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charles schneider Regular user 103 Posts |
I haven't been this excited about a book I have not yet read in who knows when! A friend got an advance reading copy and what she has hinted at has my mind buzzing and my mouth watering with literary anticipation.
I thought I'd post this here as it involves traditional Magic and so much that would excite many of you - here. Here is the official website to learn more: http://www.jonathanstrange.com/ and the basic story: http://www.jonathanstrange.com/copy.asp?s=2 That is all. Just a heads up for what looks like a most remarkable treasure of a read. I'm sure we'll hear much more of this book in a short time. |
Law New user 94 Posts |
Looks like a great read - thanks for the heads-up!
While we're on the subject of novels, has anyone read Little, Big by John Crowley? I love that book. |
reese Inner circle of Hell 1332 Posts |
Yeah! Little, Big is my favorite work of fiction ever. If a book could be a mobius strip; Little, Big would be it. A book constructed like an Escher drawing. Great!
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Clifford the Red Inner circle LA, California 1941 Posts |
This looks awesome.
If you get a chance, do yourself a favor and look up Neil Stephenson and Quicksilver and the second in the series - The Confusion. Seriously complex and wonderful novels about the age where mysticism evolved into science - where alchemists and natural philosophers mingled. Big books, amazing stories and research. The Red approves.
"The universe is full of magical things, waiting for our wits to grow sharper." Eden Philpotts
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RBerteig Regular user Monrovia, California 146 Posts |
A couple of other small works that also have that sort of magical pre-victorian history feel include:
Niel Gaiman, Neverwhere Martha Well, The Element of Fire Martha Wells, Death of the Necromancer More timeless, but mythic in scope: Niel Gaiman, American Gods
Ross Berteig
Wizards in my Parlor |
charles schneider Regular user 103 Posts |
This book is OUT! (I read it was #5 on the New York Times bestseller list - as well it should be)
Has anybody read this yet? Get yourself an early Yule season gift by getting this magickal tome pronto! I am just on page 65 and am adoring this book. Here is part of a review from TIME. 'A chimera of a novel that combines the dark mythology of fantasy with the delicious social comedy of Jane Austen into a masterpiece of the genre that rivals Tolkien... Clarke is an extremely funny writer, which is rare in fantasy ... But what really sets Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell apart is its treatment of magic. Clarke's magic is a melancholy, macabre thing, confabulated out of snow and rain and mirrors and described with absolute realism ... Clarke has another rare faculty: she can depict evil ... [she] reaches down into fantasy's deep, dark, twisted roots, down into medieval history and the scary, Freudian fairy-tale stuff. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell reminds us that there's a reason fantasy endures: it's the language of our dreams. And our nightmares.' and NEIL GAIMAN writes: 'Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is unquestionably the finest English novel of the fantastic written in the last seventy years. It's funny, moving, scary, otherworldly, practical and magical, a journey through light and shadow — a delight to read, both for the elegant and precise use of words, which Ms Clarke deploys as wisely and dangerously as Wellington once deployed his troops, and for the vast sweep of the story, as tangled and twisting as old London streets or dark English woods. It is a huge book, filled with people it is a delight to meet, and incidents and places one wishes to revisit, which is, from beginning to end, a perfect pleasure. Closing Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell after 800 pages my only regret was that it wasn't twice the length.' |
rtgreen Inner circle Portland, Oregon 1322 Posts |
I am reading it now and so far it has been great. I highly recomend it. You may have to search a little for it though. It has been classified by a lot of bookstores as a fantasy novel so they are shelving it with the sci-fi and fantasy books.
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RBerteig Regular user Monrovia, California 146 Posts |
I picked up a copy at my local non-chain bookseller, still in its shrink wrap. They told me that a remarkable number of copies were selling. The typical transaction seemed to be customer walking in, doing a double take at the cover, picking the book up and buying it without any further hesitation or thought. Apparently, that is what I did as well. Highly unusual for an 800-ish page hardcover from a 1st time author. The early word-of-mouth on this one is impressive.
