Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke.

"At times eerie and intriguing while at others tedious and tiresome, this was a hard novel to describe. I both wanted to see what would happen but at the same time the book itself was just so big that it became cumbersome to even read at times. This was very much a "middle of the road" type book, neither hated nor loved, lodged someplace very much in between."

3 STARS

Pros: There were parts where it was eerie, unsettling, dark and gloomy. Mainly the points with the land of Faerie, these bits were what kept me reading, in hopes that something would happen and something eventually did. 

Cons: The driving story, for me, was what would happen with the Faerie with the thistle down hair and how that would all wrap up but the fact that it took 800+ pages to do was just...unnecessary/The end notes, though interesting at points, giving life to the history of magic in England in a practical, logical way, didn't add much to the story. 

Full Review: 

Mr. Norrell is the only practicing magician in all of England. He is a quiet, cranky, sour old man who believes more in reading than in practicing actual, physical magic. He is solitary and loathe to become a member of society, but his two associates, Lascelles and Drawlight, demand that he make his presence known. So he does. And for awhile, he is the only magician in all of England. He does a few tricks here and there to try and help with the Napoleonic war but for the most part he's content to read his books and be left alone. 

It isn't until Jonathan Strange comes into the picture that he finds himself with someone who could either be seen as a comrade in arms or as a competitor. Norrells academic, thorough study of the theoretical history of magic is much different than Strange's actual, practical use of the trade. And when the British government decides to send Strange to Spain to help with the Napoleonic war, Norrell is both proud, since he feels that he's taught Strange a great deal, and also deeply hurt and offended that he was not asked to go. 

Norrell and Stranges' relationship is difficult to describe. Contentious but at the same time, sad because you feel that all Norrell really wants is someone to share in his knowledge of magic. And Strange couldn't be less interested in the theory of it all, he just wants to get out there and do something. 

The real catalyst of the book, to me, was when Norrell performed a resurrection spell to bring the young Lady Pole back to life. He made a deal with a Fae, a man with hair the color of silver (most often known as the man with the thistle down hair) to let Lady Pole live half of her life well and alive. But he didn't count on the trickery of Fairies when making this deal. Now Lady Pole spends her nights in the land of Faerie, attending balls and soirees that she can barely remember and her days are spent in exhaustion and confusion. One of Lord Pole's servants, a black name named Stephen, is brought into the land of Faerie as well and it is the man with the thistle down hair's ultimate goal, to make Stephen, the King of England. 

He's already had some fun with the real King, often conversing with him (though everyone thinks the King is mad, since they can't see the Fae) and the man with the thistle down hair is absolutely determined that Stephen, such a refined, handsome, elegant gentleman will make a much better King. All of this happens while Norrell and Strange are pondering the theory and history of magic and they are none the wiser, until Strange is asked by a handful of the Princes, to look into the King's health and he sees and feels the Faes' certain breed of magic for himself. It unnerves him but also fascinates him and he finds himself more and more intrigued with the history of John Uskglass, the man who called himself the Raven King and was the last practicing magician in England before Norrell came along. Norrell is horrified at the very mention of the man and refuses to speak, pretending like he didn't exist. Strange is not put off so easily. 

Broken down into three parts, the first part describes the entrance of Norrell and the restoration of Magic to England. The second part describes the entrance of Strange and how he and Norrell begin to work together and Strange's efforts with the war. The third part is where it all wraps itself up in an interesting and rather tidy bow. Though at the same time, I both enjoyed the ending but found it sad as well since things were rather ambiguous. This was a challenging book, enjoyable at times and tedious at others. Suffice it to say, I'm glad I read it but I didn't feel that its 800+ length was necessary.