This is in large part because Strange and Norrell are brought back together, and their dynamic is the most interesting and involving thing about the book; but also because English magic returns, really returns, and it's as wild and strong and dark as all the hints from earlier in the novel make you believe. The payoff--which changes the world--is worth the buildup.
I agree - I thought that part of the book was simply brilliant - one of the best endings I've read in a long while. But it also made me long for the story I could have been reading - the one we got seemed flat and dull in comparison.
Not that the book was flat and dull really - but there was so much wonder in the story we didn't get that dry fussy Mr Norell wasn't quite enough. And there were some lovely bits - Jonathan Strange taking the distilled madness for example that are wonderfully inventive. And yet, I didn't care all that much what happened. I enjoyed reading it, but never was I lost in Clarke's England.
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Date: 2004-12-28 06:37 pm (UTC)I agree - I thought that part of the book was simply brilliant - one of the best endings I've read in a long while. But it also made me long for the story I could have been reading - the one we got seemed flat and dull in comparison.
Not that the book was flat and dull really - but there was so much wonder in the story we didn't get that dry fussy Mr Norell wasn't quite enough. And there were some lovely bits - Jonathan Strange taking the distilled madness for example that are wonderfully inventive. And yet, I didn't care all that much what happened. I enjoyed reading it, but never was I lost in Clarke's England.
And thus, I was disappointed by the book.