Deal (Kindle) $2.99 - "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell" (Fantasy)

[Andreiuta]

I was running a search for the former Hugo awarded novels, when I ran into "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell" by Susanna Clarke - $2.99 from Kindle US (regular price $8.99). Nook and Kobo both have it listed on sales, though not that much discounted.

It's got a ton of awards: Hugo Award for Best Novel (2005), Nebula Award Nominee for Best Novel (2006), Locus Award for Best First Novel (2005), Guardian First Book Award Nominee (2004), World Fantasy Award for Best Novel (2005), World Fantasy Award for Best Novel (2005), Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature (2005), Book Sense Book of the Year Award for Adult Fiction (2005)

At the dawn of the nineteenth century, two very different magicians emerge to change England's history. In the year 1806, with the Napoleonic Wars raging on land and sea, most people believe magic to be long dead in England-until the reclusive Mr. Norrell reveals his powers, and becomes a celebrity overnight.

Soon, another practicing magician comes forth: the young, handsome, and daring Jonathan Strange. He becomes Norrell's student, and they join forces in the war against France. But Strange is increasingly drawn to the wildest, most perilous forms of magic, straining his partnership with Norrell, and putting at risk everything else he holds dear.

[scottken]

It's a great book -- particularly if you like Victorian novels, works set during the Napoleonic wars, or really traditional fairy tales, where the faeries are charming and cold and cruel. That said, as an owner of both paper and ebook versions, I would have to say that the paper copy is in this case far superior. That's because one of the conventions of the book is ample footnoting, that appears (as expected) on the bottom of the page, providing terrific details on this particular world's magic, fairies, etc., usually written in a very scientific and academic style. The footnotes add a to the text, but in the ebook they're all hyperlinks that you need to click on individually, which then takes to the back of the book where they're endnoted by chapter. If I had first read this book as an ebook, I never would have bothered reading any of the footnotes, as the navigation back and forth would have been too disruptive.

That said, it's a terrific book.

[Dr. Drib]

World Fantasy Award for Best Novel twice, huh?

Actually, I agree: It's a wonderful novel, especially if one loves Dickens and Fantasy.


Don

[AndrewH]

One of my favorite books!

[Andreiuta]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

World Fantasy Award for Best Novel twice, huh?

Actually, I agree: It's a wonderful novel, especially if one loves Dickens and Fantasy.
Don

Don't shoot the messenger! I copied the awards straight from GoodReads and thought them so perfect that I didn't double check the info.

Good to hear that it's as good as I was hoping!