TV Adaptation of "Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell"

[HarryT]

The BBC are starting showing an TV adaptation of Susanna Clarke's "Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell" this Sunday evening, which I'm very much looking forward to; it's one of my favourite fantasy novels. Judging from the trailers they've shown for it, it looks as if it's sticking pretty faithfully to the book. Should be good!

[jhowell]

It airs in the USA on BBC America starting on June 13.

The book has been on my TBR list for a while. I guess I'll watch it first instead of reading it.

[dandelioncottage]

This is on my TBR and now "TBW" list. And it's the perfect example of a gigantic pbook that will be much more pleasant to read as an ebook.

Originally Posted by HarryT

The BBC are starting showing an TV adaptation of Susanna Clarke's "Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell" this Sunday evening, which I'm very much looking forward to; it's one of my favourite fantasy novels. Judging from the trailers they've shown for it, it looks as if it's sticking pretty faithfully to the book. Should be good!

[pwalker8]

I keep trying to read that book but I just can't get into it. I had the same experience with Game of Thrones. Obviously other people like those books, but I'm struggling with them. Maybe the TV series will get me over the hump.

[latepaul]

I just started reading this yesterday. I knew the TV version was coming up but I thought it was a few weeks off. I got the audiobook from Audible with a single credit (which is good value considering it's 32-hours versus 8-10ish for a normal length novel), but I've also got the ebook so I can read and listen simultaneously.

Anyway, I'm enjoying it but I'm hoping to be far enough along so I can watch the first episode tomorrow and not get spoiled. Currently I'm ~20% in and I should be about a third by tomorrow night.

I do almost wish I had a paper copy because of the long footnotes. (I had to update the firmware on my Kobo Mini to get it to deal with them properly).

[Ravensknight]

This was the driest, most boring "fantasy" book I had read in years. I have no desire to watch a tv show of this.

Enjoy it, it's all yours...

[eschwartz]

A TV adaptation that is faithful to the book!

The book is actually on my TBR -- I've heard good things about it, so I want to read it... but there is a lot of stuff on my TBR and I never got to it (yet...).

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

I keep trying to read that book but I just can't get into it. I had the same experience with Game of Thrones. Obviously other people like those books, but I'm struggling with them. Maybe the TV series will get me over the hump.

I'm certainly aware that it's not a book that appeals to everyone; it's written in a rather dry, academic style with lots of footnotes. I think it's excellent, though, and I very much enjoyed the first episode of the TV series which was shown on the BBC last night.

[latepaul]

I enjoyed the first episode too. However it did suffer slightly from me having just started reading the book the day before so I was very aware of all the changes. Nothing major, some necessary compression of the plot, a few dialogue changes and additions. My biggest gripe so far is that

Spoiler:

Vinculus is a lot less cryptic on screen than in the book. So a couple of things I only suspected (still not halfway through) were confirmed. Plus it feels like the subtlety is being removed. But then there's time for multiple repetitions of the prophecy in the book which there aren't on screen I guess.

I'm trying to remind myself that once I have a chance to step back I'll probably think it very faithful.

Strange should have red hair though. The BBC could have run to some dye or a wig surely?

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by latepaul

I enjoyed the first episode too. However it did suffer slightly from me having just started reading the book the day before so I was very aware of all the changes. Nothing major, some necessary compression of the plot, a few dialogue changes and additions. My biggest gripe so far is that

Spoiler:

Vinculus is a lot less cryptic on screen than in the book. So a couple of things I only suspected (still not halfway through) were confirmed. Plus it feels like the subtlety is being removed. But then there's time for multiple repetitions of the prophecy in the book which there aren't on screen I guess.

I agree with your comments, but when you're compressing a very large book into a 6h TV series, cuts and changes are inevitable.

[Geralt]

Read the book, really liked the book. Hope I will like the show as well. But I don't know how I can watch it. I have some BBC channels on my cable, I just need to see which one. I don't watch TV in general.

I am very curious to see how they will manage the fea ball night, as well as who will they cast as the the gentleman with the thistle down hair.

[KenMagee]

I've just watched the first episode and I thought it was great. Mind you, I haven't read the book, so I can't comment on the accuracy of the adaptation.

[Ken Maltby]

Why do I expect it to be: "Elemental Masters -The Wizard of London" meets "50 Shades of Grey"?

Luck;
Ken

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

Why do I expect it to be: "Elemental Masters -The Wizard of London" meets "50 Shades of Grey"?

Have you read the book, Ken?

[Ken Maltby]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Have you read the book, Ken?

I just tried to buy it from Google Play, they took the order but I had an old CC on the account and the .ascm file they sent doesn't let me download the .epub. I updated the CC but it's still not working. I guess I need to check my Adobe acct.

I have read the descriptions and a little of the start of the book, it reads OK, not too different from Mercedes Lackey's approach. I haven't read "Shades of Grey", but given how "Throne of Swords" was "adapted" for TV...

Luck;
Ken