I’m three chapters in which I know is probably not a lot in a book of that size but it seems… slow and low-stakes. And the footnotes are distracting me, I feel like you should world-build in your narrative, not just dump a load of world-building into footnotes. I’m not against big books or old-fashioned narratives, have loved The Count of Monte Cristo, several long Dickens, etc. But I felt like they grabbed me earlier, big stuff at stake like wrongful imprisonment or the entire French Revolution haha. But I trust you book lovers of Reddit so if you tell me it’s worth it I’ll believe you! Does this book get going?
by Proper_Emu_2296
9 Comments
I finished it but it was dry as hell. Totally don’t understand the hype.
Eh. I read it when it came out and can’t really remember anything about it. No shame in abandoning a book.
I tried twice to read it. It’s a nothing burger.
The stakes don’t get any higher, it remains very slow, and the footnotes only get lengthier and more frequent. The footnotes were my biggest issue, I did not enjoy them at all. But I did overall like the book.
All that said the most interesting thing in the book is the dynamic between Norrell and Strange, and I don’t think you’re far enough in yet to.have encountered them both together.
I tried three times to read this book. Each time gave up between 100-110 pages in. I think for some of us it is simply too dry, unimaginative, and boring. Others find it a great read. Good for them. Wasn’t pleasurable for me at all.
Overrated
I DNF’d this hard. Could not get into it.
I enjoyed it but there was a lot that could have been left out. I’d say if you are feeling like you are having to push through, just stop and read the plot points online. I don’t think it’s that great of a book to say it is worth it to push through.
I do find it interesting that this same author that wrote this unnecessarily long book wrote Piranesi which is very short and exactly the right length for the story being told.
The stakes eventually get much higher, but for the most part it’s not a fast-paced narrative. And if you find the footnotes off putting, it might just not be a good style fit for you. There are a few multi-page footnotes later in the book.
I personally loved it, but I think it’s totally fine to recognize it doesn’t work for you and find something else you’ll get more out of.