. After reading Piranesi, I felt it's time for a re-read in the language it was meant to be read in. My experience was very similar: the book has fascinating world-building and is truly *magical*, but at times it's just unbearably slow and full of what feels like filler to me. It would have been a 5/5 with a more focused, less meandering story over 500-600 pages, as opposed to 1006. It only reall gets *exciting* in the last 100 or so pages. I still really like it, and I will definitely re-watch the TV adaptation now as well. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement and Emotional abuse

kkumouri's review against another edition

slow-paced

3.5

mynameisvesper's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book will have a place in my bookish heart forever. I’ve read it nearly twice as I kept putting it away to think about it and then kept going back to re-read certain parts. Honestly, it’s a book that is just complete. From top to bottom. Characters, story, side storylines, actual historical events in the background, the XIX century England setting, the fairy lore… even the footnotes. These insane footnotes. The amount of work and craft that must have went into this, I can’t even imagine. It’s fantasy Dickens, or Austen at times too. It’s witty, magical in truest form. Please bring us the next book of Susanna Clarke cause both Jonathan Strange and Mr Norell and Piranesi were pure brilliance!

sabrimi's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

sarahrosel's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

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

3.25

eleanorjosephine's review against another edition

Didn't feel connected to any of the characters. Lack of female characters. Too plot driven. Too waffly. Not enough reflection. Don't think I like "adventurous" stories. 

tymorrill17's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

4.5