Jonathan Strange

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell #2 of 3

by Susanna Clarke, Branko Gradišnik (Translator), Portia Rosenberg (Illustrator)

Gospod Jonathan Strange je čarovnik samouk, zato se razveseli družbe dveh čarovnikov teoretikov. Možakarja mu svetujeta, naj naveže stik z gospodom Gilbertom Norrellom, priznano čarovniško avtoriteto. Strange in Norrell imata vsak svoje mnenje o vlogi Gavranjega kralja. Strange vidi v njem očeta angleške magije, Norrell pa bi ga najraje izbrisal iz kolektivnega spomina. Kljub različnim pogledom postane Strange Norrellov učenec. Težava je v tem, da je učitelj bolj nezaupljive narave, zato učencu skrije kar precej pomembnih knjig. Strange in njegova žena Arabella prideta v visoko londonsko družbo. Strange s svojimi darovi rad pomaga domovini, zato ga zaprosijo, naj se zglasi pri lordu Wellingtonu in mu ponudi svoje storitve. Tako bodo Napoleonu zadali hud udarec. Strange se imenitno odreže v vojni. Ko pride domov, se razide z učiteljem in krene po svoji poti.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Magic, Historical, British Literature, Urban Fantasy

406 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Susanna Clarke was born in Nottingham in 1959. A nomadic childhood was spent in towns in Northern England and Scotland. She was educated at St Hilda's College, Oxford, and has worked in various areas of non-fiction publishing, including Gordon Fraser and Quarto. In 1990, she left London and went to Turin to teach English to stressed-out executives of the Fiat motor company. The following year she taught English in Bilbao.

She returned to England in 1992 and spent the rest of that year in County Durham, in a house that looked out over the North Sea. There she began working on her first novel, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.

From 1993 to 2003, Susanna Clarke was an editor at Simon and Schuster's Cambridge office, where she worked on their cookery list. She has published seven short stories and novellas in US anthologies. One, "The Duke of Wellington Misplaces His Horse," first appeared in a limited-edition, illustrated chapbook from Green Man Press. Another, "Mr Simonelli or The Fairy Widower," was shortlisted for a World Fantasy Award in 2001.

She lives in Cambridge with her partner, the novelist and reviewer Colin Greenland.

Reviews

[Olethros · Rating 4 out of 5]

Técnica, ejecución e imaginación no tienen que enfrentarse, en absoluto.-

Género. Narrativa fantástica.

Lo que nos cuenta. En una Inglaterra decimonónica muy parecida a la de nuestra Historia, con la salvedad de que la magia existió realmente en el pasado, los magos actuales son teóricos del tema y amantes de los libros sobre el asunto. Cuando uno de ellos, el reservado y poco dotado socialmente Sr. Norrell, muestra que él sí puede usarla, las percepciones al respecto de la magia comienzan a cambiar e incluso se analiza la influencia potencial de la misma en la guerra contra Napoleón.

¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:

http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...

[natan · Rating 4 out of 5]

W momencie w którym skończyłem drugi tom od razu sięgnąłem po trzeci (tak dosłownie), myślę, że to opisuje mój stosunek do tej serii.

[the vampire damien · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love this book.

[zaczytanaati · Rating 5 out of 5]

TO ZAKOŃCZENIE??? ILLEGAL

[szpieg z krainy deszczowców · Rating 5 out of 5]

tom drugi w każdym, nawet tym najmniejszym calu dorównuje swojemu druhowi. tym razem na główny plan wyjawia się nam charakterny jonathan strange i tak, jak w przypadku tomu poprzedniego przykuwał uwagę, tak w tym zaskarbił sobie moją dozgonną sympatię. śmiem sądzić, że niesnaski tytułowych bohaterów nie znudzą mi się przenigdy i to samo tyczy się każdego jednego opisu, który susanna clarke wyczarowała tym swoim piórem. jej humor trafia prosto w moje upodobania i aż nie zliczę, ile to razy zaśmiałam się pod nosem przez jakiś dialog albo czyjąś wypowiedź. ta książka to złoto i diamenty, dziękuję za uwagę.

ps skąd pomysł na trzytomową historię? dlaczegożby nie stworzyć z niej, przyjmijmy skromnie, dziesięciotomowej?

