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Johnathan strange and Mr Norrell

32 replies

lucyellensmum · 14/04/2008 20:34

Phew - what an effort, 100 pages to go

I really liked it.

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caspercat · 29/04/2008 16:36

Read it on holiday, absolutely loved it. Don't know anyone else who's read it, they're all put off by how huge it is!!
But then they read the 1000 page Harry Potter
Go for it, suedonim, it will be worth it xx

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lucyellensmum · 18/04/2008 21:58

ah, go an go an

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suedonim · 18/04/2008 21:16

JS&MrN is on the shelf behind me, begging me to pick it up as my next read. Shall I, shall I?

hotpasty · 18/04/2008 21:01

I am the DH(?) of Hotpasty and I am reading this book at the moment. It is quite remarkable in my opinion - slog your way through the first 300 ish pages and it just takes off - never read anything remotely like it. This author took 10 years to write it and I can see why! I would recommend it - I am a notoriously slow reader and my DW says that she watches my lips move silently whilst I read! But even I have managed to read it and I'm nearing the finishing line.

northernrefugee39 · 18/04/2008 20:43

I really liked it. I liked the feeling of other world in the real one if that makes sense, poncy.
But I've never read anything similar since.
Any recommendations?
I tend to read stuf like William Boyd and Anita Shrieve.
But J S and MR N was fab

FlossieTCake · 17/04/2008 20:55

Definitely, nkf! There are bits where you may find you have to just keep doggedly turning the pages to keep up the momentum, but overall it's fab.

The Ladies of Grace Adieu is also worth a read, incidentally - nice bite-sized chunks, and a great story set in the village of Wall (for those who also loved Neil Gaiman's Stardust).

nkf · 17/04/2008 13:49

Just started it. Glad to hear it's worth reading.

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lucyellensmum · 17/04/2008 13:46

Thats soooo lovely sparkly, my DP isnt a great reader in fact i used to read to him but he would always fall asleep - wish it would have the same effect on DD!!!

Ive read a couple of Dan brown books and whilst very easy to read, i think they were not particularly well written and am actually a bit about the problems he seems to have with the catholic church - not just in the da vinci code, which to be honest, i coudlnt understand what the big deal was about. I found his work poorly researched, or at least thats how they appeared, i know nothing of the subject matter, and superficial to be honest. Hark at me, book critic - like i know anything

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sparkleymummy · 17/04/2008 11:51

Wow - Loved it (although agree that the ending fizzled out a bit).

I have to admit that I would have given up after the first few pages if I'd been reading it myself but DH read it out loud to DS1 when I was pregnant with him. He used to kick and wriggle about excitedly as soon as the story started.

It took practically the whole nine months to get through it! For the final few weeks we did the Da Vinci Code. DS1 didn't get nearly as excited and when reading it aloud you realise that its not very well written.

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lucyellensmum · 17/04/2008 11:39

well..i've finished it and its still to make sense . But it was very enjoyable. It does make sense really but i never really found myself on anyones side. I did enjoy it, i think because it is well written, even if it does waffle, but i am the queen of waffle me.

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NotDoingTheHousework · 17/04/2008 10:52

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Ledodgy · 16/04/2008 22:41

I've just read A Thousand Splendid Suns obviously a completely different read but it was fab.

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lucyellensmum · 16/04/2008 22:40

funny you should say that flossie, i meant to post, "with big letters"!!! I have a book on my shelf that im putting off because it has small typeface. My eyes cant take the strain

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Ledodgy · 16/04/2008 22:38

I loved this book it's ages since I rea dit though may have to read it again!

FlossieTCake · 16/04/2008 22:37

With decent-sized print too, I hope

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lucyellensmum · 16/04/2008 22:24

The book im reading now has 265 pages

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lucyellensmum · 16/04/2008 22:23

yes i felt it went with a fizzle rather than a bang, and unresolved things annoy me. Probably why i can keep an argument with DP going and going and going and going

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FlossieTCake · 16/04/2008 22:18

Glad you stayed the course though, lucyellensmum! I really enjoyed it, although it did start to go a bit haywire somewhere around the final battle, I thought.

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lucyellensmum · 16/04/2008 20:56

flossie - that was me! and yes, desi, it was really big, gave me arm ache I dont think it will go in my list of books to re read although i hardly ever re read, hardly get time to read!

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Desiderata · 16/04/2008 00:56

Oh, I was going to post, and then realized that I'd got the book confused with another one of similar title.

Lucy, the book you're discussing is a really big one, isn't it?

FlossieTCake · 16/04/2008 00:54

LEM, sure there was another thread on this recently.... someone about 100 pages in asking for people to let her know there was a reason to persevere. And people definitely replied!

I loved it. Itching to re-read it but too much else to read first.

mindalina · 15/04/2008 12:20

LEM I saw this yesterday but didn't have a chance to post, so I've looked it up specifically just to say:

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!

I made EVERYONE I know read it, and most of them couldn't be doing with it for the same reasons as fishie. TBH, I don't really remember what happened and I certainly can't answer your questions about the plot but I'm fairly sure I decided that the foot-notes are part of the story, like the historical notes in The Handmaid's Tale if you've read that.

OrmIrian · 15/04/2008 10:03

I loved it. Read it about 4 times.

DANCESwithLordPottingtonSmythe · 15/04/2008 10:00

Oh I didn't like this. I am ashamed to admit I gave up half way through (only one of two books I've never managed to finish). It was so slow.

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lucyellensmum · 15/04/2008 09:57

ive finished it now - found the ending a bit disappointing (but then i always do), perhaps i missed something because i am not sure if the raven kings identity was ever revealed, or who the gentleman with the thistledown hair was - was Stephen the raven king after all? It sort of just ended mid story i felt, perhaps there will be a sequel. I always miss important bits of the plot, tis usually because i'm beyond knackered when i get chance to read . And what was the deal with the foot notes, were they based on "fact" or just made up for the story, i mean, i know its true that St Antony helps you find things, no really, it works. But you have to be desperate. I might be really sad later and look on the website.

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