The Night Circus in Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge

Jan 04, 2013 Donna rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

I brought this book home from the library several tines, but only when facing a book discussion on it could I bring myself to read it. What was I thinking? This is a wonderful book that I would classify as magical realism and is set primarily in London during the 1870s through 1903. I could see a movie made of this book in a somewhat steampunky style.

The focus of the story is the "Circus of Dreams" which appears unexpectedly in various locations around the world and is only open at night. I foun ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Dec 06, 2014 Kristen rated it liked it

Shelves: magical-realism, 2014

“Now the circus is open. Now you may enter.”

I am not entirely sure what I think about this book. It was not quite what I expected, though I am not sure what I expected in the first place. The plot was intricate and complex and well executed, though it was a little slow for my taste. The writing, however, was some of the most lush, vivid, gorgeous that I have ever encountered. That alone was enough to keep me reading.

The basic plot revolves around a challenge between two long-time rivals. They c “Now the circus is open. Now you may enter.”

I am not entirely sure what I think about this book. It was not quite what I expected, though I am not sure what I expected in the first place. The plot was intricate and complex and well executed, though it was a little slow for my taste. The writing, however, was some of the most lush, vivid, gorgeous that I have ever encountered. That alone was enough to keep me reading.

The basic plot revolves around a challenge between two long-time rivals. They choose students to train to play out the challenge, almost totally ignorant of any rules or guidelines for carrying out the challenge, or even that there is a game at all. It can last for years, and ends when only one is left alive. The venue for the newest challenge is, of course, the night circus. The circus comes to a town unannounced, seemingly out of nowhere, operates only at night, stays an unadvertised length of time, then leaves as suddenly and mysteriously as it appeared. It is an experience of almost sinister sensation and desire, and unquestionably of magic. It seemed like a blend of carnival, old fashioned magic shows, and freakshows, with Victorian overtones of séance and death-obsession.

Marco and Celia are the players in this challenge, and they work around each other for years through the venue of the night circus. Their experiences and creations are beloved by the patrons of the circus. Yet despite their central role to the story, they felt somewhat shallow to me, in need of actual character development rather than magical skills development. I have read some reviews that suggest this is intentional, that they are more focused on the challenge itself and surviving it, and so are stunted and distant as human beings. Perhaps that is the case. If so, I would have liked it if that was made more clear, because as it is, they feel flat and one-dimensional to me rather than emotionally stunted.

The supporting characters are more well developed, with some shining more brightly. The twins, Bailey, the man in grey, and Propsero are among the more well developed figures. I was pleased with the role the twins grew into as the novel advanced.

What kept me reading was the language. As I said, this novel had some of the most amazing descriptive writing I’ve ever read. It is sumptuous and vibrant and alive. I can see the various acts in the tents, hear the sounds, smell the caramel apples and popcorn and cider. A perfumer should get busy creating the scents described in the circus: “…you can smell caramel wafting through the evening breeze, beneath the crisp scent of the autumn leaves. A subtle sweetness at the edges of the cold,” “…the smoke of a roaring fire, and a hint of snow and roasting chestnuts. … There is the aroma of mulled wine and sugared candy, peppermint and pipe smoke. The crisp pine scent of a fir tree. The wax of dripping candles.” “A rosebush full of dew-dripping blossoms, the mossy smell of garden dirt. … there are other flowers along with the roses: lilies and irises and crocuses.” “The scent of rose and ice and sugar.” These are just a small sampling of the scents described throughout the novel. The scents are all associated with events or people or places and become part of the narrative themselves, a sort of shadow character we never see but which is present all the same. What perfumer wouldn’t find inspiration in these pages?

If done very carefully, this could make a good movie, and it seems that it is indeed going to become a film. I do not know how a film could ever capture all the imagery and scents depicted on the page, though. It may be a visually stunning film, but still something important will be lost. Unless they film it on smell-o-vision.

Overall, while I am conflicted about my thoughts on The Night Circus, I would still recommend it to anyone who enjoys magical realism, beautiful writing, and quasi-carniepunkvictorian themes.
...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jun 18, 2018 Cas rated it it was amazing

I only got 19% of the way through this book the first time I read it before dnf-ing it. When I found out this is one of my sister's favorite books, we decided to read it together. she reads aloud to me, as I have low vision and often consume books on audio. here's hoping that I like it better this time! ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 27, 2012 Kate rated it it was ok

Really, I'd probably give it 2.5, but that's not an option and I'm not feeling generous. Those two stars go for the fact that I definitely did get absorbed in the book, and tore through it in a matter of days (it is YA fiction for a reason). It's got an interesting and creative style.

The missing stars were lost to pretty poor character development and a lame ending. It's a very visual book, with lots of descriptive passages, and the result - for me - is that it's a very superficial one. I didn't ...more

Like · see review

Oct 13, 2013 Emily Williams rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Read this on a transatlantic flight and wanted to share it with the whole plane once I finished - I was that captivated by The Night Circus. This book is full of enchantment and described a world I want to witness firsthand. I laughed, I cried, I smiled to myself as I read this delightful, magical tale. Beautiful book.

Like · see review

Jul 23, 2012 Laura rated it liked it

Shelves: 2012

Lovely, quick, pleasant read. Felt the same way as I felt after The Time Traveler's Wife, though--kind of like a sugar headache, but after reading? Didn't have enough threat, bite, or oomph to live up to all its hype. Still, better than Water for Elephants, and better than lots of for-women crap I've read this year. ...more

Like · see review

Dec 30, 2013 Rossie rated it really liked it

I listened to this as an audio book, which sometimes made following the timeline a little bit tricky, which was a little bit annoying, which was really my biggest complaint about the book. Well-written whimsical literary fantasy.

Like · see review