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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
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:
Yes
Слухайте, ну я бачу, що це блискуче написано, купу часу в це вкладено і взагалі Кларк молодець. Але я дуже давно не нудьгувала так сильно.
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What a phenomenal novel! I had high expectations for this book, given everything I had read about it, and it did not disappoint in the slightest. However, to enjoy it, the reader must accept that this is a SLOW story. The book is long, the narration goes into tangents that would be considered infodumping in other hands (but is masterfully done here) and the footnotes might deter some at first pass. With that being said, everything Susanna Clarke has done with this book feels extremely intentional and results in a truly unique book.
This is the best version of “our world but with magic” I have ever read, which is due in great part to the rich and laborious worldbuilding. Because the story takes its time to dive into legends, recounting branches of historical events that haven’t occurred in our world, it shapes a truly believable version of Europe with magic in it. The footnotes actually help give the story a scholarly feeling, creating an atmosphere of truth and knowledge that add to the immersion.
The characters aren’t over the top, even for magicians. However, they are meticulously crafted into real beings. Norrell and his scholarly quirks, Strange and his grand ambitions, but most of all the Raven King, whose presence looms over the story from start to finish. Never are we told who he actually was, or if he is still there, under the form of a character in this story. At different points in the story, I have had different theories on characters who might be the Raven King reborn/in hiding/etc. I have read theories online. In the end, I still don’t know… and I LOVE THAT!
I read Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell in audiobook and the narration by Richard Armitage was just as great as the content of the book itself. He is truly one of the best narrators I have listened to, subtly inflecting his voice to depict different characters and taking on non-caricatural accents. He even does a specific and noticeably different voice for the footnotes, which was truly appreciated! I would have liked the production to include a small audio cue to let me know we were shifting to a footnote (like the chime used in the audiobooks of Discworld), but the work of the narrator still made it easy enough to recognize.
The coziest read I have had the pleasure to wrap myself with in years. Each word in each sentence was threaded into a majestic tale that I would even place next to a Ghibli movie.
Might update this review later to include more thoughts, but I don’t think I can properly articulate the feeling this book gave me.
Might update this review later to include more thoughts, but I don’t think I can properly articulate the feeling this book gave me.
This book feels like a really engaging history textbook—funny sections and some fun stories, but mostly a tedious list of facts and dates. I must admit, however, that the dry, British humor is quite on point.
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I actually enjoyed this book quite a bit and just think it should have been 300-500 pages shorter. The substance doesn't stand up to the length, but Susanna Clarke is a very good writer, and it's pleasant to spend time immersed in her words. I'm headed on to her new book (which, I gather, is quite a bit shorter).
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
challenging
mysterious
reflective
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:
Complicated
A little dense but I am very glad I pushed through. Incredibly well-written and very reflective.