OOoooh! I haven't finished yet, but that teaser question about Lascelles makes me want to rush home and read through to the end!

I'm going to have to check back in a few days when I'm finished......

I loved this book. In answer to your first question, I didn't find it exactly difficult to read, but I didn't find it easy, either. I don't think it was the fantasy aspect that made it something of a slow read (I tend to read fantasy fairly often) but rather the writing style. This was also one of my favorite things about this novel - I think Clarke captured the style of a 19th century novel beautifully, combining the irony of Jane Austen with the character details of Dickens. And 19th century novels tend to be long and very detail-heavy, so they take me a while to read. Here are some of the other things I loved about this book:



1. The way she combined sly humor and whimsy with a sense of foreboding and menace that grew in force and power as the book progressed. When the gentleman with the thistle-down hair is first introduced, I didn't realize that he would become quite such a horrifying character by the end. It's as if when Norrell unleashes him, he literally opens the doorway to another, much darker world. Strange also becomes a much darker character as the book goes on - by the end, when he's experimenting with madness, he's almost like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, someone who's gone beyond the limits of where humans should go.



2. The wonderfully detached, ironic narration that doesn't ever let the reader become complacent in her assessment of the characters. Clarke has said (in the interview on the book's website) that she feels the narrator is a woman - probably herself - and I definitely got this sense throughout.



3. The contrast between the two main characters - the fussy, pedantic Norrell and the more adventurous Strange - that's at the heart of the book is great. I agree with MJ that the book picks up after Strange is introduced, probably because Norrell is not the most agreeable of characters. But the interesting thing is that both magicians have their flaws, and they're both related to their obsessions with magic. Norrell's fatal flaw is not being willing to admit his big mistake (summoning the gentleman with the thistle-down hair) and Strange's flaw is the extremes to which he goes to practice his art. But I guess you could say that Strange's risk-taking makes him the hero of the book - his actions, and his daring, lead to the release of Lady Pole, Stephen, and Arabella at the end. It's significant that he and Norrell have to join forces to defeat the gentleman with the thistle-down hair, I think - they're stronger together than apart.



4. In some ways, I think the book itself is a perfect combination of the two main characters' personalities - the footnotes and the attention to detail are indicative of Mr. Norrell, while the rather dashing, headlong flight of the narrative (especially in the last third of the novel) recall Strange.



5. Of the other characters, my favorite would have to be Childermass - he's a great combination of self-interest and devotion that is very interesting. Although he is a servant and is contrasted greatly with the elegant Lascelles, he definitely has a mind of his own, and talents of his own, that enable him to play his part in the ending.



As a feminist reader, I couldn't help wishing that there were some more interesting women characters in this novel. The two major ones - Arabella and Lady Pole - are essentially victims who are kidnapped because of their beauty and need to be rescued by the hero at the end. I do like that Miss Greysteel has her own part to play at the end, though. Clarke has said that she deliberately did not give women bigger roles in this novel because it would have been unrealistic for women to become magicians at the time - her narrator makes a note of this fact a couple of times. We get the sense at the end of the book, when the new group of York magicians is described, that there will be women magicians in the future - there's a lady in a red dress that is quite passionate. So perhaps if Clarke writes a sequel, women will play a larger role. This didn't take away from my enjoyment of the novel - far from it - but I think adding more significant, even magical, women in future would probably make me like her work even more.



MJ, as for Lascelles - I'll say this: he definitely gets what he deserves, and in a very appropriate manner. You'll see what I mean...



I'm so looking forward to hearing what everyone else has to say! Thanks for reading my long entry.



Cheers,
Elizabeth

I found Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell to be a very strange (haha) sort of book, but one that, ultimately, I ended up loving.

I don't think, as Cara suggested, that it was slow to get through because it was a fantasy... I think it was because of the way it was written. In the beginning, I felt the story was often very fragmented (especially with the extensive footnotes, and with the sometimes stand-alone chapter stories) and that doesn't really create a narrative drive for me to keep reading every night. I kept picking up the book again because I was intrigued with the world Ms. Clarke was creating, but I didn't feel the plot pick up in a more traditional manner until the last quarter of the book (which I read in a rush in only a few days).

I also think another obstacle was the way she treated the characters. On the one hand, I felt many of the characters were very well drawn, but I also felt an emotional distance from them due to the witty (and a little smug) comedy-of-manners style of writing that the author used. Don't get me wrong - I love subtle bite to my character observations, and the book made me laugh, but it also put a small wall of distance between their world and mine.

That being said, I also thought there were moments of great drama in this book. The end of the chapter where Mrs. Strange died was pretty amazing. The scene in the beginning of the book where Mr. Norrell trades a girl's life for her finger was captivating, in an eerie way.