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable book, as you can tell by the five stars. It starts off a bit slow- Mr. Norrell has a very bookish view of magic and neither he or his magic is very exciting, although he does set things into motion that drive the rest of the book. Have patience- things really pick up when Jonathan Strange enters the story and goes to Spain to help the Duke of Wellington with his battles. That prepares him very well as he struggles to right past wrongs and rescue his wife from his fairy nemesis. I'm not revealing the end because I don't want to be a spoiler.

This was a wonderful and sophisticated alternate history of early nineteenth century England - if that England had practicing magicians! And was still filled with the sinister magic of Fairey.

[Jodi Compton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am currently reading this, and I really wish my family would just leave me alone so I could totally immerse myself in it. You have to be committed--it's about 800 pages and Ms. Clarke takes her time to build characters and give the reader the feeling that he or she is, too, living in the early nineteenth century. I read a review of this book that said to read the first chapter--if you laugh out loud, go ahead and read the book and if not, put it down. I would say that's a good idea. There are lots of little wry moments and bits of humor and truth woven in this truly spooky ghost story. I am loving it and again, just wish I could lock myself in a room somewhere and read the rest! I'm on page 550 and it's getting good!

Finished it--love love love!!!! READ THIS BOOK.

[Triinu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kuidas lihtsalt stiiliga nii palju öelda ja samas on ka lugu ikkagi põnev.
Kui ma proua Clarke'i tunneks, ma istuks ta jalge ees ja vahiks jumaldaval ilmel talle suhu.
Muidugi on haldjad niisugused. Muidugi on inimesed naasugused. Muidugi on sõda kohutav, võlukunst mõistatuslik ja samas selge, britid britilikud ja hullud hullumeelsed.
Ja kõik ometi täiesti erinevad. Nii britid, hullud, sõdurid - vat haldjate kohta ei tea, sest neist on täpsemalt kirjeldatud vaid ühte.
Ning mul on VAJA teada, mis edasi saab!

[Lena]

Pierwszy tom narysował mi fajny klimat, drugi poszedł w stronę, która zupełnie mnie nie ruszyła. Potwornie się wynudziłam, przy czym muszę podkreślić, że to NIE JEST zła książka, przeciwnie – rozumiem zachwyty, zazdroszczę i chciałabym je podzielać. Przeczytam też tom trzeci, skoro już wydałam na niego krocie, ale tylko po to, żeby mi się odbijał czkawką za każdym razem, gdy przyjdzie mi ochota na nową książkę, mimo że na fizycznej i wirtualnej półce mam setki nieprzeczytanych, i to z o wiele większym potencjałem na otrzymanie statuetki Moich Ulubienic [*]

[Aleksandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uživala sam čitajući ovaj deo - u atmosferi, u činjenici da je fokus u ovom delu mnogo više na liku Džonatana Strejndža, nije teško pratiti uvođenje novih likova (nekih zanimljivijih od drugih), humor je prisutan, meni nema toliko sporih delova kao što je to bilo u prošlom delu knjige i fusnote tj. priče iz fusnota su mi u ovom delu zanimljivije. Suzana Klark je uspela da uplete magiju u poznate istorijske događaje i uspela je i u tome da nam to zvuči kao da se tako nešto moglo u stvarnosti i desiti. Nadam se da ću u sledećem delu naći razrešenje tj. objašnjenje za nekoliko događaja za koje nisam baš najbolje razumela zašto su se desili (kraj me je šokirao), i da će neko pomoći začaranim ljudima, nekako mi je njih jako žao. A ono što bih najviše želela da vidim je da se neko konačno obračuna sa vilenjakom

[Nathaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took up Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell for the first time when I was around 13. It was one of the longest (apart from Harry Potter) and densest books I’d ever attempted to read at the time, and given my then-recent forays into the world of video games my attention span was growing shorter by the day. Before I took it up for a second time, I had patchy memories of an extremely important Book, a prophecy, and magicians participating in the Napoleonic Wars. And also bits and pieces of a style that I’d never read before, something that I would later think read like Austen with a touch of the fantastic.

In short: I think I skipped around a lot. And I missed most of the important bits.

Two weeks ago I picked the book up again. It was a slow start, and I wasn’t much taken in by the characters—until things started happening. Strange things. Magical things. In this world of people so (at first) drearily ordinary and proper there was a force that could reach all the way back through time and draw out the mystic and the terrifying, and bring about happenings so vivid and present that the world would never be the same. Whether it would be better or worse afterward was for the individual to decide.

