I read Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell in 2004 and enjoyed it muchly. I had a long layover at an airport and read about 200 pages in one gulp which I think helped to keep my attention. It was probably my favourite book that year. I don't think I have a favourite of 2005 - at least I can't think of anything right now.
Spike? It's you. It's really you! My therapist thought I was holding on to false hope, but…I knew you'd come back. You're like…you're like Gandalf the White, resurrected from the pit of the Balrog, more beautiful than ever. Oh…he's alive Frodo. He's alive.
Andrew ,'Damage'
We're Literary 2: To Read Makes Our Speaking English Good
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
Megan E. - Jan 12, 2006 2:09:55 am PST #9759 of 10002
Anne W. - Jan 12, 2006 2:11:14 am PST #9760 of 10002
The lost sheep grow teeth, forsake their lambs, and lie with the lions.
Jonathan Strange had a few bits where I felt it bogged down (and I honestly can't remember where those were), but other than that, I enjoyed the book. I actually read it fairly slowly, and it felt as if I were inhabiting the book for a good two weeks or so. It's not often I can find a book that I can live in like that.
§ ita § - Jan 12, 2006 4:00:28 am PST #9761 of 10002
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is my car book, so unless I haul it upstairs and have a long sitdown, it'll take a while. Of course, my inside book, The Algebraist isn't doing much better.
In non-fiction news (at which I'm much better), B&N just delivered Cathedral: The Story of Its Construction, Castle, and Mosque by David Macaulay. The first two I remember lovingly from high school (I think I used one of them in a project), and Mosque is new and in colour. I can't wait to sit down with them and some tea.
Jars - Jan 12, 2006 4:03:27 am PST #9762 of 10002
ita, I've been reading The Algebraist for about four months now and am only a hundred or so pages in. I will finish it. Oh yes.
§ ita § - Jan 12, 2006 4:05:04 am PST #9763 of 10002
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
I don't dislike The Algebraist, but it's really not dragging me along for the ride. I don't miss it the way I miss Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. I think it needs more attention to do it justice, and I'm just...not. I will address that this weekend.
Calli - Jan 12, 2006 4:05:28 am PST #9764 of 10002
I must obey the inscrutable exhortations of my soul—Calvin and Hobbs
I recently finished Folly, by Laurie R. King. It's not part of her Sherlock and Russell series or her Kate Martinelli series, but I really liked it. It made me want to move to the San Juan islands. (Not that that's a hard sell for me.)
sumi - Jan 12, 2006 4:24:16 am PST #9765 of 10002
Art Crawl!!!
I'm so glad that you guys are enjoying or have enjoyed Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. I recommended it to a friend and she HATED it -- stopped reading it in fact.
Jars - I had the same experience as you did -- I tried to drag out the ending so that I wouldn't be done. I started reading it late in 2004 but I think I finished it in 2005.
Jessica - Jan 12, 2006 7:21:11 am PST #9766 of 10002
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset
Volans - Jan 12, 2006 7:59:36 am PST #9767 of 10002
move out and draw fire
I just got Jonathan Strange, Anansi Boys, and Woken Furies.
Reading bliss.
Betsy HP - Jan 12, 2006 8:09:15 am PST #9768 of 10002
If I only had a brain...
Gah. I need help. I have this book I need to recommend but can't remember author/title.
Anyway, the author is an LJ stalwart, the book is called something like Melisande, it's got excellent dark worldbuilding and is roughly equivalent to Georgian London/Paris, and the main plot is about a tattooed sorceror who's being used to destroy the magical foundation of teh world.
Ring any bells? Cause, damn, it was good.