Sigh. I have had two attempts at reading this book, once last year in hardback as part of the Long Awaited Reads Challenge and then again last year (running into this one) when my friend MargaRita give me a copy of the paperback as a gift. But for some reason I just cannot get into it at all, and as reported in last week’s Sunday Salon post I have finally thrown in the towel (and as a fan of H2G2, I am a hoopy frood who always knows where my towel is, even if only for the purpose of throwing it in) and just stopped.
I don’t normally have a problem setting aside books I’m not enjoying; life is too short and there are far too many books in the world to persevere with those that you aren’t enjoying, but for some reason I feel quite bad about this one. On the surface I really should enjoy it – historical fiction with integrated logical magic – but although I was quite happy while I was actually reading it, when I put it down I had no desire to pick it up again. So sadly, having got to page 148 with no appearance from Jonathan Strange, I have retired from the field.
I am still quite keen to see the TV series when the BBC broadcasts it in the spring, and who knows I may make another attempt at some point, but for now enough is enough *sad face*
Bride of the Book God 
11 comments
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March 4, 2015 at 1:35 pm
bendingoverbookwards
I can definitely see why you found it hard to push through the (frankly boring) Norrell stuff. Once Strange comes in, the book does get so much more interesting (and everybody’s favourite proto-vampire Byron makes an appearance). That said, I’m also hoping the BBC show pulls a ‘Game of Thrones’ and cuts most of the beginning out.
March 4, 2015 at 10:20 pm
brideofthebookgod
I think that’s the thing for me – too much Norrell, insufficient Strange 🙂
March 4, 2015 at 5:32 pm
lesetoiles6
UGH – you MUST MAKE YOURSELF!! I’m on my second read – and I feel the same way – it is so daunting – my sister says the same thing – she got about as far as you have – i PROMISE it is worth it – unless you don’t like Susanna Clarke’s writing – in which case – maybe not. You do really have to relish her words and writing style to get enjoyment….in the meantime I am hoping just as much for the series to be released!
March 4, 2015 at 10:21 pm
brideofthebookgod
I like her writing, and I’m going to try her book of short stories, it just didn’t engage me enough to persevere, though only set aside not abandoned forever!
March 4, 2015 at 8:14 pm
lynnsbooks
I have read this and I liked it – but, I have something of a confession – I didn’t wade through all the footnotes but sort of skimmed a lot of them! They were like a full book in themselves and I’m sure everyone’s going to say I should, etc, etc, but I enjoyed it perfectly well as it was.
Lynn 😀
March 4, 2015 at 10:22 pm
brideofthebookgod
I quite enjoyed the footnotes – possibly more than the main story 😀
March 4, 2015 at 10:40 pm
Jenny @ Reading the End
Fair enough! It’s not for everybody! Much as I love the book, I can certainly see how a person could find it boring and not want to continue with it. And you can at least, as you say, still watch the miniseries.
March 4, 2015 at 10:42 pm
brideofthebookgod
I think boring is the wrong word, just not sufficiently engaging. I’m going to try again in the future. Probably
March 6, 2015 at 9:25 am
thebrightspark
I do love this book, but it does take such patience!
March 29, 2015 at 2:55 pm
Sunday Salon – March round-up | Bride of the Book God
[…] chapters but intend to make progress this week. I’m not going to let this linger like Jonathan Strange – if I don’t make headway over Easter I am going to set it […]
May 17, 2015 at 11:35 am
Sunday Salon – 17 May | Bride of the Book God
[…] finally, some of you will remember my struggles with Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, famously abandoned after two separate attempts. Well, the TV adaptation starts on the BBC this […]