Jonathon Strange and Mr. Norrel

This book, by Susanna Clarke, has long been hailed by critics and writers alike as a fantasy classic. I've always ignored it, however, but I don't know why - perhaps its sheer size daunted me, but I doubt it :p

In any case, I just recently picked it up in a bookstore and I'm kicking myself for ignoring it for so long. It's really rather brilliant, and yet, its taking me an age to read! Mind you, I read 1000-page fantasy books all the time and I can usually do it in a day or two, max, but this one, with its quaint English charm and quaint English tone is proving hard to digest.

I love it, but I think its impossible to read quickly. I actually think its better to read in pieces, over a long winter perhaps.

Any thoughts on it? Has anyone finished it?