Writing Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell: A Novel [E]

[Semjaza]

I've not finished this book yet, but I very strongly believe that it is already my favorite book in existance. I don't how valuable that title may be to some people considering I don't read much or post in here very often. My favorite book prior to this was The Phantom Tollbooth and my favorite series consists of the Narnia books, so take that as you will.

Anyway, as you should know by now, the book is called Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell: A Novel. It was written by Susanna Clarke in 2004. I picked it up late last year on a whim. Something about the silver printing on a completely black cover caught my eye and the comments on the back were positive. Comments on the backs of books are always positive, but this was one of the few times when those comments were actually by people I knew of and respected (Neil Gaiman, for one). I decided to buy it.

It's about 800 pages, but it's divided into three "books" that more or less focus on three different characters. The main idea of the story is about a revival of true magic in England in the early 1800s. It had basically been dead for a couple of centuries, the only remaining magicians simply just studied it in a scholarly manner. Mr. Norrel gains prestige for being the only man who really does know magic and can cast it... or so he thinks at the time.

At first I was kind of mixed about the book. The first several chapters, while interesting, read very slowly. I'd read maybe ten pages or so at a time and then put it down. I don't know what the issue was, I think it was just that the writing is a bit more proper than I am used to. There's also a lot of introductions and other information used basically to back up the rest of what happens in the story.

During this time, some magic appears in the book that gives you a very nice idea of what you'll be getting into later. By the time magic itself becomes a more and more commonplace in the story, I was totally engrossed by it. I read several chapters a night, if I can and I find myself more and more interested the further I get into it.

I think that's part of what makes it so interesting. It is written so dryly and a lot of the characters are such "gentlemen" that when the magic does come, it feels incredibly important, unique and, well, [i]magical[/i]. I find most books that deal with magic and magicians usually are completely fantastical. That's not true of this book. It's deeply rooted in reality (well, "reality" in terms of the world it is about), which just makes the fantastic ten times more fantastic than it would be otherwise.

Clarke makes use of tons of footnotes, some short, some a couple of pages long. They're generally very interesting (and optional, really), but they really enhance the realism of the story.

Anyway, I don't know what else to really say at this point, but I completely recommend the book. It's excellent.

[Dagger]

I greatly enjoyed the writing and the sort of old-fashioned characterization (I'm not really sure how else to describe it, haha). The only aspect of the story that particularly disappointed me was the ending--although based on the opinions of other people I've talked to, I seem to be alone in this.

I thought that it (the ending) was much too [spoiler]open-ended (if I want a lack of closure, there are plenty of anime I can watch for that; I expect an 800-page novel to deliver a bit more in terms of wrapping things up. It was strongly sequel-ish and just left a sour taste in my mouth. To be honest, I wouldn't have minded at all if the last page said "To be continued," cliched though that may be. I'd be satisfied if the novel were intended to start off some kind of series, but the ending did not convince me that it could wholly stand on its own. Without any real confirmation as to whether there will actually be a continuation, I can't help but feel unsatisfied.[/spoiler]

One thing I have to admit is that the "gentleman with the thistle-down hair" really helped sustain my interest in the book. For some reason I just love characters like that. I actually picked up [i]Jonathan Strange[/i] on my sister's recommendation; when she was finished it, she told me that this particular character was exactly my type and used that to convince me to read it. Of course the other characters are great as well.

The relationship which I thought could have used more development was (spoilers for the entire novel) [spoiler]Jonathan's marriage. Arabella was sort of a bland character to me, especially amid such a diverse & eccentric cast. I didn't feel much sympathy for Jonathan's grief over her, either, as he seemed to have basically forgotten about her for a big stretch of the book. And it annoyed me that he was able to get her back; it seemed so anti-climactic. I know her return was meant to be realistic and bittersweet and all that, but....[/spoiler]

Awesome book, overall. Definitely one of the higher-quality fantasy novels I've read lately. Ever since the Otaku Book Club first started, I've been meaning to recommend it. The footnotes definitely help make it a unique experience.

~Dagger~

[Semjaza]

I'm obviously not as far as you are, but I'm already not very big on Arabella myself. Even compared to Lady Pole, who was largely just a character that was talked [i]about[/i] (she never really said much of anything, honestly), I have had no real interest in the character. She does seem strangely underdeveloped, even compared to some of the more minor side characters.

