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The Night Circus

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The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is a magical tale set in a mysterious circus that appears at night, showcasing wonders and illusions that captivate visitors. The story revolves around two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who are pawns in a larger game orchestrated by their mentors. As the competition unfolds, the circus becomes the stage for their magical duel, intertwining their fates and the lives of those around them. The narrative weaves together elements of mystery, romance, and fantasy, creating a dreamlike atmosphere that transports readers to a world filled with enchantment and intrigue.

The writing style of The Night Circus is described as rich in imagery, with vivid descriptions that bring the circus to life in the reader's mind. The book is praised for its unique structure, alternating between different points of view and time frames, creating a sense of fluidity and adding depth to the storytelling. Despite some opinions noting the complexity of the plot and characters, the book is commended for its imaginative world-building, engaging prose, and the magical love story between Celia and Marco that unfolds amidst the backdrop of the enchanting circus.

Characters:

The characters, including Celia and Marco as central figures, are richly developed despite some perceived flatness, with supporting characters like Poppet, Widget, and Bailey adding depth to the narrative.

Writing/Prose:

Erin Morgenstern's writing style is distinguished by its lyrical, vivid descriptions that create an immersive and dreamlike atmosphere throughout the novel.

Plot/Storyline:

The Night Circus tells the story of Celia and Marco, two young magicians bound in a mysterious competition set in a magical circus. Their journey intertwines love and rivalry as they navigate the complexities of their duel.

Setting:

The setting of Le Cirque des R ves is a beautifully described magical circus that captivates both the characters and the readers, with a historical backdrop in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Pacing:

The pacing is slow and deliberate, focusing on detailed descriptions and character interactions, but it accelerates toward the end, adding excitement and resolution.
The man billed as Prospero the Enchanter receives a fair amount of correspondence via the theater office, but this is the first envelope addressed to him that contains a suicide note, and it is also t...

Notes:

The Night Circus features a circus that appears without warning and is only open at night.
Celia Bowen and Marco Alisdair are trained as magicians from childhood for a secret competition.
The competition between Celia and Marco takes place within the Night Circus, which is a magical venue.
The story is told through multiple perspectives and time periods.
The circus includes magical attractions like an ice garden and a wishing tree.
There is a group of devoted fans of the circus known as 'reveurs.'
The narrative includes a unique second-person perspective at the beginning of some chapters.
Erin Morgenstern's writing style is often described as lyrical and poetic, evoking strong imagery.

Has Romance?

The Night Circus contains a high level of romance between the main characters, Celia and Marco.

From The Publisher:

The circus arrives without warning. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Against the grey sky the towering tents are striped black and white. A sign hanging upon iron gates reads:

Opens at Nightfall

Closes at Dawn

As dusk shifts to twilight, tiny lights begin to flicker all over the tents, as though the whole circus is covered in fireflies. When the tents are aglow, sparkling against the night sky, the sign lights up:

Le Cirque des Rêves

The Circus of Dreams

The gates shudder and unlock, seemingly by their own volition.

They swing outward, inviting the crowd inside.

Now the circus is open.

Now you may enter.

Discover this amazing fantasy read with a different kind of magic.

The Starless Sea, the second novel from the author of the The Night Circus, is out now.

'The only response to this novel is simply: wow. It is a breathtaking feat of imagination, a flight of fancy that pulls you in and wraps you up in its spell' The Times

Ratings (587)

Incredible (113)
Loved It (202)
Liked It (117)
It Was OK (78)
Did Not Like (63)
Hated It (14)

Reader Stats (1195):

Read It (585)
Currently Reading (7)
Want To Read (443)
Did Not Finish (53)
Not Interested (107)

21 comment(s)

Incredible
3 weeks

This book absolutely mesmerized me. It was like a beautiful, lyrical, wondrous dream. I was enchanted by the characters and fell in love with each of them in turn (except perhaps the two master magicians.) I think my favorites were the twins: Widget & Poppet (nicknames, not real names.)

I was so absorbed in the story that I've been having trouble focusing on the real world now that it's over. I'm still thinking about the book. In fact, I don't even want to start a new book because I'm still pondering.

The characters were wonderful. The plot was mystical and absorbing. The writing was descriptive and rich.

My only teeny-tiny beef was really my own fault. I didn't pay attention to the dates at the top of each chapter. I just assumed the chapters were in chronological order. They weren't. I was really confused for a few chapters until I realized that the timeline was jumping around a bit.

 
Incredible
3 weeks

Incredible book

 
Loved It
1 month

I was surprised by this book honestly. I didn’t think it was going to be as good as it was. I think some people might be upset by what could be seen as a lack of depth in the characters, or by the sort of ethereal floating quality of the plot but I think it’s sort of the point. It’s this contemporary magical realism that feels like a dream itself.

I read most of this but also bought the audiobook. I wish it had not been narrated by Jim Dale who I can only ever associate with Harry Potter.

 
Incredible
2 months

Gorgeous.

 
Loved It
2 months

I believe I would have given this five stars if I had read it slower and allowed the structure of the novel to resonate with me more. Morgenstern is very concerned with time here, and the sections jump forward and backward. This is a lovely novel about the power of community, love, and choice to change one's destiny. Celia and Marco, both magicians, are meant to play against each other in a game set up by their patrons. Unfortunately, after they meet they fall in love and are more inclined to work together, building Le Cirque du Reves for each other even though they are almost never together. I love that Celia is the stronger of the pair, and her moment of doubt. There's a whiff of orientalism around Tsukiko, the Japanese contortionist, which is unpleasant but that might be me being sensitive. Overall I would recommend this to anyone looking for a coming of age story, a love story, a fantasy, or just a book with some awesome ideas in it.

 
It Was OK
2 months

3.5 more than 3. I went back and forth on it. It was a bit slow but had a certain whimsical atmosphere which I often enjoyed.

 
Incredible
3 months

I love love love this book! I can't think of many books where the story is really about the setting, but that's how this one feels to me--there are very few places in fiction that I want to visit more than the Night Circus. Morgenstern's beautiful writing style works perfectly for this story.

 
Liked It
3 months

I'm not sure what to write about this book.

The vast majority of the time I was reading it, I was annoyed.

Oh great, here's another 1000 pages describing the Goth circus....yippee

Every time I picked it up, I fell asleep! Seriously started to wonder if the "magic" of the book was not in its ability to put me straight to sleep, faster than a lullaby.

It took me forever to read, and nothing really happens. But it is beautiful writing and imagery and I stuck with it, even through the dreamlike stupor-like descriptions. So there's that. 3 stars because I did not give up. If you like a book that is all self-indulgent adjectives and no plot or characterization, then this one is for you! Oh yes, and the author chose to hide the fact that there was no plot by subjecting the reader to constant date/narrator/locale changes that also served no purpose whatsoever.

Hmm, maybe this is a 2.....

But I really really liked the premise of the Night Circus and kept hoping something would happen to save this book for me.

Gah!

 
Incredible
3 months

Atmosphere

 
Incredible
4 months

The imagery in this is one of a kind! If you like sitting down for long reads and enthralling tales, The Night Circus is the book for you!

 
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About the Author:

Erin Morgenstern is the author of The Night Circus, a bestseller that has enchanted readers around the world and has been translated into thirty-seven languages. She has a degree in Theatre from Smith College, an ever-growing collection of jewellery made from skeleton keys, and a cat on her lap. She lives in Massachusetts. www.erinmorgenstern.com

 
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