One beef I have - I felt dissatisfied with the ending. And I felt badly, in a way hard to describe, for Mr. and Mrs. Strange. It seemed unfinished and sad for them to choose to live apart (but, then again, I suppose real life is often unfinished and sad). And a little strange for the two magicians to choose to live in a storm that roams the world from there on out. What did you guys think?

Also, if you don't already know, Susanna Clarke is planning a sequel. She talks about it on her website in this interview:

http://www.jonathanstrange.com/copy.asp?id=4

...and I think Lascelles got what he deserved!

Elizabeth - I disagree with you on one point only - I think Arabella (Mrs. Strange) was a wonderful character, and tough in her own way. I think she (and not Mr. Norrell) provided a balance to Mr. Strange's life that kept him from going over the edge like he did when she was gone. That's probably why I was so fussed at the ending - it seems like with only Mr. Norrell as a companion, Mr. Strange's obsessive tendencies would not be checked and could still be dangerous.

I, too, noticed the overall lack of strong female characters, but I didn't necessarily miss them. It fit with the feel of the book. But it would be quite interesting for her to pick up a strong female lead in the sequel!

I, too adored this book, and having finished it a few weeks, ago, still lament that I am no longer living in this world to which I had becomed so accustomed. Indeed, I miss the atmosphere, the characters, the possibilities. . .

Echoing Elizabeth, Childermass was my favorite character as well, though not at the first. This complexity was something I appreciated throughout the book and with all the characters--really not one of them without faults and weaknesses, as well as strengths.

As for the manipulative Mr. Lascelles--eternal manipulation is entirely what he deserves!

The thing that struck me, and continues to amaze me each time I consider it, is Clarke's apparently voluminous research. To consider what she must have had to make herself familiar with in order to create a believable mythology of English magic is astounding. It reminds me, in terms of attention to background detail, of Anne Rice's creation of a credible vampire mythology.

Perhaps my most favorite scene came right at the beginning ~ Mr. Norrell's magic in the cathedral. This was so original and breathtaking that it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. While I loved many other scenes, as well, this particular one convinced me that I was in for a treat with this novel, and I wasn't disappointed.

And might I just mention how HORRIFIED I was for Mr. Norrell to treat Mr. Strange's book publishing debut in so callow a manner? Surely every author's worst nightmare.

I loved this book, it may be one of my favorite ones of all time. The question I find most fascinating is the connection between magic and madness. Must you be mad to believe in magic the way some of the characters do? Where does magic end and madness begin (and vice versa)?

Just an aside: So glad to see everyone talking about the book! Don't forget, MJ was nice enough to jump start the discussion. I ~blush~ wasn't able to finish it in time!

Thank you for making K1R2 everything I hoped it would be!

Best,
Cara

I think I may have been one of the few to finish the book in March, so please bear with me, I've read a few other books in the interum.
I too found it difficult to read because of the language, not the fantasy. For me, it was the same way I feel when trying to get into an Austen novel. You have to get used to the writing before you catch on, and you're not thinking about the writing style any more.
I loved the scene where Stephen Black hears the bell ringing for Lost-Hope, and he helps the man with thistle-down hair get ready for a party, and the man thinks that Stephen should be a king instead of a student. I felt disappointed that we never learned the name his mother called Stephen, because the Raven King mentions it quite a lot. I was unsure though, whether to be happy or sad that Stephen became king of Lost-Hope.

I liked this book, but I felt for the length that is it, there were far too many loose ends laying about. It's as if the author started minor plot lines, and then forgot about them.

What happens to the King of England? What happens to Vinculus? Is Childermas a magician now? What happens to Miss Greysteal? And the strange mirror?

I am glad that there will be a sequal, and while she will probably tie up these loose ends, I hope she doesn't create more.

OK, I'll be the contrarian...I got 300 pages into this book after much effort, and gave up. I liked the writing style--but if I want to read something Jane Austen-esque, I'd rather read Jane Austen. It just didn't grab me in any way. Not that I have to have major "grabs" in every book I read, but it was far too easy to put down and forget about. Normally I give a book 50-75 pages before moving on, but I gave this one more, simply because it was so long, but ultimately...goodbye Clarke, hello Ian McEwan and Yarn Harlot.

I admit, too, that it was a tough slog for me, for some reason. I could never connect with any of the characters, and I guess I need that connection. I adore big weighty tomes, like Moby Dick and all of Dickens, and A Soldier of the Great War, so that wasn't it. It just never touched me.