However, I'm not sure how much characterization she needs. Despite Strange's interest in her, it seems as though she is largely just a force meant to push him on in some ways. She kind of seems like a goal, something to attain, moreso than someone who's personality is important to the story. I don't even know how well I'm explaining this. Not well at all, probably lol

But as I said, I'm not finished with the book, so I could be missing a lot yet.

[eleanor]

[i]My favorite book prior to this was The Phantom Tollbooth...[/i]

[color=darkslateblue] Consider yourself amazingly cool. :3

I usually don't like fantasy books in general, but this book compelled me to at least give it a chance simply because I've heard many good things about it. I was happy that it wasn't one of those 'quest' stories, like LoTR, and the mix of well-researched historical fiction was a very nice element. And I must mention that I love the fact that it is a character-driven book. I love this stuff. Many of the characters were likeable, although I agree with Dagger on her thoughts about [spoiler] Jonathan's marriage and Arabella[/spoiler].

Another thing that was bittersweet with me were the billions of footnotes. I don't mind some footnotes now and then, but generally they get me irritated. But in this case, they managed to hold my attention and entertain me, although I still don't like footnotes (just something about having to go to the bottom of the page and read small fonts). I somehow managed to get past the first hundred pages (usually I only deal with slowness if the book is something I really want to read), and the pace evened out very nicely. The different stories were woven around each other with smoothness...and I love dark humor. :)

I have gotten annoyed with the 'it's Harry Potter for adults' thing, I believe Clarke managed to make the book her own thing, even if some parts remind me of JK Rowling.

Overall, a good book. Not really my type, but I still enjoyed reading it very much.[/color]

[Godelsensei]

I'm only about 300 pages into it, but "Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell" is definitely one of the most appealing books I've read in a while.
The style of writing is reminiscent of classics whose authors were paid by the word, while still managing to be satisfactorily sarcastic. Despite how utterly [i]dry[/i] allot of the dialogue, descriptions, and vocabulary used are at some points, I don't find my enjoyment of this book at all compromised. Those details have probably improved my opinion of it, if anything.

Clarke's take on magic is quite unique, as well. The whole thing with the magicians simply being scholars of magic, showing no motivation to actually practice it, was altogether charming. Its being available to certain people doesn't render them utterly faultless, either: Gilbert Norrell is delightfully conceited, Jonathan Strange endearingly impulsive.

And the Gentleman With Thistledown Hair is quite possibly one of my favourite fantasy characters of all time. He's so full of himself and unwilling to take advice or receive the opinions of any one, it's tear-jerking. He's the kind of character more books need: proud, pretty, and entirely fantastic.

Add this to the illustrations, footnotes, Stephen Black, pleasing page-count, Arabella, and the odd snide, patronizing comment, and you have the workings of the greatest fantasy novel written within the past hundred years--after "Lord of the Rings", of course. (But that goes without saying.)

Another impressive point to consider is that this is Susanna Clarke's first novel, yet it manages to maintain a steady atmosphere, writing style, and play host to imperfect characters.

I've already used this word to describe something specific, but the all-around verdict is, most definitely, [b]"Charming."[/b]

[Dagger]

[quote name='Godelsensei']And the Gentleman With Thistledown Hair is quite possibly one of my favourite fantasy characters of all time. He's so full of himself and unwilling to take advice or receive the opinions of any one, it's tear-jerking. He's the kind of character more books need: proud, pretty, and entirely fantastic.[/quote]
You know who he really reminds me of? Howl from Howl's Moving Castle (who just happens to be my favorite character in what is possibly my favorite book ever). What's great about the GWTH is that he's even more shameless, over-the-top and narcissistic than the inimitable Howl.

In fact, I think I got so attached to him that (don't read this until you finish the novel!) [spoiler]my disappointment at how he was taken out kind of tainted my feelings about the ending as a whole. I just think there would have been better (perhaps slightly more dignified and less hasty?) ways to off a character like the GWTH. That having been said, Stephen is a pretty cool guy, and I'm glad that it was he who defeated the GWTH, rather than Jonathan Strange or Mr. Norrell.[/spoiler]

On the whole I ended up liking Mr. Norrell better than Jonathan Strange. Maybe I simply find it easier to identify with grumpy old curmudgeons. :animeswea

~Dagger~