Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell

[fintach]

So, I've noticed that some people on my friends list appear to be quite fond of this novel. I have read it and, though I found it enjoyable, I was disappointed in the ending.

My question, for those of you willing to answer it, is did you enjoy the ending and why or why not?

Obviously the comments below are likely to contain spoilers, so caveat

Comments

[deirdremoon]

I did not enjoy the ending. It was not feel-good. I think it was one of the sadder possible outcomes. But it did contain a certain amount of, dare I say it of a faery tale, realism about the flaws of the characters involved.

I'd say more on't, but I read it a couple of years ago and it's currently loaned out, so I can't flip through for specifics.

[fintach]

Hmmm . . . so neither you nor Camino saw a narrative flaw in the ending. Maybe it's just me then. I'll have to re-read it at some point and see if it strikes me differently.

[camino_volare]

I did enjoy the ending, I think I enjoyed for the reasons that most people *didn't* enjoy it though. To deirdremoon's point: the ending didn't feel good, and the character's go through sooo much, to fall somewhat short - not lost, not doomed, but not 'alright' either. The ending also pointed out the dangers of dealing with 'fairy' - in fact, the whole book is themed with it. I found that refreshing also.

[fintach]

I know what you mean about the themes, because the way the fae are portrayed I enjoyed a great deal.

What disappointed me in the ending, though, was not the ending itself, but what seemed to me to be a flaw in the narrative of it. Namely, why were Strange and Norrell not released from the spell when the Gentleman-With-the-Thistledown-Hair died? Arabella was released, but they were not, and after plainly stating that the death of the enchanter frees the enchanted. It felt forced.

Do you see what I mean? Or did I miss something? I was mostly reading it to and from training classes, so I might have been distracted.

[camino_volare]

I agree with the inconsistancy you point out, but, Vinculus did point out that the whole adventure itself was a spell weaved by the RavenKing - and it became apparant the both Strange and Norrell had a part to play in scheme, one that hadn't completely played out by the end of the story. I believe that the RavenKing still had plans for them, thus they remained cursed.