Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell discussion thread - No spoilers until 28 March, please

[CoteDAzur]

A number of us over on 50-Book Challenge thread are interested in reading Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by 28 March. Everyone is welcome to join in, and feel free to start posting, but please refrain from spoilers until 28 March. Enjoy

Happy birthday, Froglet

Arabella - I said 28 March because it gives us 2 months to read it (so no excuses ) and falls on a Saturday so those of us who work during the week can participate in the initial discussion.

Arabella, we were only talking about long books that we've read to give a pp an idea of how long it might take. General consensus I think is that if you're enjoying it size doesn't matter

I have to get it from my parents house, so might not be able to start for a week or so. It shows my feelings towards the book really, not quite willing to charity shop it, but not optimistic enough about reading it to bring it with me when I moved out.

I will probably chip away at it alongside other things as usually have a baby attached to me so find hardbacks more difficult and don't want to pay for it on the kindle. I'm quite looking forward to it, despite how negative I sound

Oh and Happy birthday froglet

Will probably start it around half term, as I've got several to get through before then.

Sootgremlin, completely agree about size not mattering. Some of the longest books I've read have whizzed by, in a good way. If it's rubbish it's rubbish and it doesn't matter how long it is. Of course what is rubbish is a matter of opinion...

Thanks for birthday wishes

Happy birthday froglet Don't seem to have cake thingy on my phone app so have a glass of wine instead .

Have been having a delve around on the Internet but can't find a broadcast date for J'S & NEW. Anyone know?

Completely agree about long books sometimes being quick reads. I sped through The Signature of All Things in a week. Couldn't put it down. Same with Gone With the Wind many years ago. And plenty of others too. It's available time that gets me now.

Autocorrect fail yet again. You know I mean J S & N

The best I can do for a broadcast date, after trawling the interwebs, is 2015. Sorry Duchess!

Awesome promotional photo though.

Ooh, .

Ooh - this sounds tempting! My DB bought it for DD1 (12) but she's never read it and I'm not sure it's really a kids/teens book in any case?! I was thinking of 'liberating' it from her bookshelf...

I read half of this for a book group and felt it was in dire need of a good edit. I'm not adverse to long books but the meandering pointless description drove me nuts. I seem to remember about half a page describing a gate, not even a particularly significant gate.

Mind you I decided after the first page of Game of Thrones it wasn't for me.

I am tentatively in although have my current book to finish and The Miniaturist before my book group meeting next Tuesday before I am able to start. I have been feeling that I am in a rut at the moment reading lots in the detective genre and needing a change this will be it.

Happy Birthday Froglet all the best people are born in January

The longest book I have ever read is Clarissa by Samuel Richardson. I read it because someone at work was bragging about having read it. It was about 1,400 plus pages of tiny print in one mega volume and it took me three months (slow reader and I took a break to read something else in the middle). My toddler threw it on the floor and it broke into two massive chunks which helped with portability.

Love that story, Whippet. I haven't read, 'Clarissa' but Pamela was pretty torturous at around half the length.

Thanks Whippet. Are you a January baby too?

I've never read Clarissa but I once saw an opera based on it and it felt interminable. Your toddler would have probably livened it up no end

at whippet's toddler.

My mum has turned up with JS&N. Ten year old bookmark says I made it to 318 last time. It's a breeze block.

Will probably start it after I've finished my current (short, but not riveting) read.

I'm starting it on Monday March 2nd. Should have it finished in three weeks if I stop arsing around online at lunchtimes.

Can't find a U.K broadcast date but the DVD is out on June 15th so the latest the seven part series will start will be week beginning April 27th.

Cote I was a HP fan ( or should it be ?). JS is magic for grown-ups. So so so much better and so much more convincing. And you don't go why-would-you-do-that so much...

I love the footnotes.

Just picked up copy from the library. Very excited but probably won't start for a while as need to finish large non-fiction book first.

Please can I join? Came across the discussion via The 50 book thread and intrigued to read. Those of you who have read JS before would you recommend reading it on a kindle or in paperback form?
I find that if a book has a complicated plot or numerous families / characters that sometimes it's easier to flick back and forward with an actual.
Advice please!!

Paperback, I think. Though painful if it falls on your face if you fall asleep reading it ...

Another thick book - A suitable boy. Don't know how many pages that it though.

I read this when it came out and was also devastated when I finished it.

During the reading of it, I stayed in a stately home as part of a management teambuilding event, in a room that had 1920s furnishings and books and gargoyles in the bedposts - which were carved out of the wall. Absolutely fantastic.

I might re-read it after I get to the end of The Goldfinch.

Thanks upto

Delicious, I am jealous of your gothic reading surroundings! It must have added to the whole feel of it immensely.