I slogged through the style which at some times became claustrophobic, and was rewarded with sweeping scenes of epic scale that featured power in a way I had never considered it before, histories that I recognized (but which, with the addition of magic, were much changed) and characters that I grew to care deeply about and sympathize with, even in spite of their many failings. The end, I must say, confused the hell out of me. But give me a while to think on it, and I may come to new realizations. I only finished it two hours ago, after all.

—

Clarke’s strengths are numerous, and her failings few.

She has a way of describing magic which makes it seem utterly ordinary and everyday, and yet also making it seem on occasion great and terrible, a power that only gods should be able to master. Spells are as simple as making statues come alive to talk, and as complex as summoning beings from times long ago and realms far distant.

And what’s more, magic has a very pronounced effect on individuals and their surroundings. Houses shift and change, or become near-transparent and unmoored from their physical construction. And people who deal with Fairies, beings of great magical power and cunning, are liable to be whisked away if caught unawares, to say nothing of their loved ones.

She builds characters complex and deep, many with strongly-held beliefs that contrast with their doings in everyday life. Consistency is rare; men and women change opinions, skills, and objectives throughout, and also their manner of speaking or acting. The novel takes place over several years, and to have characters that are the same from beginning to end would be silly to say the least.

There is also a quite lengthy list of characters, but they are introduced so gradually that it is no trouble at all to keep track of them, even if one’s reading period is lengthier and has large gaps in between sessions.

And beneath everything is her description and style, Austen-esque as I have said, with flashes of more modern description when more speedy prose is needed, or when words of the 1800s fail. This is one of the very few criticisms I bear: that the style at some times seems almost more important to Clarke than the plot, and just when the reader wants more information she spends long passages setting the scene, or instead switches to another perspective entirely.

The plot, as well, is both a brilliant and flawed. It not only spans years, but also continents. The characters have their own unique goals and dreams, and throughout the novel Clarke makes sure to focus on each for long enough to see their progress. Some, necessarily, are less interesting than others.

But my main complaint is that moments of dullness in the lives of some are inserted at moments of extreme tension in the lives of others. This made me frustrated a number of times, and I was sorely tempted to skip around as I had before. I didn’t, though, and ultimately I was glad for it. There is so much information packed into each page that missing any would have prevented me from understanding… well, a lot, probably.

In the end, however, I have very few negative things to say. It’s a brilliant book, and one that I’m now going to buy in hardback if I can find it. Then I can flip through it more easily on rainy days, and dream of the Raven King whenever a cloud passes across the sun and a shadow falls upon the page.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just finished reading Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, and it was good, if dry. I liked it, I really did, but it didn't create the sort of atmosphere for me that let me become too absorbed in it.

Several things bothered me.

Only Strange and Norrell were very rounded, and Norrell considerably more so than Strange. The Duke of Wellington was interesting, but everyone else really fell away without anyone noticing. Arabella was cute, but not very clever or interesting, and I wasn't torn over whether she was ever rescued or not. I liked Vinculus, and I quite liked Childermass, but I felt more pity for Stephen Black than Lady Pole, and even then...eh.

The biggest thing, of course, was the prophecy. LOLWUT?

“Two magicians shall appear in England,” he said. “The first shall fear me; the second shall long to behold me; The first shall be governed by thieves and murderers; the second shall conspire at his own destruction; The first shall bury his heart in a dark wood beneath the snow, yet still feel its ache; The second shall see his dearest possession in his enemy’s hand…”



I got to the end of the book, and still didn't know which magician was the first, and which was the second. I had to go back and read it again, but then you get to the underlined part, and I think, "O rly?" because where is Norrell's heart, and when did he bury it beneath the snow in any sort of wood at all? I wracked my brain, and came up with nothing that truly fit. Maybes included the books at Northshire Abbey and Drawlight...I even stretched and tried to fit dead&buried Arabella in there. And, really, wasArabella ever Strange's dearest possession? And who was his enemy, the fairy? Norrell?

He never really admits that the fairy has screwed him over, and he is perfectly willing to forgive Norrell his own trespasses so long as they can dally together all (night) and night in their Dark Tower of Love & Magic.

I want to know what part Norrell had in Arabella's death. It's made to seem as if the fairy did it all himself, but why, then, does Norrell always seem so shifty afterwards, when she's mentioned? AND who is the fairy? For a while, I thought he was John Uskglass--corrupted after all these years, but obv. that was wrong. Or was it?

Did Stephen Black become the Raven King, and if so, why? How? Was the Fairy the spirit of John Uskglass? When he died, is that how the Raven King died?

