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

It's proving not to be a slow read at all. I'm thoroughly enjoying the story slowly unfolding. And being half term helps a bit - setting the DO up with an activity leaves me happily with reading time

DC obvs not DO

I read this last year and loved every single word. I first bought it on my kindle but found it akward with the footnotes so I bought the paperback as well and then it just flowed for me.

83% - nearly there

Venice episode has gone a bit weird.

I've just finished it, and like pp, found it hard going and I'm just glad it's stopped now. it was more of a chore than a pleasure

Didn't really enjoy it and a disappointing ending - I'll probably watch the tv adaptation but it won't be going down as one of my favourite books

That's a shame Costa. It's such a long book if you're not enjoying it.

On the whole I've been enjoying it, lovely writing, witty, intelligent, great story which has had the time to unfold slowly and in detail.

However, I think in the last quarter it has been wandering off a little bit, and the Old Lady of Cannaregio episode went a bit weird (even for me :o). Hard to say anything much without plot-spoiling.

I should finish it hopefully tomorrow, if I can get another big chunk of it read today. It's still heading for a 5/5 but am now mindful of your comments about the ending Costa. I really don't want it to disappoint me.

Feelinga bit nervous about starting this next week, anyone else feel like this? Or maybe daunted is a better word. Then again, I felt like that about The Goldfinch and ended up loving it.

You'll be fine Southeast :) It really is an easy read and the story just carries you along.

Yes it is, veeeerrrrryyy long, but it's over now, onwards and upwards

The Goldfinch was much better, although I didn't love it, at least there were parts I enjoyed, this just dragged on and on and round and round, quite tedious really

94% - on track to finish tomorrow :)

Well done Duchess! I'm on 55% and really enjoying it.

Finished about 5 mins ago. Wow, what a book

Well, completely independently of this thread, I read this for the 2nd time a couple of weeks ago, and loved it just as much as the first time. I had no idea they were adapting it for TV- how exciting! I hope it's better than Gormenghast . I liked the palette of greys in the photo and the clip- that's just how I imagine the scenes in the book to be set, visually.

I've just been told they're opening up a gateway in the allotment wall, right next to my plot, into the tangly, mysterious woods beyond- it will be difficult not to imagine that as Faerie .

(actually, thinking about it, that wouldn't be too nice, would it? They'd probably steal DS)

No I wouldn't want to find a faerie road opening up next to me.

I'm looking forward to reading your review, Duchess

Probably wouldn't want a Faerie road nearby.

I half believe in this alternative history of England...

It's very believable. I imagined them to be like the hollow ways I read about in Robert Macfarlane' s book. Creepy overgrown dark places.

I'm sure they exist....You just have to look in the right way......

Is anyone else finding some parts very funny?

Ah, I'm so glad you're all reading this. DH read it to my tummy when DS was in there! Its a fantastic book.

Which bits antimatter? Do you mean intentionally or unintentionally funny? There were quite a few moments I thought were humorous.

I'll try to find and quote them Duchess.

I've started a linked thread for anyone who has finished reading the book and wants to ask questions/discuss aspects of the book with spoilers in advance of the main discussion on this thread.

I started to re-read this book last night and I'm at 11% now. It has been over two years since I read it - I'm finding that I don't really remember all the details of the story. It is as subtly humorous and worthy of savouring as I remember it, though