Hmmm... They've cast Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

[Thurlow]

If anyone has read this book or worships it as much as I do

An actor I don't know, Bertie Carvel, as Strange, who from his pictures I can see working. And Eddie Marsan as Norrell, which I'm less sure of - I love Eddie Marsan, he's an amazing actor, but I always pictured Norrell as looking Ian Holm....

[Dunlurking]

Oooh very excited. I didn't even know there were plans for a film.

Bertie Carvel played Miss Trunchbull in Matilda the musical and got loads of amazing reviews. He was fab
I haven't seen him on screen though.

Ian Holm would have been good but Eddie Marsan fits OK for me.

[Thurlow]

Yes - could be a lot worse. Googling Carvel I can really see him as Strange.

It's a BBC 6-parter, though I'm not sure if they are doing the whole book or something a little more 'inspired by'. I really hope they get it right, I want something a little bit weird and off kilter.

I will cry if they get it wrong, it's my favourite book ever

[Dunlurking]

Have you read The Ladies of Grace Adieu? Wonderful, and funnier I thought!

Any idea of when it's due to be screened?

[DashingRedhead]

I've asked for Ladies of a Grace Adieu for Xmas!

[CoteDAzur]

I can't imagine this book's beautiful prose possibly being reflected adequately on film. No doubt it will be a disappointment but I will of course watch it. I haven't heard of any of those actors, though.

[Thurlow]

I can't imagine it either, but I'm trying to be positive about it. I know they'll probably have to scrap all the footnotes and backstory, and I wouldn't be surprised if they downgraded the Childermass/Vinculus story just to focus on Strange and Norrell, but if they can at least get the Strange-Norrell story right then I'll forgive them. And at least 6 parts is better than the 2 hour film that was apparently planned! All I'm hoping for is that they get the slightly odd, slightly whimsical humour right.

I read it when it was released in hardback what, ten years ago now? Sp Strange will always be David Tennant in my mind, because 10 years ago Tennant hadn't even done Doctor Who and he was young enough to be perfect for the role

Did anyone see the BBC's Gormenghast years ago? They got that right, and that was an odd one understatement of the year.

Dunlurking, I don't think they're due to start filming until next month, so I'd guess it would be on next Christmas-ish?

[Heartbrokenmum73]

Oh, how exciting! But also, how daunting.

I've just got the book out again to read very soon. Have only read it once and loved it so much I've left it a good six years in order to 'forget' it so I can read it as if for the first time again.

I'll be torn with the TV show now. I know it will ultimately disappoint me (Game of Thrones all over again) as they never, ever get it right with adaptations - the beauty of a book is that you see it how you want to see it. I hope I'm making some kind of sense...

[Thurlow]

I know what you mean (though I do think GOT is doing a good job).

I'm worried that if it's really good people will like the book and then if you say it is your favourite book, you look a bit bandwagon-y!

[Dunlurking]

Thurlow I've got the original hard back first edition as well! Do you think it's worth anything now? Couldn't resist at the time, having read all the amazing reviews!

[Thurlow]

Oooh, I've just checked mine and I think it might be a 1st edition too!

If the series is a hit, we could be onto a winner

[Dunlurking]

There seem to be an awful lot of them available on ebay, and mine's not signed Think it will have to be a BIG hit!

[Wilding]

Ooh how EXCITING! I love the book and I hope they don't ruin it.

I do think that casting is very good and I'm glad it's a six-parter - no way you could get everything into a single film.

[UptoapointLordCopper]

I love the book! Don't know how many times I reread it and was just thinking about reading it again. When will it be on?

[Thurlow]

I'm just happy to find other people who love this book as much as I do - I rave about it to other people, but they just don't seem to get it It is a bit bizarre, I suppose - probably a marmite book, you either love it or you hate it.

I am really looking forward to seeing it but to me the joy of the book is in some of the tiny details that probably won't make it through to the show. There are so many moments I love that I doubt are that important to make the cut. Like the fact that you first meet JS in a random story about his father's new servant, or Strange's dead Neopolitans (could you imagine them on screen?!), or the way he keeps wondering, when he's mad, whether people have pineapples in their mouths.

Wonder who else they will cast? If they get Childermass wrong it could be a disaster - but that might be that after at least half a dozen readings, I've decided that Childermass is the hero of the story. And Arabella better be ballsy and not some mopey 19 year old actress who's just there because she's pretty. I'm not sure Arabella is even supposed to be that pretty.

What moments does everyone else want to see? York Minster coming to life, JS at the Gentleman with the Thistledown Hair's ball finding Arabella again, Drawlight being chased through the Tower of Darkness...

[Heartbrokenmum73]

Oh man, Thurlow, you're making me itch to read it again!

I've forgotten pretty much everything about it by now, so I'm probably safe to pick it up again.

But I'm all tangled up in The Wheel of Time and daren't leave that halfway through book 8 or I'll have to start over (again, again, again)...

[UptoapointLordCopper]

Thurlow it is strange, isn't it? I really love it. DH likes it too. But other people don't seem to. I don't know anyone in RL apart from DH who has read it or like it.

I agree that Childermass is the hero. He sees the truth (at the end, at least) rather than just what he wants to see.

Now I'm going to have to read the book again!

[UptoapointLordCopper]

xpost! That's more time I've talked about this book than I've ever done in RL!

[SoupDragon]

I don't think I even finished the first chapter of this.

[Heartbrokenmum73]

Soupdragon I passed it on to my Mum when I finished it, thinking she'd love it like I did. She.did.not.

She read a bit then gave it back. Couldn't get on with it because it was too weird for her.

She (and you) don't know what you're missing...

[SoupDragon]

Or you are deluded

[BigWoooooo]

I read it years ago and loved it. Can't remember a thing about it now though. My brain is basically mush

[Heartbrokenmum73]

SoupDragon there is that, yes

[SoupDragon]

:)

It seems to be a chalk and cheese kind of book going by the AMazon reviews.

[Heartbrokenmum73]

No, no, it's definitely 'Johnathan Strange and Mr Norell'. I've read it. Maybe I'll look up this 'Chalk and Cheese' though...

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

Read this ages ago for book group.

IMO it stole valuable time in my life that I could have used for sleeping (DD was a baby at the time).