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This will be a reread for me. When I read it before, it was also on the TV so I was trying to read ahead quickly as I didn't want any spoilers. I hope that I will be able to take my time and enjoy it more now.

I tried to read this a few years ago and didn't get very far so I'm hoping to do better this time. I hate not finishing a book.

Kristin wrote: "I'm not going to lie, the length of this book scares me but I'm also really excited to read it! I'd like to watch the mini-series of it, too, but want to read it first. If I watch it first, I'll ne..."
I always like to read the book first. I never find the filmed versions match the way the book played in my head but if I've already watched something then that influences my reading. I like to have my own imagined version first as that's all part of the pleasure of reading.

I'll try to join in for this! We'll see, depends on other books and other things I have to do, but this one has been sitting on my shelf since 2012!

I'm going to join in on this! It's been on my Kindle for far too long.

So I've read 15%. I think I'm on Chapter 13. It's just as enchanting as I remember and I can relate to Mr Norrell who is an introvert and bookworm just like me! (view spoiler)[However, he is a bit petty, selfish and arrogant as he wants no one else to do magic.
Jonathan Strange has had a couple of mentions so far but is yet to actually appear so that will be interesting when he does (hide spoiler)]
I find the magic system intriguing and the setting is so well-researched. The footnotes are great too

I expect to be reading this towards the end of this month and October. :) Looking forward to it!

I finished this book today. I enjoyed it so much that my next book is going to be The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories which is set in the same world

I started a couple of days ago. I had know idea what this book is about to start. the name attracted me maybe somehow related to doctor Jekyll and mr Hyde. Or maybe not. So far looks pretty interesting.

I started this book two days ago, and I had also no idea what this book was gonna be about.

I am now 17%, and find the world intriguing, but at the same time I hope that the story will become a bit more interesting, there is not a lot happening.

I ordered a paperback edition of this book on the day that Lindsay announced a call to arms for its buddy read. I've been looking forward to reading this book for months!
Also, I've been reading a historical mystery series that takes place five years after this book start (Sebastian St. Cyr series), so I've got my online Regency-era English glossary on the ready, too.

Haha, despite all that, I won't be starting this book until this evening.

@Rachael Wow, you read the entire book in nine days!!! So impressive!

oshizu wrote: "I ordered a paperback edition of this book on the day that Lindsay announced a call to arms for its buddy read. I've been looking forward to reading this book for months!
Also, I've been reading a ..."

I have a paperback copy, an e-book version and the audiobook! I have been enjoying the audiobook but the breaks are all about an hour apart and not done by chapter so it's really difficult to switch between reading and listening. The narrator is really good though!

Hope you enjoy it oshizu.

Bad news for me, fellow buddy readers!
Rachael so inspired me with her second reading in 5 days!
On the other hand, I have only made it through 21 of 1006 pages in three days. I pick the book up at least twice a day.
I've decided to put this book aside for a few days to avoid falling into a reading slump.

It actually got me in a bit of a reading slump, I haven't read for almost a week.. I will try to continue tomorrow!

Oh no, Ilona! Maybe we're too used to the action-packed Mistborn series, haha.

I’m finding this to be somewhat like an adult His Dark Materials. With an alt 19th century sort of magical Britain. I’m only on chapter 13 so I don’t know if the similarities will continue or not

@Scott: That's interesting. I didn't notice the similarities with His Dark Materials even though they both take place in parallel worlds

One thing about both is they read like historical novels with details like places and societies. However some are real some not and it’s not obvious which. This is different then Harry Potter where it’s easy to tell hogwarts and the ministry of magic are fake. A great example in his dark materials the main character initially lives at oxford university (real) in Jordan college (fake). I didn’t realize this until googling Jordan college. I think Jonathan strange is like that with mixing of real and fake.

I took a break from this book, but started reading again yesterday. I just finished chapter 26, where (view spoiler)[ Stephen acquires a diadem, sceptre and orb (hide spoiler)], and I have a question regarding Stephen Black and the "Gentleman with the thistle-down hair": (view spoiler)[ I remember that they first met when Stephen went into an attic room at Harley street and ended up at the party, buy when and why was this enchantment placed on him? I get that strange stuff has been happening to Lady Pole since being resurrected, but cannot recall what happened to Stephen. (hide spoiler)]

How is everyone else doing with this book?

I'm almost halfway. Enjoying it so far. It's slow but the characters are interesting enough. (view spoiler)[my guess the thistle down hair guy is the raven king. He seems to be running things but he is a mystery which makes the story interesting. (hide spoiler)]

Ilona here is my theory on your question (view spoiler)[I don't think it's explicitly stated were Stephen is put under the man with the thistle hair. But I think he is in the first meeting in the hidden room in the attic. When Stephen is shown the finger in the box he is surprised/shocked initially but then quickly thinks walking around with a severed finger is perfectly normal. So some magic must be present IMHO. This happens before they are somehow transported to the party. (hide spoiler)]

Thanks for you answer, Scott! Let's hope the book gives us answers at some point :)

My apologies for my lack of diligence toward this Buddy Read.
I've been feeling a little burned out after completing all but one of this group's yearly challenges lately. I've been a very mood-drive reader this month.

I do want to read Jonathan Strange. Perhaps I will make it my read for the month-long Advent Calendar challenge in December. 40 pages/day for 25-26 days--I wonder if that's possible...
Again, sorry for bailing!

Finished really enjoyed it.
(view spoiler)[I never really figured out who the gentleman with the thistle hair was exactly or his motivation. Definitely not John Uskglass. I think this book intentionally leaves a lot for the reader to figure out. Or maybe I just missed something. Here are a couple. Why did magic stop several years ago then start again for norrell. I think norrell didn’t really do magic at first he got the evil fairy to appear. At least for resurrecting the soon to be Mrs Poole. Which was like a deal with the devil. I not sure about the statues talking at the beginning but norrell was always alone when doing these. Another thing I’m not sure about were people transfigured as animals. There was a reference to transfiguration then elsewhere weird stuff with animals. Anyways I found all these mysteries very interesting (hide spoiler)]

Omg it took me almost two months, but I finally finished this monster!
I found the overall story really interesting, but the pacing too slow to keep my attention.

I'm just past halfway. I am enjoying it but finding it a very slow read. Determined I will finish this year.

I guess the pacing was slow but I had a lot of questions so it felt like a mystery and went by pretty quick. (view spoiler)[one thing I didn't figure out but learned from the internet is why we never learned the gentlemen's real name. It's secret because if it's found out a magician would have power over him since he is a fairy. Although the clues were there. I really love this consistency. (hide spoiler)]