Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell Audiobook Review

By Susanna Clarke

Narrated by Simon Prebble

Reviewed by Gabby

 Get the Audible version here!

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Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell Overview:

In the year 1806, with the Napoleonic Wars raging on land and sea, most people believe that magic has long since seeped out of England. At best, magic is studied by groups of old gentlemen- until the reclusive Mr Norrell reveals his powers to the world and becomes an overnight sensation.

Norrell intends to bring magic back to England and seeks the help of the government in order to do so. Soon, another magician is discovered: Jonathan Strange, who becomes Norrell’s student. Together, they aid their country in the war against France. But Strange is increasingly drawn to the wilder, more dangerous forms of magic, straining his relationship with Norrell and putting at risk all he holds dear.

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Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell Audiobook Review:

STORY

CHARACTERS

NARRATORS

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STORY

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The Good:

The book was written with a classic style that fit the story line, and It was very sophisticated.

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The Bad:

I was disappointed with this audiobook. There was so much potential and yet the entire time, it felt like I was listening to a history book. The book had such a pretentious feel to it. As though I was directly speaking to one of the insufferable characters in the story. Perhaps you may think that I am incapable of appreciating true works of art. Some people loved this book. That is their opinion. This is mine. Oh and the footnotes, my goodness they were irritating. My heart sank the second Simon Prebble said: ‘footnote 1’. Footnotes are all very well when you’re writing an essay or perhaps a history book, but they just make the story lose its momentum completely. The result is you bounce back and forth between the story of Strange and Norrell and pieces of old folklore. Most of the time, the folklore was not very interesting and contributed nothing to the original storyline. I commend Clarke on the time and effort she clearly put into the novel, but did she really have to make it so boring? She had a great idea about magic in 19^th century England and decided to make it about unremarkable old white men. Wow. Great Job.

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CHARACTERS

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The Good:

The only character i really liked was the ‘silver haired gentleman’, he was interesting, mysterious and sassy.

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The Bad:

Characters that could have been really interesting and engaging turned out to be flat and dull. Mr Norrell is probably meant to be dislikeable, but we should at least be given some insight as to why! There was no real depth to any of the characters, I feel like Clarke was trying much too hard to try and create a story in the style of Jane Austen, that she forgot to inject any passion or humour into it. Don’t get me wrong, I think all the bones of a good story are here, but it was just disappointing to have so many potentially exciting scenes made so dull. I became more interested in the sink I was scrubbing than the actual story. Audiobooks are very easy to zone out on, particularly if you’re listening to them whilst doing something else (which most people do). I bought the book so that I wouldn’t be bored to death whilst cleaning and yet scrubbing stains from the rim of a sink was more fascinating to me than Jonathan Strange’s time in the battlefield!

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NARRATOR

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[columns] [span6] The Good:

Simon Prebble was the saving grace in this audiobook. His impression of the silver haired gentleman was excellent, which brings me to another point. I wanted to know more about the fairies and their world! Not just footnotes! I truly wish Clarke had given us more insight into the silver haired gentleman, he could have been quite the character. Clarke kept me interested long enough to see where the story would lead and in all honesty, it was quite the anti-climax. The audiobook was so long that towards the end, I don’t think I really cared anymore what happened to the characters, as long as the darn story ended.

[/span6][span6] The Bad:

Nothing to mention here, Simon was definitely the savior of this audiobook.

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