Susanna Clarke
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell (2004)
I got Michael this book for Christmas last year, but put off reading it myself because the book is huge: 800 pages huge. It's not the kind of book I could curl up with; instead I had to set the book on the table, or prop it up in my lap, or lean it against a pillow.
But it was worth it.
This is an excellent book. I loved the story. I loved the characters. I loved the setting. I loved the idea. I loved the writing. I loved everything.
It's the 19th century, and magic has almost entirely disappeared from England. There are theoretical magicians who study the old texts and stories, but there do not seem to be any practical magicians.
Until Mr Norrell shows up.
Mr Norrell was very well pleased. Lord Liverpool was exactly the sort of guest he liked--one who admired the books buy shewed no inclination to take them down from the shelves and read them.
Despite everything, I like Mr Norrell.
But that's all I want to tell you, because one of the things I loved about this book is discovering what happens and watching the story unfold.
The characters are also wonderful. I love Jonathan Strange--he's wonderful. And the other characters are also very good, especially Stephen Black. There is something about Stephen Black then I just kept hoping that things were going to work out for him.
And I loved the writing.
Today Spitalfields is inhabited by the low and the poor and is much plagued with small boys, thieves, and other persons inimicable to the peace of citizens.
I love the buried in descriptions and if you aren't paying attention you'll miss it, kind of humor.
And the descriptions themselves, of this strange England, are wonderful. They remind me somewhat of Arthur Conan Doyle's descriptions of England and the countryside, though I don't know exactly why.
And the real bits that she works in are lovely, like this bit about Lord Byron.
And though my companions are careful to tell people that I am that dreadful being, an English magician, I am clearly nothing in comparison to an English poet and everywhere I go I enjoy the reputation—quite new to me I assure you—of the quite, good Englishman, who makes no noise and is no trouble to anymore…
This is simply a wonderful book.
If you have not already read it (it has, after all, been out for more than a year) I highly recommend you read Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. But set aside some time and space at home for it, because this isn't a book you can stick in your pocket and take with you.
And this book was very close to being a 10/10. Only the sheer size of the book, and how uncomfortable it was to read, knocked it down to a 9.
Rating: 9/10
The Ladies of Grace Adieu (2006)
Illustrated by Charles Vess
The Ladies of Grace Adieu is a collection of short stories set in the same world was Jonathan Strange and Mister Norrell during the 18th and 19th centuries. Several of the stories revolve around familiar characters--Jonathan Strange, the Raven King, the Duke of Wellington. Others are retellings and reworkings of folk tales, such as Tom Tit Tot, which is written with language and spellings similar to the tone of the original story.
As much as I loved Jonathan Strange and Mister Norrell, I found The Ladies of Grace Adieu to be hit and miss. Some of the stories I loved, some I found disappointing. The stories that I liked the most tended to have the same tone as Jonathan Strange and Mister Norrell, including footnotes in Tom Brightwind, which was probably my favorite story in the collection.
On Lickerish Hill was one of the stories I found disappointing. I found the language somewhat difficult to read, and the story jumped around a bit. It's probable she was trying to keep to the tone and feel of the original story, however, "Tom Tit Tot" is not one of my favorite folktales, in that I've never particularly liked any of the characters, which meant that a somewhat difficult story was made more difficult, since I disliked most of the characters involved.
But over all, most of the stories were very good, and I enjoyed them. Mr Simonelli had the feel of a folktale, but I couldn't place it's source. Antickes and Frets I found especially interesting, as I recently finished a book or Queen Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scotts.
But my favorite story in the collection was Tom Brightwind. Tom Brightwind tells of the friendship between the fairy Tom Brightwind and the Jewish doctor David Montefiore. Like Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, this story had footnotes and added to both the story and the characters. Also like Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, the story wandered to and fro, with the details about the characters and the world just as interesting as the tale itself.
If you have not read Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, then the story Tom Brightwind should give you a good idea of the tone of the book. If you are already a fan of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, then you'll snatch this book up, because who knows how long it will be before we see another novel by Susanna Clarke, and while several of the stories were only so-so, others had the tone and feel that I enjoyed so much in the novel.
Rating: 6/10
Books by Susanna Clarke:
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell (2004), The Ladies of Grace Adieu (2006)
