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December 17, 2006
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell
When Titus and Victoria were up here for a visit some months back (ok, a conference, but they stayed at our place, so it sorta counts) Titus left his copy of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. Having just finished the Temeraire series - set in the same time period - I decided to give it a whirl.
Having lugged it back and forth to work, in my back in my messenger bag for the two weeks it took me to work through it, I can see why Titus left it here.
And if that's not damning by faint praise, then I dunno what is. It wasn't bad - it was long, and British, and I found the affectation of telling whole other stories in the foot-notes very distracting.
It got "good" about 600 pages in, but the simple fact that I read the first 500-odd pages (unlike the first book of the Baroque Cycle, which I couldn't fight my way through - and certainly couldn't handle the idea of two more volumes) means there was something there.
So, not high on the must read list, but if you're looking for something British, voluminous, and that takes it self a bit too seriously, give it a whirl.
Oh, Titus - you want I should send it back to you? Drop me a note with your address.
Next Up: Thunderstruck (ok, truth be told, I'm already 200 pages in - what else you gonna do when the power's out?).
Posted by dberger at December 17, 2006 12:40 PM
Comments
Funny that - I am on CD #18 of 25, listening in my car. I really like how it 'sounds' all sumptuous and delectable, and I find myself talking/writing in Olde English like a 19th century 'gentleman'. It's a tad slow, and I wish I could speed up the delivery sometimes. I shattered my 8-Cd max rule, the last time I did that was "The life of Pi" and after CD #4 or 5, I was bored and dismayed....
gg
Posted by: Grant at December 18, 2006 9:47 AM