posted
Hello, I've recently started the novel "Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell." It is about the 2 practicing magician in England at the beginning of the 19th century. I bought it because it got good reviews and praised its literary style, which is something because it's considered fantasy. I'm glad I bought it because it's about 600 pages with small print. It also comes with illustrations and footnotes. The narrator talks to the reader like narrators did in the 19th century. I'm about 70 pages in right now. I'm wondering if any of you have read it? It's quirky and I like it, but because of its 19th century style, it requires the reader to pay more attention. So I'm reading it slower.
Posts: 188 | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
Keeley, I haven't read this--I hadn't even heard of it until you talked about it, but it really sounds like my kind of book! So thanks for mentioning it. And maybe someone else has read it and can comment.
If you like that, you'll probably like the whole book, as it's all kind of written in the same style (making it a slow read!). If you don't like it, you'll probably hate the book. It's definitely a book where one luxuriates in the writing and historical-world-building, as opposed to a tightly-knit plot or extremely lovable characters.
Thought the ending was slightly disappointing (won't say why for fear of spoilers), but very much liked it nonetheless.
Posts: 6 | Registered: Feb 2005
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posted
Jettboy and I just started reading this book. We are only into the first chapter, but I have to say that I am very impressed with the quality of writing. It pretty much blows away Harry Potter! I have been ready for a good long read for a long time....
Then again, I am always in awe of those who can masterfully express themselves in writing. I can enjoy not only the story but the writing itself.
I can contrast this with another contemporary novel I had heard much ado about, The Shop on Blossom Street. It deals with a woman opening a knitting shop and the other women who learn how to knit at the shop. The book was not only poorly written, but boring and predictable. I only finished it to see if my predictions were indeed true and yes, they were. I guess I am a bit of a masochist....
This is the problem I have had with contemporary lit. Poor writing, too much garbage in them. I have pretty much abandoned the fiction section of the local library and moved into the non-ficton.
Posts: 656 | Registered: Sep 2000
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Finished it last night. And unlike ca, I liked the ending -- very suitable for the type of novel it is.
Posts: 172 | Registered: Mar 2001
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I read the excerpt online. Now I have to drive to a real city and buy it because I can't get it in my podunk town.
Posts: 1451 | Registered: Jun 2004
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Try inter-library loan. It works for those of us in small towns BTW, my small town library had it on their new books' shelf for about 2 weeks without anyone checking it out until Jettboy got it. We were the first to check it out. Posts: 656 | Registered: Sep 2000
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posted
I had to place a hold to get my copy. I forgot to check and see how many other people had read it before me. I usually do look at the check out slip. In fact, even though my library has a self-serve check out system, I almost always just take my books to the desk and get them stamped. I want that I'm part of the chain of readers to be recorded.
Posts: 172 | Registered: Mar 2001
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I have never heard of self-checkout at a library before! Pray-tell, how does it work?
I have worked at a library before and absolutely loved it... And the stories I could tell! OK, it was the BYU-Provo library, if you are curious...
Posts: 656 | Registered: Sep 2000
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It's a university library. There is a card reader with a key pad pad, a screen and an area to place the book.
You slide your student (or faculty/staff) ID card, punch in your pin number, place the book in the proper area and position, an infrared scanner scans the book for the bar code and then checks it out to you. Once you are finished scanning your books, there is a little printer that prints out a receipt with the due date, etc.
This works because all the books in the Library have been labeled with a bar code. But because the information is all recorded on the receipt, the book doesn't get stamped.
Posts: 172 | Registered: Mar 2001
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OK - I sent me copy back to the library over a week late (busy week), but I couldn't not finish it in good conscience.
Great book!
Shouldn't be compared to Harry Potter in any way. Totally different.
I liked the ending too. It fit perfectly with what the feeling of the book. It almost makes you wonder . . .
Posts: 1445 | Registered: Sep 1999
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The only reason I compared it to Harry Potter was just in quality of the writing. Of course the target reader and writing style are different for both books. However, I still feel that JS & Mr N is a superior book because the author is more highly skilled.
Of course, I am a bit prejudiced... I have never actually read a HP book all the way through. I couldn't get through the first chapter of the first book. Just didn't like it.
I am still plugging my way through this book and still enjoying it.
posted
I should be a little more specific. I did like the very end. I was rather annoyed, though, that more questions weren't answered-- there was a point at which I thought everything was going to become clear, and then I was just left with more questions. This bugged me.
But you're right, it was in keeping with the spirit of the book. I've just been spoiled with tightly-plotted ends-wrapped-up books lately Posts: 6 | Registered: Feb 2005
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Thanks for bringing this book to my attention. I loved it so much, I read it in 7 days. I had never heard of it.
Posts: 1451 | Registered: Jun 2004
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7 Days! Wow! I just had to renew it for a few more weeks. I am usually a speed reader, but for some reason this book is taking me a long time to finish.
Posts: 656 | Registered: Sep 2000
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I'm about 1/2 way thru it now. I like it much better once Jonathan came into the story. It really does remind me of a novel written in the 19th century with all the sub plots. I think you have to read this book on it's own terms. Also, I think it's in a different class Literary-wise then the Harry Potter books. I like the fact that the fairy has more in common with folklore than Walt Disney. Posts: 188 | Registered: Oct 2000
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ca: I can understand that reaction to the ending. I suppose a lot of it depends on what your expectations are. I came into it thinking of it as a literary novel [because of the reviews I had read]. If I hadn't had those expectations, I too would have found the ending a bit unsatisfactory.
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