From the Bookshelf of Challenge Corner…

The Night Circus

Erin Morgenstern

Start date: January 1, 2020

Finish date: January 31, 2020

Discussion: Book of the Month

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What Members Thought

Dec 12, 2012 Aly rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance, audiobook, 2019, fantasy, 2013, 2021, favorite-reads

I loved this even more the second time through. I was much less confused since I knew what was happening, especially about the time skips. I listened to the audiobook and Jim Dale is an incredible narrator, definitely my favorite.
The story is so magical and painted beautifully. I really feel like I got a sense of what the circus is and looks like and I wish it were real so I could be a groupie and follow it around always. Bailey is my favorite character because he's just a regular boy who loves ...more

14 likes · Like · see review

Jan 25, 2020 C.P. Cabaniss rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

"The circus arrives without warning."

I've heard a lot of things about this book, most of them good. I liked it from the very beginning, enjoying it more and more as I read it. I liked the mysterious aspect of the competition, the descriptive writing that made me feel like I was there at the circus, and the nonlinear timeline that wove itself together slowly.

The ending was a bit lacking for me, however. Not what happened, but somewhat how it all came together and the pace. It felt too fast fo ...more

11 likes · Like · see review

Nov 04, 2019 TheYALibrarian marked it as did-not-finish

Shelves: dnf

DNF 20%

I unfortunately just have to put this down I'm so bored and have many other books to get to. Might return to this but we'll see... ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Jun 07, 2019 Brittany Kollenberg rated it liked it

I have such mixed reviews on this book. I captured me within the first few sentences and I couldn't get enough. I was surprised because I didn't really expect this book to be about a challenge. It took me forever to finish because there were just some parts of it that were so boring. By the end I was so excited to read more about Celia and Marco's relationship. I honestly think my favorite part of this book was Bailey's stories. He seemed to experience the circus in the most magical way. This bo ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Oct 18, 2018 Roxanne rated it did not like it

Shelves: _audiobooks, _dnf, _long-reads

Great writing, but too much flowery language and description with not enough plot for my liking. I can’t bear to finish it unfortunately...

3 likes · Like · see review

Apr 22, 2019 Lee rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

The circus appears from out of no where. Celia and Marco have been trained to be part of this circus since their young childhood. They are in a competition against each other, the circus is where they can showcase their imagination and showcase their creativity to win. But, neither knows that to win, one of them must die.

The Night Circus has a promising summary and has sparkling reviews to boot and while I could see the wonder and beauty in it, it didn't entirely work for me. The story line was ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Nov 12, 2015 Natasha Morris rated it it was amazing

Shelves: library, ya

"Not one of them even has an inkling of the things that are possible in this world, and what's worse is that none of them would listen if you attempted to enlighten them.They want to believe that magic is nothing but clever deception, because to think it real would keep them up at night, afraid of their own existence." (380)

Im a sucker for books involving magic and this one definitely satisfied that thirst. Interesting plot with captivating characters and fresh interpretation of how magic is tra ...more

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Feb 26, 2013 Ellen-Arwen Tristram rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: reread, gifts

Brilliant, brilliant book. Can't express how much I loved it. This was actually a large part of me getting back into reading properly again, as I have managed to do successfully after a good 5-6 years of barely reading 3 or 4 books a year. Magical realism at its best - beautifully constructed, convoluted and executed. Looking out for more by Morgenstern. ...more

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Jan 13, 2018 Jenner rated it really liked it

Shelves: z2018, stand-alone

It was such an unusual fantasy book for me and I really enjoyed it. My favorite chapter was when the grey man and Widget conversed. I thought the game ended in a rather way after so much build up but I liked what happened to the circus.

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