The book is phenomenally well researched and written. It is not just "an adult Harry Potter." It is something else entirely. Although occasionally a little dry and slowgoing, there is a majesty to the pace that is just not possible in a typical mass-market 200 page novel and difficult to carry out in a typical multi-book series. I found it difficult to set down, and read the entire thing in only about four days while pretending to pay attention to my day job, family, etc. Although this story is clearly complete in itself, there are numerous narritive opportunities for additional works to follow. The only question appears to be whether we will be allowed to read the second book in less than the ten years writing the first apparently required. To the student of practical magic, her fresh envisioning of the classic elements of English folklore may also provide fertile ground for presentations.
Ross Berteig
Wizards in my Parlor |
Jerry Inner circle Some where in Florida 1402 Posts |
Ross, have you seen Niel Gaiman's Neverwhere movie on DVD? I hear it is low budget affair and the staging is cheesy, so I did not purchase it. Would it be better to get the orignal source (book)? Or was that review of the DVD not accurate? Thanks for your time.
Jerry |
Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
The movie IS THE ORIGINAL. The book came after.
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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Hexagon Regular user London 198 Posts |
'Neverwhere' is good but read 'Smoke and Mirrors' by the same author... it's better.
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Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
I doubt the guy comes close to Gaiman's Sandman.
I'll get the book and read it, and have comment later.
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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charles schneider Regular user 103 Posts |
My second post in years. It is an epidemic. It has taken me this long to "read" the book, JONATHAN STRANGE AND MR. NORRELL by Susannah Clarke. It is fantastic. Actually, I took the TWENTY-SIX CD audio-book out of the local library, amazingly read by Simon Prebble. It is just the most wonderful book about magic and magick. It is beautiful, melancholic, funny, visually a mind-blower and just plain entertaining as can be. It is much more-so about occultism, friendship and metaphysical magic. Not much trickery here... and yet the performer will find much to treasure. I can not help but think how much Tony Andruzzi would have loved this book, as will/would Tony Shiels if he can find a copy amidst his haunted Irish bogs. Any theatrical person will adore this. A must for the Bizarrist, Antiquarian and lover of the WEIRD, the historic, the Archaic - and beautiful. Be patient with it. The world of early 19th century British magicians is evoked, and reinvented brilliantly. Reading/listening to this epic will inspire your art, life and thinking.
A synopsis of sorts from the books website might inspire you to devour this 800 plus page monster of a magical masterpiece. Centuries ago, when magic still existed in England, the greatest magician of them all was the Raven King. A human child brought up by fairies, the Raven King blended fairy wisdom and human reason to create English magic. Now, at the beginning of the nineteenth century, he is barely more than a legend, and England, with its mad King and its dashing poets, no longer believes in practical magic. Then the reclusive Mr Norrell of Hurtfew Abbey appears and causes the statues of York Cathedral to speak and move. News spreads of the return of magic to England and, persuaded that he must help the government in the war against Napoleon, Mr Norrell goes to London. There he meets a brilliant young magician and takes him as a pupil. Jonathan Strange is charming, rich and arrogant. Together, they dazzle the country with their feats. But the partnership soon turns to rivalry. Mr Norrell has never conquered his lifelong habits of secrecy, while Strange will always be attracted to the wildest, most perilous magic. He becomes fascinated by the shadowy figure of the Raven King, and his heedless pursuit of long-forgotten magic threatens, not only his partnership with Norrell, but everything that he holds dear. (Summary from jonathanstrange.com) |
fraughton Veteran user of books 327 Posts |
I have both read the book, and listened to the excellent (unabridged) reading that you describe. I agree completely; the story is a deeply magical experience. In fact, as my style evolves, this book has proven a real influence on me.
Reading it is a must. If you havn't read it, consider it required reading for the Bizarrist. Well, required reading for any magician actually.
Beware of this and that.
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