On July 11, I decided to re-read this wonderful book:
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, by Susanna Clarke
I had previously read this book years ago, but for some reason had absolutely no memory if it other than the fact that I had read it. The only reason I can come up with for this is that I read it at a time when my son was very little and I think I either slept through it, or my brain just was not on board! My sister remembers wondering at that time why I never commented on it when she expressed how much she was enjoying reading it. I think my brain was just out to lunch. Because it is a simply wonderful book!
What led me to the decision to re-read it at present was the fact that the BBC has done a television series based on the book and of course I absolutely wanted to see it. But once I started watching it, I realized that I had no idea what was going on because I could not recall the book!
Once I finished reading it once again, I watched the whole series from start to finish and enjoyed it much more! I think they did a fabulous job overall and especially with the characters; it was great.
However, this is a sizable book (782 pages) and to read it is to become so immersed in the story that you don’t want it to end! And the author has not written much else. She has, though, written a book of short stories which relate in one way or another to the novel, and luckily my sister has that book:
So once I finished Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell on July 27th, I gratefully read The Ladies of Grace Adieu, by Ms. Clarke, next. This is a rather short book so I finished it on August 2nd. And no more Susanna Clarke books to read. 🙁
One can, however, read about the author; I learned that she had begun to write a sequel to Jonathan Strange, but had experienced difficulties due to ill health. She is a wonderful writer so I will hold some hope that she gets better and is able to write more. 🙂