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Posted: |
Jun 30, 2005 - 12:36 AM
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By: |
MarkB
(Member)
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Has anyone read JONATHAN STRANGE AND MR. NORRELL?
I'm 200 pages into it, and while fascinating, I'm not lovin' it... some of the writing is a bit too precious for my taste, plus it's taking forever to get things into motion. I'll slog through for another 100-150 pages, but may throw in the towel after that.
Can anyone shine a ray of hope into the long dark tunnel of unpleasant reading experiences?
Well, I loved it. It was leisurely paced, but that was one of things I liked about it; it took it's time and allowed one to get lost in the setting and atmosphere. That "precious" writing also helped keep me interested, even when the story slowed down a bit.
Should you keep reading? It's hard for me to say (based on your opinion so far), but I'd recommend continuing. The book has more of a "series of events" than a strong plot, but I found most of those events entertaining in and of themselves. (Don't get me wrong; it does have a plot and it does wrap up nicely at the end.)
Mark
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Thanks for the comments, Mark... I'll go a little further. Jonathan Strange has just been introduced, so maybe things will start to pick up.
In the interim, read THE ATROCITY ARCHIVES by Charles Stross, a name I've seen, but whose work I haven't read until now... imagine a Len Dieghton novel crossed with Lovecraft - have to say I loved it, and will look for more of Stross' work. Fans of Tim Powers' DECLARE (very similar thematically to AA), will like this as well.
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Posted: |
Jul 5, 2005 - 2:21 AM
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By: |
Senmut
(Member)
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It's still snake oil.
Lemme put it to you this way...
What's a more reasonable explanation...
1.) That human beings have the intelligence and ingenuity to construct complex and wonderful inventions and works of art
or
2.) That aliens have come light-years away just to carve their own heads over and over again on Easter Island, and anally probe some poor shmoes while they're at it.
Personally, I think that human beings are capable of constructing our own marvels, without help from aliens, demigods or gods. At least I give humanity some credit.
And by the way, you misspelled "Amazing".
Yes, Humans are smart and inventive. However, it really helps to have things like tools to help build stuff with. Metal tools, the wheel, advanced mathematics and ground lenses really come in handy.
And, misspelled or not, "Rnadi" is only amazing for the number of people he snows or intimidates with his assinine arrogance.
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I just finished David Thomson's astonishingly vicious biography of Orson Welles, ROSEBUD. Definitely not recommended.
And now I've taken up Stendhal's THE RED & THE BLACK. It's much more readable and entertaining than I expected.........THE RED AND THE BLACK is good , but THE CHARTER HOUSE OF PARMA , given the right translation is fantastic , hardly know its the by the same author , try it!
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Posted: |
Jul 10, 2005 - 4:04 PM
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By: |
David in NY
(Member)
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Hey, LRob -- Glad to hear you stuck with it and enjoyed it.
Right now, I'm about halfway through Stephen King's final DARK TOWER novel -- I want to finish that before the new Harry Potter comes out next weekend. (Harry will take precedence over everything at that point.)
THE HISTORIAN by Elizabeth Kostova will follow those two. It's supposed to be the hot novel of the summer. Any read it yet, or planning to read it?
David: I'm sorry to hear that SPECIMEN DAYS wasn't quite up to par. I haven't read any Cunningham yet, but I think I'll give THE HOURS a shot. (I haven't seen the movie, either -- and I'll probably wait until I've read the book.)
Mark
Hi Mark. It's funny but Cunningham's 'The Hours' is his (understandible) masterpiece, yet I found it somewhat offputting. I enjoyed his 'A Home at the End of the World' much more. In fact I read it twice, years apart. You might want to start with 'Home' (or not). But, I wouldn't start with 'Speiciman Days' or you'll never read anything else of his, which would be a pity. Let me know which one you choose and if you like it or not! David
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