These are all things that I think could (and should) have been answered somewhere within those 900+ pages. I'm disappointed because I invested myself in the story, and then it turns out to not really be a full story after all. I need some sort of closure, and I feel like there wasn't any closure here at all. Characters were brought in and dismissed at will. Assumptions were made and never proved or disproved. GIVE ME ANSWERS.

[alek · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Wiem, że daję na razie dosyć często pięć gwiazdek, ale co ja poradzę, że takie dobre książki czytam?)

Ten tom podobał mi się jeszcze niż poprzedni, między innymi dlatego, że w tym było więcej akcji i w końcu można było zobaczyć więcej Jonathana Strange'a.
Pamiętam, że najpierw się zastanawiałam dlaczego jak na tytułowego bohatera pojawił się dosyć późno, ale potem zrozumiałam, że dzięki temu w pierwszym tomie można było poznać porządnie pana Norrella i osoby z jego otoczenia, żeby w drugim już skupić się bardziej na rozwijających się coraz bardziej wydarzeniach i na Strange'u, którego szczerze polubiłam.

Humor pozostał tak samo piękny jak w poprzednim tomie, a może nawet był jeszcze lepszy. Przypisy też są we wspaniałej formie i mimo że potrafią rozciągnąć się nawet na kilka stron (jak na razie najdłuższy trwał chyba przez dziewięć), to czyta się je tak samo ciekawie jak główną fabułę. (Jedne z moich ulubionych były te o miejscach które Jonathan przesunął podczas wojny).

Książka tak mnie wciągnęła, że przez trzy dni w każdej wolnej chwili (których było dużo, dzięki temu że siedzę w domu) siadałam z książką i herbatą i czytałam, odrywając się od tego tylko kiedy było naprawdę trzeba. Zakończenie, mimo że od pewnego czasu spodziewałam się że coś w tym rodzaju się wydarzy, sprawiło, że naprawdę się cieszę że pożyczyłam od razu całą trylogię, bo nie mogłabym zbyt długo czekać by czytać dalej.

Całość jest mocno specyficzna i nie każdemu trafi do gustu, ale–
ale mi trafiła i to bardzo.
W skrócie – polecam sprawdzić.

(I wiem, że nie napisałam tu prawie nic konkretnego, ale dosłownie chwilę temu skończyłam czytać i głową wciąż jestem w tamtym świecie, i pewnie zostanie mi tak na długi czas).

[Ronald]

This was a delightful book to listen to (audible.com), especially since the narrator Simon Prebble made the English characters really come alive. Many reviews have described this book as an adult version of Harry Potter and I guess in some ways it is like that series but I haven't read those books only seen the movies. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell had many unique characters and neat twists and turns. The use of footnotes to move the story along was especially unique. At many times I found myself wanting to reach out and shake sense into the characters so that they might discover the 'right path' or catch the meaning of someone speaking to them. At other times I found myself desiring to become a magician like that was at all possible. For me, one of the signs of a good author is if they can draw you into their story with an elaborate plot, descriptions, and metaphors, and Susanna Clarke definitely does that. Of course like any novel the twists and turns don't always go to your liking and the author seems to have left the door open for follow on editions. Though there are twists in the story I would change, if I had only half the talent of Ms. Clarke I would be writing this masterful novel not reading it.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

By the end of reading this book, I was entirely transported to the world Clarke had created. She explores the history of English magic through an older, conservative magician, Mr. Norrell and his younger more daring pupil, Jonathan Strange. Clarke is so thorough and detailed in her storytelling and it interweaves perfectly with the history of England. Truly a captivating and charming novel.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was really long and really hard to get into, but in the end when discussing the book I realized that I liked it more than I thought.

[Aravena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gaya narasi dan humornya masih sangat 'Inggris', plotnya masih suka ngelantur ke mana-mana, dan karakter-karakternya masih banyak yang geblek bin kepret.....

....tapi sekarang saya sudah terbiasa dengan gaya narasinya, berbagai percabangan plotnya mulai berkonvergen ke arah yang menarik, dan karakter-karakter yang lebih menarik & simpatik mulai unjuk gigi (sementara yang kepret mulai kena batunya).

Kalimat terakhirnya..... whew. Sangat mengejutkan dan bikin penasaran.

