July 2005    

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell Author: Susanna Clarke Publisher: Bloomsbury $27.95 Cloth (782 P.) ISBN: 1582344167 B&T         YBP Reviewed by Karin Haug, Customer Service Bibliographer Having made it through all 782 pages of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell is, in my opinion, quite an achievement. I must admit, towards the end I started skimming the footnotes. There is much to be said about this work, but unlike Clarke, I shall try to keep it brief and concise. The plot takes place in the 1800's and follows the story of a magician, Mr. Norrell, and his prodigy, Jonathan Strange, as they work to bring long forgotten magic back to England and struggle with their different ideas of how magic can and should be used. A central theme throughout the story is that knowledge is power. While Norrell tries to conceal his vast library and understanding from the world, Strange sees collaboration and dialog as essential to learning and longs for a larger community of magicians. The writing is witty and has a pleasant tone. The uses of Mr. and Mrs. and last names to describe characters, while a bit alienating, quietly sets up the time period. Perhaps the greatest achievement of the novel is the construction of a believable place and time in which magic may have occurred. Clarke has done extensive research and clearly defines the parameters of the world she creates. She employs detailed footnotes to testify to the "truth" of the story. This attention to detail is likely why the book has achieved so much acclaim. Having said this, I must point out the footnotes are overused. They become distracting and cumbersome and make it a heavy book to lug around. A work of fiction does not need to try so hard to prove itself. The characters are limited and wooden. Ms. Clarke could stand a lesson in showing rather than telling. Because I had difficulty connecting to any particular character, I was often under the impression I was reading a history textbook rather than an epic story. A superior author trusts the reader to fill in gaps lest the story get lost in explanation and tangents. With no room to participate, the reader is left out of the experience and feels lectured to rather than enthralled. This book requires a full weekend and a great deal of coffee. It is too dreary to read before bed or for ten minutes here and there. It is not advisable to put it down because it is that much harder to pick it up again. Once one wades through the tedium and gets to the meat of the story, it is quite good. Had it been told in half as many pages, this review would have taken a completely different tone, but as it stands, there are simply not enough plot twists or character arcs to keep one's interest for 782 pages. There are many sources that testify to the greatness of this book, and I applaud them. Their patience is much greater than mine, and they recognize the craft and thought invested in this achievement. I read to be entertained, to experience an alternate reality and to empathize with another's emotions. This book is far too dense and stuffy to haul in your suitcase for your summer beach reading, but if you're an avid fantasy lover, you may find something in the long explanations and magic references. Published by YBP Library Services 999 Maple St., Contoocook, NH 03229 USA v: 800.258.3774   f: 603.746.5628 w: www.ybp.com   e: academia@ybp.com All rights reserved.