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[Books 2007] Susanna Clarke
Jun. 8th, 2007 04:29 pm30. The Ladies of Grace Adieu by Susanna Clarke
This is a sort of sequel to one of the best books that I read last year, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. It's a collection of short stories set in the same alternative world, and in one case Jonathan Strange makes an appearance. The emphasis is on humans interacting with Faerie rather than humans practicing magic. Which is appealing, because the Faerie segments were the really eerie and disturbing parts of Jonathan Strange. "On Lickrish Hill" is a re-telling of the Rumpelstiltskin story and "The Duke of Wellington Loses His Horse" is set in the village of Wall from Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess's Stardust. Most of the stories revolve around people trapped in Faerie.
It's not nearly as heavy going as Jonathan Strange - just over 200 pages including art work by Charles Vess. I don't imagine that not having read the first book would be a barrier to understanding this one.
I really enjoyed it and was constantly amazed at how she carries off the style of whimsical pastiche with a palpable undercurrent of malice and eerieness all the way through. The different voices of the narrators of the various stories are nicely distinct as well. Definitely recommended.
This is a sort of sequel to one of the best books that I read last year, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. It's a collection of short stories set in the same alternative world, and in one case Jonathan Strange makes an appearance. The emphasis is on humans interacting with Faerie rather than humans practicing magic. Which is appealing, because the Faerie segments were the really eerie and disturbing parts of Jonathan Strange. "On Lickrish Hill" is a re-telling of the Rumpelstiltskin story and "The Duke of Wellington Loses His Horse" is set in the village of Wall from Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess's Stardust. Most of the stories revolve around people trapped in Faerie.
It's not nearly as heavy going as Jonathan Strange - just over 200 pages including art work by Charles Vess. I don't imagine that not having read the first book would be a barrier to understanding this one.
I really enjoyed it and was constantly amazed at how she carries off the style of whimsical pastiche with a palpable undercurrent of malice and eerieness all the way through. The different voices of the narrators of the various stories are nicely distinct as well. Definitely recommended.