[Stella_bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Telat banget baca ini >.< but better late than never
Apparently I do LOVE this series, it reminds me a bit with Bartimeus series :) the vibe, the magic, the setting... 5 solid stars and can't wait to read the 3rd book ^^

[Helena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke is one of the best books I’ve read in quite some time. It’s a hefty tome and somewhat daunting at first, I could definitely see how some would find it dry. Personally, I liked the history and the building of the story, which served to immerse you completely in Jonathan Strange and Gilbert Norrell’s world. My only regret in reading this book is that I chose to do so during the holidays and had very little time to really sit and read. At best, I managed an hour at a time, which was a disservice to the book. It’s the type of tale that can draw you in and gives you the ability to completely lose yourself in the story. I don’t know about you- but that is the mark of a thoroughly enjoyable book for me.
-
The story takes place chiefly in England in the early 1800’s and it’s the story of two magicians and their struggle to return magic to England. Mr. Norrell is a secretive recluse of a man, who ironically, although he is a magician wishes to suppress all things magical having to do with faeries, further to that, Mr. Norrell cannot stand the thought of any other magician using faeries to gain magical power. Mr. Norrell eventually takes the magically gifted Jonathan Strange as a pupil, but Strange soon proves to be a far more proficient magician than Mr. Norrell- not only that, but one eager to explore the realm and magic of faeries. Initially, both men strive to bring magic back to England for the good of all but the fundamental difference between the two magicians eventually leads to the demise of their partnership. Mr. Norrell chiefly occupies himself with reading about magic and practicing ‘safe’ magic, while Strange goes off to assist England in winning the Napoleonic wars. I loved the alternate history and the ‘practical’ uses of magic both Norrell and Strange employ. Eventually, their magic attracts magical undesirables, and disaster follows- and that is all I will say about that!
-
Some of the more fun moments in the book are the practical uses of magic, when some unsavory characters get their just desserts, and when we meet interesting real characters like: Lord Byron (he’s a hoot), and Duke Wellington. There were some very witty moments, as well as plenty of darker moments throughout the book. I also adored the footnotes, normally- I dislike footnotes and find them distracting, but these were fantastic little tales within a tale. All in all I really enjoyed it and would summarize as “Harry Potter” for adults, with a dash of Dickens.”

[Onur Serbes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jonathan Strange ve Bay Norrel Cilt 2 (Kısım 2) , ilk cilde göre çok daha hareketli ve dolu. Özellikle Jonathan Strange'in olduğu kısımlar çok daha akıcı; savaş sahneleri ise zevkle okunan cinsten. Strange savaşın ne olduğunu yaşayarak öğreniyor. Savaşın heyecanı ve öfkesiyle bazen kendini kaptırsa bile sağduyu eninde sonunda galip geliyor.
2. kitap tamamen Strange üzerinden anlatılan bir kitap oldu, kendisi hikayeye bir amaç ve yön getirdi. Diğer taraftan ilk kitabın en başlarında yer alan karakterler tekrar önümüze çıkıp sonrasında kayboluyor.
Sürprizbozan olmadan açıklamak gerekirse, kitap 3. ciltte ana karakterlerin çarpışacağı bir hikayeye bizi hazırlıyor. Sonunu çok merak ediyorum ancak kitabın genel bir tempo sorunu var.

[Kevin Groosalugg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is quite an ambitious debut for Susanna Clarke. I was torn on how to rate this book. Most clear in my memory is the last 200 pages, which were very good. But then I think back to the first 600 and just how tedious most of them were. I find it amusing that she describes Mr. Norrell's stories as long and mostly uninteresting, when this is how I find most of her writing. She attempts to write in an Emily Dickenson-esque style, and while I found it off-putting at first, I did learn to appreciate and enjoy it by mid-book. The novel is just VERY long winded, and most of the time it doesn't need to be. Much of the secondary character development was superflous and the initial character introduction was almost intentionally boring. It's one of those books that was overall not very enjoyable to read, but now that I've finished I can look back and yes, I did enjoy it. I just wouldn't go through that again. I really enjoyed the subject matter and the struggles that the two magicians faced as they tried to return magic to England. It was well thought out and well told and she did a good job incorporating magic into everyday lfe without making it too fantastical. Shortening it probably would cause it to lose some of it's atmospheric qualities, so I suppose it is already in it's best form. If you give up on books easily then this is not for you, if you stick with it, I think you'll be rewarded in the end.

