Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.
I came upon this book in a strange way, which, given its title and its contents, seems actually to be the only appropriate way for it.
Several years ago @maggie-stiefvater mentioned something of this book on her tumblr that peaked my interest. I went looking for the book and couldn’t find it. I looked and looked to no avail. Eventually I went on to other literary endeavors and forgot about it until I heard someone mention a TV show by the same name. The show proved much easier to find and Austin and I binge watched it in a weekend. I loved it: the tone of it, the imagery, the everything. The spark was reignited and I resumed my search for the book, scouring every bookstore on the island from my favourite little independent shop in Kailua to the collassal Barnes & Nobles in town. This second search was more fervent than the first, but it’s result was the same.
A couple of years passed, during which we moved back to the mainland and I got a job at a bookstore in town. I hadn’t thought about the evasive Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell in a very long time. Then, one morning as I was strolling aimlessly on the internet I saw a quote from the infamous book. At first the thought of resuming the search anew was exhausting, but then I remembered: online! Book Depository!
The simplicity of the solution was infuriating but I resigned to buy it when I got home from work, and set off for the bookstore.
I arrived at work and went through the usual motions: hang up my jacket, find a couple square inches of space to set down my coffee, catch up briefly with my co worker.
“Don’t mind the book on the counter,” she called from behind a shelf, “some kid just came in here and wanted to sell it. I told him we only accept books as donation or trade credit and he just left it on the counter and ran off!”
I finished stowing my things under the register and stood up to see the book she was talking about.
I nearly spit out my mouthful of coffee.
Sitting on the counter, gleaming under the lamp like a spotlight sat a book of pure black with gold writing.
turnnoffyourmind
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izzy806
