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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
One of the worst books I have ever read. It is extremely slow. I kept reading it thinking that it must pick up at some point, but I was wrong. Don't waste your time.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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
Perfection. Can’t believe I waited this long.
adventurous
emotional
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:
Complicated
I'm going to say it right up front: your mileage may vary.
There are certain writing styles to which the earlier a reader is exposed, the easier they are to enjoy. Mostly, this is older literature, or current literature written in the style of older literature, particularly (but not exclusively) that from what we know currently as the United Kingdom.
Clarke's historical fantasy is, without a doubt, firmly in this category. Set in late Georgian/Regency England, the reader is introduced to a large cast of characters, all with their own tangential subplots. Some of these are more engaging than others, as many connect only thinly to the "central" plot of the book.
If you're looking for a fast-paced fantasy filled with action and adventure, I'll tell you now: this is not the book for you. Despite its length, it would also make a very poor airplane novel. Read two or three chapters at a time after work, however, I found an ideal way to engage with the content. (Not unlike coming home to a favored TV show).
The two magicians for whom the book is named play off of each other's personalities brilliantly, each consistently driven by their core motivation. This doesn't necessarily make them likable, although I found Norrell well-constructed.
The first third was the most tedious reading. Lots of setup, very little plot movement, and the focus is exclusively on Norrell. Things pick up considerably once Strange is introduced. Reckless and arrogant, he leaps off the page. Normally, I find characters of his sort insufferable, but here it was much needed. The chapters alternate in focus, and his inclusion helps with the pacing.
There's a whole host of other characters, but here I'm just going to talk about one: The Gentleman with the Thistledown Hair.
Clarke has created a convincing Fairy. A being of inscrutible fixations and malice wrapped up in a pretty bow. The Gentleman's fixation on Stephen Black was one of my favorite subplots to read, especially as it also elevated Stephen's attempts to extricate himself and others from that circle of influence without accidently offending the Gentleman. This is closely related to the other thing I enjoyed about the novel: The Magic.
Who said that magic had to make sense? Who said it was like physics with specific rules*? It's magic. That in and of itself makes me grin a little, because it's fun, and dangerous, and unpredictable. It makes Strange&Norrell feel like modern folklore, which is something I can appreciate.
I'm going to wrap this up by saying that I really liked this book, but I can also see all of the barriers to enjoyment. The writing style is one, the very English humor is another, the somewhat uneven pacing is a third, and the general unlikability of Mr. Norrell (among others) is a fourth. I'd also be remiss if I didn't admit that I'm still squinting at the ending. Oh, it was fine... but just fine. Still, I enjoyed the journey.
4/5 for me, and I'll probably reread it down the road.
----------
*A footnote, because how can I write this review without including at least one: I write here specifically of rules such as you might find in an RPG or possibly a fold-out table in the glossary section of your latest high fantasy book.
There are certain writing styles to which the earlier a reader is exposed, the easier they are to enjoy. Mostly, this is older literature, or current literature written in the style of older literature, particularly (but not exclusively) that from what we know currently as the United Kingdom.
Clarke's historical fantasy is, without a doubt, firmly in this category. Set in late Georgian/Regency England, the reader is introduced to a large cast of characters, all with their own tangential subplots. Some of these are more engaging than others, as many connect only thinly to the "central" plot of the book.
If you're looking for a fast-paced fantasy filled with action and adventure, I'll tell you now: this is not the book for you. Despite its length, it would also make a very poor airplane novel. Read two or three chapters at a time after work, however, I found an ideal way to engage with the content. (Not unlike coming home to a favored TV show).
The two magicians for whom the book is named play off of each other's personalities brilliantly, each consistently driven by their core motivation. This doesn't necessarily make them likable, although I found Norrell well-constructed.
The first third was the most tedious reading. Lots of setup, very little plot movement, and the focus is exclusively on Norrell. Things pick up considerably once Strange is introduced. Reckless and arrogant, he leaps off the page. Normally, I find characters of his sort insufferable, but here it was much needed. The chapters alternate in focus, and his inclusion helps with the pacing.
There's a whole host of other characters, but here I'm just going to talk about one: The Gentleman with the Thistledown Hair.
Clarke has created a convincing Fairy. A being of inscrutible fixations and malice wrapped up in a pretty bow. The Gentleman's fixation on Stephen Black was one of my favorite subplots to read, especially as it also elevated Stephen's attempts to extricate himself and others from that circle of influence without accidently offending the Gentleman. This is closely related to the other thing I enjoyed about the novel: The Magic.
Who said that magic had to make sense? Who said it was like physics with specific rules*? It's magic. That in and of itself makes me grin a little, because it's fun, and dangerous, and unpredictable. It makes Strange&Norrell feel like modern folklore, which is something I can appreciate.
I'm going to wrap this up by saying that I really liked this book, but I can also see all of the barriers to enjoyment. The writing style is one, the very English humor is another, the somewhat uneven pacing is a third, and the general unlikability of Mr. Norrell (among others) is a fourth. I'd also be remiss if I didn't admit that I'm still squinting at the ending. Oh, it was fine... but just fine. Still, I enjoyed the journey.
4/5 for me, and I'll probably reread it down the road.
----------
*A footnote, because how can I write this review without including at least one: I write here specifically of rules such as you might find in an RPG or possibly a fold-out table in the glossary section of your latest high fantasy book.
The last 200 pages were fantastic- they almost made up for the previous 600...
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
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
El comienzo es genial y da cuenta de lo que te espera durante toda la lectura. Me costó un poco la parte media de la novela porque me daba ansiedad que los protagonistas estén ajenos al duende invocado por Norrell al comienzo de la trama. Pero el último tercio del libro me tuvo atrapadísimo. Y el final...!! El final fue perfecto. La autora es una genio. Una obra maestra. Favorito de la vida.
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
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:
Complicated