Thursday, October 18, 2012

Review of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.


(Summary from GoodReads)

I’ve never had particularly strong feelings about the circus or circus-related book.  But a magical circus?  One that’s described in writing so delicious that I would probably drop everything and go there in a heart beat?  Why, that sounded delightful.  Although I was a little dubious about The Night Circus at first, once tons of great reviews came pouring in, I knew I had to read it.  Morgenstern’s novel is like a rich, chocolate dessert that surprised and enraptured me until the very last bite.

The Night Circus won’t be the book for everyone.  It’s rather whimsical and dreamy, and some people dislike those qualities in books.  Clearly, I am not one of those people.  The small problem I did have with this book is that it’s a little bit hard to keep track of where and when everything is set.  Once I got the hang of it, I loved this book.

As I write this review, I’m realizing why the world Morgenstern built is the backbone of this story, and why that’s the case for so many other worlds and novels as well.  The atmosphere in The Night Circus is done so well that not only did I want to go there, but I understood why the characters were so attached to it.  I understood the agony of their decisions and why the stakes were so high.  Yes, I needed to know what happened, but I also wanted to drink in everything I could of Morgenstern’s world.

Several readers have stated that Morgenstern’s novel is perfect for when you’re in the mood for a slower read, and I have to agree. Even though I wanted to know what happens to everyone, The Night Circus begged to be savored, partially because I didn’t want it to end. If you’re looking for a book that’s a little bit different but filled with magic, The Night Circus is a must read.

Disclosure: I purchased a copy of this book.

2 comments:

  1. YES YES YES The Night Circus is totally one of those books you have to read slowly and savor to truly appreciate.

    Reply
  2. Hi, cool review! Here's mine if you don't mind: http://lorxiebookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-night-circus-by-erin-morgenstern.html

    Thanks and have a very nice day! :)

    Reply

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