Reviews - Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

7.97k reviews for:

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

Susanna Clarke

3.96 AVERAGE

nikearurounin's review against another edition

4.0

Think of me with my nose in a book.

ayocky's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous dark slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book took me a while to finish. I enjoyed the story but I had a difficult time pushing through at points. There are so many different stories being weaved together over the course of many years, but the ending is worth it! The last 100-150 pages are a whirlwind of action that is unpredictable and exciting. Everything that has been building up comes to a conclusion. The characters can be incredibly annoying and stubborn and times but they feel like real people with their own flaws, desires, and quirks. Overall the book is beautifully written but you really need to pace yourself to finish.

joyinabook's review against another edition

4.0

I am giving this four stars despite the fact that at parts I had to force myself to slog through it like molasses. It was an extremely ambitious Austen era undertaking that fell short of the mark but still managed to be witty and enchanting (parden the pun) in parts. I had my mind set on giving it three stars but I found the ending so satisfying it pushed me over the top. Overall I this book could have been much better if the editors had done a better job. The pace just couldn't support it's 850 pages.