"Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell"

This past year, in addition to other overly ambitious things, I've been writing a book. I've been working on it during my long train commute between Providence and Boston, one hour each way, and it has gotten pretty darn long. It's also set in a mythical world and largely written in the form of a folk tale, which puts it pretty much outside the mainstream of serious modern fiction.

Long books, from what I've read, are frowned on by publishers, especially when submitted by a first-time author. Because of this I've been feeling more and more hopeless as the thing expanded past 100,000 words (the maximum length for an acceptable novel). Not that I counted on getting it published, but it was nice to think that at least I had an outside chance.

Then, a few weeks ago, I picked up the best-selling "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell" by first-timer Susanna Clarke. It's 800 pages long. It's also about magic and is written in the style of Jane Austen. Pure escapism, but not trashy and not aimed at the typical fantasy reader. Somehow, though, she got it published and it became a fantastic best-seller.

I feel a real affinity for this book, especially for its flaws. It doesn't have a barreling plot that keeps you turning pages – something I could never manage. Instead it keeps you interested with its details and embellishments. The characters and their machinations aren't terribly compelling, but they are a pleasure to read about. Towards the end of the book she tries to do that thing that modern novels do, which is to bring all the threads of the plot together into what is supposed to be an exciting climax, but here she fails because the threads weren't set up or followed all that well to begin with. No big deal, as far as I'm concerned.

I've grown up reading old-fashioned literature that starts slowly and meanders a lot. That stuff was meant for a public with a longer attention span and not much else, besides books, competing for their leisure time. It's good to know that some things haven't changed. While people in the publishing and entertainment worlds seem to firmly believe that you have to treat your audience like hyperactive six-year-olds, books like "Jonathan Strange" prove them wrong.

I wonder if this will make any difference to what kinds of books or movies get made.

(For anyone who has read and enjoyed "Jonathan Strange", John Crowley's "Little, Big" is a great book in the same vein.) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060937939/qid=1137985724/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/102-2180774-3810513?s=books&v=glance&n=283155