Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

Gelezen door: Kristien Verbraeken (2 boeken)

Citaat: "They were excessively pleased with the Campo Santa Maria Formosa. They thought the facades of the houses were magnificent - they could not praise them highly enough. But the sad decay, which buildings, bridges and church all displayed, seemed to charm them even more. They were Englishmen and, to them, the decline of other nations was the most natural thing in the world. They belonged to a race blessed with so sensitive an appreciation of its own talents (and so doubtful an opinion of any body else's) that they would not have been all surprized to learn that the Venetians themselves had been entirely ignorant of the merits of their own city - until Englishmen had come to tell them it was delightful."

Magie en tovenaarsleerlingen zijn sind Harry Potter razendpopulair. Susanna Clarke laat zich echter niet vangen en gaat haar eigen weg. Aan de hand van de avonturen van een tovenaarsduo wordt er heel wat bitterzoete maatschappijkritiek op het Engelse leven geuit. Een combinatie van Dickens en Austen! Daarenboven leest het boek als een trein jammer genoeg is de hardback editie met de drie delen te zwaar om op de trein te lezen.