I am faced with a dilemma.
Susanna Clarke is my favorite living author, though the “living” bit is a rather unnecessary qualifier these days. For Father’s Day this past year, Lauryn preordered me a gorgeous illustrated edition of her new short story The Wood at Midwinter, set in the same world as The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories and Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell.
But now I must decide whether to shelve it like an aging wine or devour it like dark chocolate. Winter, of course, is the most appropriate season for reading Susanna Clarke (and also, as it happens, for Susan Cooper), but should I reread the related works first? I was already planning on rereading them in the coming months, and I’m inclined in that direction, but that plan has the distinct disadvantage of making me wait.
On the other hand, her work tends to deepen with each new read. So perhaps I ought to read it now, then again in the winter, after I’ve reacquainted myself with the others. But still, there’s nothing like your first time . . .
Luke Wildman 