![]() ![]() Obviously this book is more than just a circle, it's more like an intricate pattern of perfect, freehand circles laid together, but still: I'm incredibly impressed she could do it, and it does come out very pretty and quite engrossing, but given her talents I don't understand why this is what she chose to do. The circle was valueless in itself, but proved your amazing capacity as an artist, because of the amazing level of technique and accuracy you need to draw a perfect circle freehand. ![]() It won British Book Awards Newcomer of the Year, the Hugo Award and the World Fantasy Award in 2005. It's probably not quite the right metaphor but I remember these stories of the greatest artistic masters of the past drawing perfect circles with a brush. Susanna Clarke's debut novel Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell was first published in more than 34 countries and was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize and shortlisted for the Whitbread First Novel Award and the Guardian First Book Award. I thought about it more and realised that, despite it having obviously Relevant And Important Themes (identity and continuity of identity, solitude and society, knowledge, power, etc), I don't think I learned anything about those things from this book, and don't think it will shape my mind at all once I forget the lovely texture of the prose. I was trying to think if I would recommend this book to others, or rather, I was trying to understand I feel so hesitant recommending this book to others, despite finding it so impressive. I cannot explain how she made this even vaguely interesting, and somehow it was beautiful and engrossing. ![]() Look, Clarke is unimaginably good as a writer this premise is insane, and in the hands of any lesser writer it would be an absolute disaster. "The Beauty of the House is immeasurable its Kindness infinite." there's this guy, almost alone, in a huge rambling House. ![]()
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