The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern: Book Review

The Night Circus | Erin Morgenstern | Blog
Publisher: Doubleday | Published: September 1, 2011
Genre: Literary Fiction | 400 pages | ISBN: 9780385534635

 from Goodreads ~

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. 

I have struggled back and forth with what I wanted to say regarding The Night Circus and what I did not want to say; however, I knew I just had to say something at least.

I read in a magazine somewhere that The Night Circus is "Harry Potter for adults." It is not.

It is magical realism at its best. A dream-like state throughout the novel that captures one from the first paragraph:

The circus arrives without warning.
     No announcements precede it, no paper notices on downtown posts and billboards, no mentions or advertisements in local newspapers. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. (p. 3)

There are moments The Night Circus shines as bright as the silvery slip of a moon you imagine hanging over the midnight show. For example the imagery of the magic used to create the circus illusions are so achingly beautiful, I longed to jump into the pages myself and be a participant.

One of my favorite magical tents was the "The Pool of Tears"

The sign outside this tent is accompanied by a small box full of smooth black stones. The text instructs you to take one with you as you enter.
     Inside, the tent is dark, the ceiling covered with open black umbrellas, the curving handles hanging down like icicles.
     In the center of the room there is a pool. A pond enclosed within a black stone wall that is surrounded by white gravel.....
     Memories begin to creep forward from hidden corners of your mind. Passing disappointments. Lost chances and lost causes. Heartbreaks and pain and desolate, horrible loneliness.
     Sorrows you thought long forgotten mingle with still-fresh wounds.
     The stone feels heavier in your hand.
     When you drop it in the pool to join the rest of the stones, you feel lighter. As though you have released something more than a smooth polished piece of rock. (p. 282)

 But....

The epic romance that is hailed to occur between Celia and Marco - well, I just did not feel it.  It may just be me. Perhaps I am simply not a magical, romantic-y girl - but I simply could not connect with either main character and the "love" each had for the other.  It felt contrived, forced.  Rather than the characters slowly building a love for each other that is "shown" to us through actions we are "told" through the statements of the characters.  (and that's not true...I am a magical, romantic-y girl...love, love, love that stuff!)

And that's probably the largest complaint I have with the entire novel - it progresses through the dialogue rather than actual character action or development.  I so wanted to fall in love with the characters but it was difficult to become emotionally involved with the story as I could not connect to really anyone - no one was "real."  

I take that back - the largest complaint is that we're told to expect a "fierce competition," battle to the death.  I think somewhere in the beauty of the magical tents, I missed the competition.  Celia works diligently from inside the middle of the circus performing her feats of wonder while Marco performs from afar in London.  Not only does this make for difficulties falling in love, but the "fierce competition" is well, simply just not there.

Erin Morgenstern deserves numerous accolades for her inventive descriptions of the magical tents, dinners and creativity the magicians were able to incorporate into the circus.  For the beauty and imagination of the circus alone The Night Circus wins all around.  For character development and love stories, you may want to look elsewhere.

Please tell me what you thought about The Night Circus ~ did you read it? Love it? Hate it? Why? What do you think of the cover? Which one do you like better ~ the man & lady or the clock that plays a figurative role in the book?

Also, would you like my gently read Advanced Readers Copy? Please leave your email address in the comment section along with which cover you prefer.  I will give away The Night Circus ARC on November 30th.  Entries are closed at 11:59 p.m. on November 29th.

Erin Morgenstern's site is worth the few moments to check out - even the name is whimsical and unique "erin's emporium of discount dreams and well-worn wonders" She is both artist and writer, living in Salem, Massachusetts. Her flickr.photstream can be viewed here.  Her life appears to revolve around copious amounts of red wine, tea and fairy tales ~ now that is what I call living!

A billion thanks to the exceptionally kind rep at Doubleday who had mercy upon me at BEA 

and sent me a complimentary copy of The Night Circus.

Enjoy Your Day!