Quote:
Originally Posted by caleb72
What do you think of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell?
Regards
Caleb |
I'm not quite halfway through it, but so far it's beautiful. Many reviews say it's a cross between Dickens, Jane Austen, and Tolkein...I'd agree, with perhaps a bit of Mervyn Peake thrown in. It's elegant. It reads like something written a hundred years ago, complete the literary conventions of the time. There are numerous footnotes, adding background and depth. It's subtle and witty. The humor is dry, the prose is rich, the dialog thick with subtext.
The first half of the book has hints at an underlying darkness that will be explored more thoroughly in the second half. Though again, I've only read half yet.
Reading it reminds me of driving leisurely in the country, occasionally pulling over to enjoy a breathtaking vista or explore an antique shop. Unless the second half severely disappoints, and from other reviews I've read it only gets better, this will definitely be a book I'll read again.