You will never forget this book.

"Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell" by Susanna Clarke is surely one the most impressive fantasy books of our time, if not the best at all.

The story is exiting, complex, highly original, never predictable. All of the complex and inscrutable, but even though they are rather dark figures, most of them are rather lovable (there is only one character I really dislike).The writing style is superb, slightly funny and ironic (in a Jane Austen-ish way), mature, very elegant, rather unusual. The atmosphere is thick, dusty, dark. The first wto parts are rather flowery and light, the last part is darker and faster. 

If you don't like slow books or if you prefer lots of action, this book would clearly not be pleased with this book. If you like long reads on dark afternoons, drinking tea, and if you want to be inside of the book, if you love complicated plots and unusual characters, a lot of history in a fantasy book and the wonderful world of early 19th century England - then read it. Just. Read. It. You will love it!

I'm neither a Strangeist, nor am I a Norrellist. I understand both, both are right to some points, but both are wrong on other points. 

They compensate each other.

I was very impressed by the character of John Childermass. He fascinated me. More than most characters used to do.

My rating

five stars out of five

I think it is not simply a good read. It's an epic book, a signature piece of the Fantasy genre, influenced by gothic and historical novels. 

It is unique. Like "The Lord Of The Rings" is the red book, 

this is the black book.

The red book is the signature piece of High Fantasy, the black book is the signature piece of Contemporary Fantasy. I don't want to compare these books (I don't get why some people do that), because they have nothing in common. Exept that they are epic. I don't say they are the best books and many people don't like them (luckily, there have to be different opinions), but both of them will exist in centuries, when many other books are forgotten. In the future, this book will be a piece of classical literature. It will not be a random novel. It will be history.