Anne Deschaine reviewed Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke
Okay
3 stars
I'm giving three stars because Bookwyrm doesn't do fractions, and I appreciated the author's essay at the end (and I LOVE Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell). But this was underwhelming for me. I don't know why, but I didn't expect such a Christian bent. Despite it being in a fairy tale or fable mode, the language felt almost childishly simple. I wish I'd seen it in its original context first, because in codex form it seemed awkwardly short (and because the Christian theme probably had a more Christmassy context elsewhere). There were lightly tantalizing hints of the JS&MN world, but, to my view, they went nowhere equivalent. It was odd that she used the closing essay to insist that the story took place in John Uskglass' kingdom. The story itself could have been anywhere.
I expect some fans of Clarke will be very pleased, and that's great! Maybe I'll go …
I'm giving three stars because Bookwyrm doesn't do fractions, and I appreciated the author's essay at the end (and I LOVE Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell). But this was underwhelming for me. I don't know why, but I didn't expect such a Christian bent. Despite it being in a fairy tale or fable mode, the language felt almost childishly simple. I wish I'd seen it in its original context first, because in codex form it seemed awkwardly short (and because the Christian theme probably had a more Christmassy context elsewhere). There were lightly tantalizing hints of the JS&MN world, but, to my view, they went nowhere equivalent. It was odd that she used the closing essay to insist that the story took place in John Uskglass' kingdom. The story itself could have been anywhere.
I expect some fans of Clarke will be very pleased, and that's great! Maybe I'll go read Piranesi for the first time instead. Or go back and re-read Jonathan Strange.
