Sign in with FacebookMaggie Stiefvater's Reviews > The Night Circus
The Night Circus
by Erin Morgenstern
by Erin Morgenstern
Five Things About THE NIGHT CIRCUS.
Ordinarily when I do my recommendations, I do a “five reasons to read _____,” but I think opinions will be so divided on THE NIGHT CIRCUS that I think “things about” will be more useful.
1. This novel is not what it says it is. Well, back page copy is always a weird thing anyway, as it’s not written by the author. And a weirder thing because it is essentially a glamour shot of the novel. It is not a lie. But it isn’t really what the novel looks like when it’s wandering around in its bathrobe getting coffee and trying to figure out if that smell is coming from the kitchen sink disposal or under the table. The resemblance is always a bit sketchy. THE NIGHT CIRCUS’ resemblance to its cover copy is sketchier than most.
2. This novel is about a thing. It has people in it, too, but it is mostly about a thing, the eponymous circus. It’s told in third person omniscient, which means it sounds like God is narrating the thing, if God decided he really loved black and white tents and fancy umbrellas. The voice that narrates this book is interested in humans, too, but mostly about how humans make the circus and the circus’ magic interesting.
3. This is not a romance. There is a love story in it, which is good, because love makes the world go round, but it is not a romance. If you go in imagining to be swept off your feet from page one, you can keep on imagining. The novel starts before our lovebirds have hit puberty, so you’re going to have to imagine for quite awhile.
4. The circus is not really a circus. This is fine by me, because I actually don’t care for circuses. They smell, the animals always have that look of dubious maltreatment, no, I don’t want to win a prize by shooting that thing off that other thing over there, and also, clowns look a little grubby to me. No, the Night Circus is a circus in the respect that there are tents, and there are performers, and some of them are acrobats. Mostly it is a place where pretty, pretty magic is passed off as illusion so that us muggles won’t be scared by it. I’d go to that circus.
5. This is not a thriller. This is a not an action-packed adventure. It’s not even a simmering revenge or bubbling rivalry novel. It is a novel about a thing, with love in it, and it spans over a decade. If you have a problem with that idea, it’s best you walk away now. But if you like Ann Patchett or Audrey Niffeneggar novels, or if you really thought JONATHAN STRANGE & MR. NORRELL was the bee’s knees, well. WELL. You have just found your next read. Enjoy. I did.
Ordinarily when I do my recommendations, I do a “five reasons to read _____,” but I think opinions will be so divided on THE NIGHT CIRCUS that I think “things about” will be more useful.
1. This novel is not what it says it is. Well, back page copy is always a weird thing anyway, as it’s not written by the author. And a weirder thing because it is essentially a glamour shot of the novel. It is not a lie. But it isn’t really what the novel looks like when it’s wandering around in its bathrobe getting coffee and trying to figure out if that smell is coming from the kitchen sink disposal or under the table. The resemblance is always a bit sketchy. THE NIGHT CIRCUS’ resemblance to its cover copy is sketchier than most.
2. This novel is about a thing. It has people in it, too, but it is mostly about a thing, the eponymous circus. It’s told in third person omniscient, which means it sounds like God is narrating the thing, if God decided he really loved black and white tents and fancy umbrellas. The voice that narrates this book is interested in humans, too, but mostly about how humans make the circus and the circus’ magic interesting.
3. This is not a romance. There is a love story in it, which is good, because love makes the world go round, but it is not a romance. If you go in imagining to be swept off your feet from page one, you can keep on imagining. The novel starts before our lovebirds have hit puberty, so you’re going to have to imagine for quite awhile.
4. The circus is not really a circus. This is fine by me, because I actually don’t care for circuses. They smell, the animals always have that look of dubious maltreatment, no, I don’t want to win a prize by shooting that thing off that other thing over there, and also, clowns look a little grubby to me. No, the Night Circus is a circus in the respect that there are tents, and there are performers, and some of them are acrobats. Mostly it is a place where pretty, pretty magic is passed off as illusion so that us muggles won’t be scared by it. I’d go to that circus.
5. This is not a thriller. This is a not an action-packed adventure. It’s not even a simmering revenge or bubbling rivalry novel. It is a novel about a thing, with love in it, and it spans over a decade. If you have a problem with that idea, it’s best you walk away now. But if you like Ann Patchett or Audrey Niffeneggar novels, or if you really thought JONATHAN STRANGE & MR. NORRELL was the bee’s knees, well. WELL. You have just found your next read. Enjoy. I did.
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Darcey
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rated it 5 stars
Dec 05, 2011 06:04pm
I finished this recently, and liked it more than I expected to (enough that I nearly thrust the Kindle at my husband and said "READ IT SO YOU CAN HAVE YOUR STUDENTS READ IT OVER THE WINTER", in that very loud caps-lock sort of voice). The characterization was good, and even knowing what we do, as the reader, that the characters do not know--there were still moments of suspense and moments of "Well, how will -this- work out, then?". It also had at least one or two "I did not see -that- coming" moments, which also always make for good reads.
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Excellent review. This book enchanted me, and not many books are capable of that. I read it on my Kindle, but love it so much that I had to own a tangible copy. My love is further evidenced by the fact that I ordered a UK edition because it's oh-so-pretty. An amazing story with amazing imagery.
You got my attention. I loved Jonathan Strange and also The Time Traveler's Wife, so it sounds like I should pick this one up. Thx!
I think I read too much into the hype... it was not what I expected, and although I liked it... I also didn't like it. I think it wasn't exactly my cup of tea (or Diet Pepsi, as the case may be), I think I need a bit more people in my reading material... I agree with you on every count, though.
I did love this book but I felt the characters we lifeless, nothing more than words on a page. How did you feel about the characters? I would love a writers opinion on it.
will buy it next month..heard lot's of great review about this title....plus it's one of the fast selling novel in my local bookstore...
My friend managed to snag the ARC at work and of course fell in love. She let me borrow it and you know how that goes. Can't wait to read her version of Alice.
Read it based upon your recommendation, Maggie. I found it intriguing and delightful in general, although some parts made me gasp, internally. Our fragile physical existence is something I tend to ponder. This book gave wings to my belief, I.e. hope, that we are, perhaps, inextricably tethered to people and places both known and unknown. It was a delightful dream.
Oh yes, I do agree. I loved it, but i was not what I expected and I do wish there'd been more romance, mystery, and more action. But then again, it was wonderful as it was.
This book is truly great, you are right about it not being a romance which is my type of reading, but the words mesmerized me into turning the nest page, it had no real action but I felt suspense, then there was the question of "who would win?" and I admit it I sort of expected them both not wanting the other to loose, but in the end I think Erin M. executed it perfectly although I don't exactly understand the meaning of 'separating' or 'erasing' yourself form the world and what the boundaries are, but it will always keep me in thought of the possibilities of their powers.
