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

Nearly - I would recommend reading JS & Mr N on the Kindle. It is long and heavy, so rather impossible to carry around with you. Also, there are many footnotes (you don't want to miss them) and it's much easier to flick back and forth between footnotes & the text on the Kindle.

Upto - I was hoping for people to at least start reading the book before we start with the HP bashing and JS & Mr N adoration

I really enjoyed the HP books but am under no illusions. I quite enjoyed the first Robert Galbraith book too.

JS & N, however, is quite simply one of best books I've ever read.

I assume the date in March is something to do with the tv adaptation? Not sure I dare to watch it ...

In addition to my post on Monday night, a broadcast date for episode one in April looks even more likely - a Waterstones bookseller told me today that the TV tie-in edition is published on April 9th.

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

Oh yes - and to top it all I found a book in the amazing bookshelves which were all over the house - that was all about my GGGGG Grandmother.

Marking my place

Signing up , I was planning a reread before tv series anyway. Anyone know the date it starts? I thought it was coming out at Christmas but obviously not.

I am signing up for this after reading the recommendations. I would love to have an in depth discussion about a complex book.

Just signing in to say I am starting tonight!
Only fly in the ointment is we have just signed up to Netflix and DH and I are desperate to watch Breaking Bad... It may interfere somewhat with reading!

Yay Sonnet! I don't know if Breaking Bad and JS & MrN are compatible, though. You might not be able to get into the book at all if you read it after watching BB. Or maybe they will complement each other

We haven't been able to get into BB but we are both fans of JS&MrN.

Well 3 episodes into BB and only 3% into JS&MN.... Had very busy weekend too so have banned anymore BB until next weekend

I picked up a good quality copy today in a charity shop for £2.50. I take Cote's points about the advantages of the Kindle edition, but the price of the paperback was too good to resist buying it. I like that there's three volumes so I can read one a week. I also like that there's some illustrations that take up a page each

I have just checked the number of pages on my kindle edition and it is only 866. Does this mean I have the shortened version? It did not give me an option - how disappointing if so!

Signing in from 50 book challenge thread..

About halfway through so far, and while I'm not particularly enjoying it, I'm not really not enjoying it either?!

I'm finding it a bit arduous tbh, but the story is pleasant enough to read!

I am about 12% in - finding it slow going but strangely compelling

I can't decide whether or not to try this again. I remember finding the style of writing impenetrable and a lot of the reviews on Amazon agree. Does it get better?

To my surprise I haven't found the style of writing too bad and certainly not off-putting. It has its comedy moments too! (well to me anyway )

Surely the writing style in this book is significantly better than "not too bad". Seriously

My Kindle copy of JS & Mr N doesn't have page numbers, but then again, I bought it about two years ago and on an earlier Kindle model that didn't show page numbers at all. I don't think there is a shorter version and a longer version.

Don't forget to read the footnotes, as they are an integral part of the story.

I got half way through this on audiobook a few years ago then lost it and always meant to go back and read it in book format.
I will do myself a favour by downloading it I don't have the muscles for paper format.

Surely the writing style in this book is significantly better than "not too bad".

Not from my memory of reading it when it was newly published. Or trying to read it - I gave up as I found the style dreadful and I don't give up easily (and I'm not alone in finding this). I can't decide whether to buy it on Kindle and try again or just wait for the dramatisation. My hardback copy is long gone.

Page numbers are largely irrelevant on a Kindle as you can change the font size. I think Amazon gives a page count on the book's page though.

I was of the same opinion as you, soupdragon, I felt the writing had no life in it. A meticulous pastiche of a 19th century novelist, the arch tone coupled with an absence of real wit just made me wish I was reading something by one of the originals.

I've got it as an e-book from the library, can read it in browser. Have begun it again as I want to give the plot a chance to take off, but can't help finding it all a bit, well, silly, so far.

Soup - You might like to just watch the TV series soon to come on BBC, then. I doubt if its writing style will have changed since the last time you read it

Gosh really? I thght they might have rewritten it

I just thought it might have improved beyond however far I got. I'm guessing not then.

I have it on Audible and I guess loss of footnotes made huge difference, I am waiting for my hard copy and shall start reading it ASAP