Mumsnet Talk

is it worth persevering with?

Hmm. I tried a couple of times, so am not really in a position to say if it suddenly became fantastic.

How far have you got? If you don't like it by the time you're about 50 pages in, it doesn't change hugely after that

LOL
OH NOEs
well i need summat else to read now, I blem aundredtimes, she is normaly top dollar at book reccys

What sorta thing do you like?

I see I am now discussing this with you on two websites

I've tried to read it two or three times and can't seem to get past the middle part. Strange as I really enjoyed the bits that I did read...

I love it - read it a few times. But I like big complicated stories, and all that historical detail and fictionalised history is right up my street.

I can see it's a love it or hate it kind of book.

For those that love it, also read The something or other of Mr Norrell and Mr Strange. A kind of fictionalised Victoriana about two magicians who feud the years away.

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell is brilliant. Although I always imagine that Mr Norrell looks like Norris from Coronation Street.

I really liked it - but hated Jonathan Strange and don't get me started on Scarlet And white or whatever the pile of rubbish was called...

I loved this book!

I like Jonathan Strange AND the Crimson Petal

I loved it too!

Blackduck, you are the only person I have ever said taht about the crimson petal book. I thought it was awful too. Really schlocky.

Oh this is a rare event - a book discussed on MN which I have actually read. I did get through it but I am afraid the plot almost immediately left my consciousness once the book was put down. I found the 1920s American culture and slang hard to understand. Also, from reading reviews of the book, I decided it was too clever for me and I had missed out on loads of nuances.

If you can bear to put a book down only half read, do so with this one.

Yes to Jonathan Strange. Very good.

Although it has led me away from the path of True Literature and onto the Byeways of Georgette Heyer, so I'm a bit stuck for any other recommendations on an improving read.

Lol at Georgette Heyer. Stop before you reach Jean Plaidy won't you

Would def. recommend Iain Pears's 'An Instance of the Fingerpost' - historical whodunnit set in the Restoration, lots of politics, very well written IMO

An Instance of the Fingerpost is a great read. I haven't read anything else by Iain Pears though.

OMG - I read 3/4 of this on holiday back in 2002 and really enjoyed it at the time. Got home and lost interest, still sitting on the shelf waiting to be finished!

Ah the power of a white sandy beach ....

Have you read the corrrections?

I really enjoyed it and there's plenty to keep you going.

The reviews are quite mixed but if you don't take it as the "great american novel" and just enjoy it I think it's good.

Oh yes, The Corrections is great

MissWooWoo, that's EXACTLY the position I'm in re. Carter - got halfway through it on a beach in France and haven't managed to finish it in the three months since then

policywonk what are we to do. Clearly we must return to our beaches ...

<wonders if the Maldives will ever be on the radar again what with 2 yr old dd and another on the way>