Sandy - your point about Arabella is well taken. You definitely get the sense that she's the right partner for him - smart and practical. That's why it was so utterly shocking when she "died." (Although of course I should have seen that coming...)

Amy - I love Ian McEwan! Have you read Atonement? It's wonderful...

Ok, this was to be my debut reading for this group. I loved Harry Potter books and had understood that this was the "adult" Harry Potter. I finally found it at the SFO book store and lugged it with me for the next 5 days in San Diego.

I'm sorry to say that I'm one of those who did not connect with it. I didn't feel any connection to the characters, I found the language and detail too much work.

So after about 250 pages, I gave up. I might go back and finish it someday, but I find myself picking up almost any other reading material instead, so it will go with my knitting UFO's for the time being.

I find that you either like this kind of writing, or you don't. It's like Shakespeare -- you have to get into the rhythms of the language. If you have trouble with the reading part, try listening to an audiobook version. That's what I did. I found the footnotes to be less intrusive and more of an organic part of the story when I listened to it.

I also think some people may just have a visceral reaction to the fantasy bits of it. All I can say is, y'all missed out on a good story. I think this is one of the best books I've read in years.
It had stylish, meaty prose, interesting and well-drawn characters, and a plot that got better as the book went on. The story really picked up in the last quarter of the book, and the ending to me was IMMENSELY satisfying. I really liked that the author didn't settle for a pat "happy" ending.

I can't wait to read more from this author.

Mixed feelings on my part about this book. I received it as a holiday gift, and read it back in January. From the reviews, I expected something really great, and felt it was okay. I thought the writing style was very well done, and it was an interesting exercise. However, I thought the pacing was off, and there was a lot of slow buildup only to race to a conclusion. The plot felt secondary to her description, which was unfortunate.

Ultimately, I don't have much else to say about Strange & Norrell. It was entertainment, but not terribly substantial despite its weight. In terms of generating topics of discussion, I think the His Dark Materials series brought up more interesting concepts.

Just my 2 cents.

I have to admit that this one didn't grab me either. I really wanted to love it, as I love 19th century novels, fantasy/magic, and huge 800 page novels. None of the characters really made me want to love them, and though it did pick up the pace later on, it dragged on for the first 300 pages. I probably would read more of her work as she writes more, but I couldn't help agreeing with several reviewers that a good editing pen was what was needed here.

I loved this book! I will have to say that I listened to the audio version of the book and think that may be why I was able to finish.

I think that the beginning was a little slow as we had to wait for the introduction of Strange. (Norell was not a character that I could easily identify with.) Once Strange was introduced, the story picked up quite a bit.

I agree that Arabella was the perfect partner for Strange. She definitely his anchor and without her, he did things that he probably shouldn't have.

I would be interested in 'reading' a sequel to this book. I felt the ending left you wondering what would happen to Strange and Norell and would Strange and Arabella be able to 'reconcile'.

That's all that I can remember for now. I'm in the middle of another book!!!

I gave up on this book at p.124. I like it well enough, but found my attention wandering. Thank you to everyone who finished the book and liked it. I'll try again.

I am listening to the audio version and am around Chapter 30.

If someone asked me what the plot line of this book was, the only thing I would be able to tell them would be "Magic returns to early 19th century England. This is about two magicians" I guess I feel a story, especially of this length needs more glue in the plot line to keep the reader willing to read the entire book (or listen to all 26 CD's!). Take for example Lord of the Rings; not a short read, however the ongoing conflict made me not want to put the book down.

Currently, it almost seems like a book of short stories. You have the story about the "Man with the Thistle Down Hair and Lady Pole" and "The Story of Jonathan Strange" Sure the stories overlap some, but it seems very disconnected.
I must say that I completely agree with everyone that has not been able to make it through the entire book.....I'll have to wait and see if I do.

I know I'm way late on this. And perhaps no one will read my comment. But as I have one last CD (the 26th!) of this book to listen to, I can't help myself.

I LOVE this book. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it. I love how it progresses from a fairly light social satire to a scary, dark, wild thing full of magic. I can't get the image out of my head of Strange moving about in his pillar of darkness. I love how the characters develop over time and how the character flaws in Lascelles and Drawlight twist and grow until these odious men are destroyed in very fitting ways.

I think the best way to enjoy this book is to listen to it rather than read it. That way you can knit and "read" at the same time. Why, in the time it's taken to read this book, I've knit a pair of socks, a sleeve of the Lucky cardigan and a sleeve on a sweater I'm making for my husband (plus I traveled all around my home state of Idaho while magic was restored to England).

I'm also a fan of any author who messes around with genre and history. This novel does both. So there. I'm feeling better. And now, for the last disc!