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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
I absoluted loved Piranesi so was eager to try other work by Susanna Clark. However, when I picked up the kindle edition of this book I struggled and struggled and just could NOT get into it. It was just so dry. Which, yes, is exactly the tone she was going for, but I couldn't embrace it. I realized that it had a British sensability, and I've found that when I get stuck on books like that, sometimes the audiobook spoken with a British accent makes it work better for me so I decided to give it a try with this one and it worked!
There was a part where the magicians try to help in the war against France and this was peak British droll humor which was a good payoff, but I still wouldn't say it was absolutely captivating, but I enjoyed it enough to finish it (although I definitely found myself tuning in and out at some parts).
I really like this genre of books where it establishes that magic is real, but with limited effects and then applies it to British History (I'm thinking Babel for sure, but I feel like maybe there is another I've read recently too?). Not what this genre would be called - British historical-magical-realism?
There was a part where
I really like this genre of books where it establishes that magic is real, but with limited effects and then applies it to British History (I'm thinking Babel for sure, but I feel like maybe there is another I've read recently too?). Not what this genre would be called - British historical-magical-realism?
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My favourite part of this was how believable its alternate history with the inclusion of magic was. All the important historical figures and events related to magic and their impacts are so naturally referred to and detailed that it seems like they were always there. The use of footnotes citing fictional sources and anecdotes makes it feel like an actual historical account of the return of magic to England. I loved the writing style in general, especially the ways characters and their opinions are described.
The characters are so interesting. The narrator very clearly exemplifies all their flaws and wittily mocks them for all their poor decisions, yet their accomplishments aren’t diminished and they remain respectable when it’s deserved. Watching Strange’s and Norrell’s differences intensify over time and all the different stages of their relationship was so interesting. I loved all the side characters' reactions to the reemergence of magic too, especially the military characters. The antagonist’s unhinged thought process was unpredictable in a way that was both funny and intimidating at the same time.
The magic always felt unknown and eerie, but as the scale of spells being done increased, it felt more and more dangerous. The creative ways a magician can ruin someone's life whether deliberately or not were especially scary. I liked how magic seems to be limited by a strange set of rules which the reader is never told any of, and which Strange and Norrell only seem to know a few of.
There being no constantly present plot to follow for the first two volumes made it hard for me to focus despite being interested in the world and characters. But the third volume was incredible and gripping until the end; all the pieces came together and the pace increased drastically. The ending was great.
adventurous
mysterious
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is well-written, well-thought out, entertaining. It has really funny moments, and really heartbreaking moments. It's mystery is intriguing and well-developed.
It was overly drawn out in places and could have used a little trimming down, but I didn't mind too much, it was still fun.
It was overly drawn out in places and could have used a little trimming down, but I didn't mind too much, it was still fun.
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-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
An incredible fantasy that is imaginative and exciting. The Victorian Dickensian character development is a familiar style for a backdrop to modern themes such as social status and racial equality. What a sublime ending. HIGHLY recommend the audio version--it makes for a much more linear narrative (reading the footnotes felt like work to me).
I don’t know exactly how to feel about this book. I by no means disliked the experience of reading it but I also don’t think that I wholly enjoyed it either - more than anything, I finished it out of a sense of intrigue and a certainty that the payoff in doing so would be worth it. This book is dense and meandering, which more often than not made it a chore to read, but it is also a wildly impressive feat of English literature and unbelievable for an author’s debut. Overall, I think that my feelings of relative indifference are largely my own doing, as I read this book at a very slow pace over quite a number of weeks, and as such often found myself unable to remember its earlier events and feeling like I was flying blind. Ultimately, while my indifference would usually lend itself to a 3 star review, I am giving this book 4 stars because it is just so damn impressive.
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-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