Helen Blunden ’s Reviews > Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell > Status Update

Onto page 441 now. Too far in (well, halfway) to stop now. Things getting a little more interesting now that the characters are all coming together and there’s a bit of intrigue.

Onto page 335 and not even halfway and I’m putting it out there….. you heard it first here.
This book is the fantastical version of Umberto Eco The Name of the Rose. It’s about those who try to control power through books and knowledge. The library is the place where all this power is held but not many have access to it. So many more links but need to think about it.

The footnotes are long and draw you into a whole new story to supplement what you’re reading. It’s amazing to think that this was a debut novel - all 846 pages of it.

Her writing style has changed after page 100 or so, and there’s more magic. The introduction of Stephen Black and the magical dances and eerie goings on now makes me want to read on into the night. Initially it read like I was reading something written by Charles Dickens but the writing now flows easily. The author must have found her voice and it’s intriguing. Loving the world building.

Tracking along nicely. Im up to the part where the new manservant to Jonathan Strange’s father is wracked with fever. His master opens the window to let some freezing cold air in and next day, the manservant is found on the floor sleeping soundly with his fever abated; and his master dead from the freezing cold. Meanwhile my fever hasn’t abated but it’s time I close my bedroom window and read on.

Started this book this morning as I’m recuperating in bed with the flu. About 50 pages in, I fell into a deep sleep (only an hour, mind you) but I had the most fantastical dream of being in London in 1806. The book’s writing style reminds me of Charles Dickens and it’s bringing up all these wonderful images of talking statues.