[Carlos Dominguez-Agulleiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had stayed unread in my library for years. What a mistake! Susanna Clarke engages the reader from the first chapter in such a way that the length of the book turns from menacing to promising. It features a decorated style of writing but stays amene and light. A deep construction of characters that act naturally in the framework of the story. This is not a simple bivalent story, with Good and Evil; at most,the forces that move the characters are curiosity and fear. But no action or subplot can be easily defined by one motivation or another.

The storyline is simple and original: The daily lives of two scholars in the Regency Era of Britain. In that, it reminds very strongly to other books narrating the energy, curiosity and awe of the first members of the Royal Society. Their pettiness, their dedication and the continuous research and experimentation. The trick of the story is that the matter of study is Magic, instead of Science.

This book is a good story with detailed characters presented by an extraordinary writing skill. It is a book to have, to lend and to re-read eventually.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two British gentlemen revive the use of magic in 19th century England, one a grumpy old man, the other a charming, free-spirited young man. Despite their clashing views on magic, they amaze the world with their magical feats, aiding the British army in the war against Napoleon.
Unbeknown to them, their use of Faery magic has endangered the lives of two others: A woman they raised from the dead and a butler. Every night, they are forced to attends faery balls in the kingdom of Lost-Hope, leaving them exhausted and apathic in the human world.

Clarke has created an immensly rich, realistic universe, complete with extensive footnotes and citations from fictional books, rich characters and spine-tingling atmosphere and amazing array of subplots and storylines. A witty, mysterious novel, perfect for teenagers and adults alike.

"The land is all too shallow
It is painted on the sky
And trembles like the wind-shook rain
When the Raven King passed by"

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really with Susanna Clarke would write another novel. As soon as I finished this, I ran out and got The Ladies of Grace Adieu, her collection of short stories. They're also very good, but what I like best about Clarke's writing is the way she uses it to construct and sustain a universe that you want to immerse yourself in. I think this is why so many people compare her work to the Harry Potter novels. But Clarke's world (and her writing) is better, and you want her to continue in novel-sized packages.

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, though it leaves me wanting more (yes, more). I would love to see a sequel that focuses on Arabella and Lady Pole and maybe Flora as the new wave in English magic. Granted, I wouldn't mind if the sequel were a bit less voluminous.

I, who seldom read books this long, managed to get through the slow parts by listening to the book during my commute to/from work - then I would pick up the physical book when I got home and be motivated to keep going.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good gravy, what an epic tale this is. It took me years (literally, years) to finish this book because I have zero attention span and at times, I just didn't have the will power to attack this book with the steadfast devotion it deserves. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell would spend long periods of time unopened on my bookshelf solely as penance for being so. damn. LONG. But it was all worth it in the end. I'm a sucker for a well-planned ending.

[SmarterLilac · Rating 2 out of 5]

Painfully slow. Normally, I like glacial pacing; here, it didn't work. Also, a more boring cast of characters cannot be found anywhere.

[Nina · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF-ed. I couldn't stand it :'(

[Can · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serinin devamında bu sefer kitaba adını veren diğer karakter Jonathan Strange'i daha yakından tanıyoruz. Kitapta da birçok kez altı çizildiği gibi kendisi bay Norrell'in tam zıttı bir kişiliğe sahip. Bu noktada usta-çırak olmaları çok ilginç geldi bana. Çatışma elbet yaşanıyor fakat dönemin centilmen tutumu sanırım daha büyük kavgalara engel oluyor.

Strange'i tanımanın yanı sıra 19.yy başında yaşanan Napolyon savaşlarına tanık oluyoruz. Ünlü Waterloo muharebesi ve İngiliz büyüsünün savaşa tesiri de güzel işlenmiş.

İki karakter de yeterince işlendiğine göre sıra ana hikayedeki gümüş saçlı adam boşluğunu doldurmaya geldi. İkinci bölümün vurucu bir şekilde bitmesinden sonra nasıl devam edeceğini merak ediyorum.

[John Mihelic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look, this is a really good book in terms of character and world-building and pacing and constriction of the narrative that it didn't feel like a thousand page book. The weakness is the plot, if you can call it a weakness. As I was reading and really enjoying it, I decided that the ending would really have to blow me away to meet the standard that Clark was building for everything else. It had to be real magic in England. And so if it was only half-magic, it would be a let down. Which it was. When the end came it didn't feel final - left me wanting a sequel, bit not sure how that would be. I went and looked hoping that there was more, knowing that it had been more than a decade since it first came out. I want more, but the story really seems to have gone through its full arc.