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32 comment(s)
couldnt finish. did not enjoy
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 book
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.
Gorgeous.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Atmosphere
