From the Bookshelf of Crazy Challenge Connection…

The Night Circus

Erin Morgenstern

Start date: April 1, 2012

Finish date: April 30, 2012

Why we're reading this: Book of the Month - April 2012
Discussion to follow in May 2012
[close] Book of the Month - April 2012
Discussion to follow in May 2012

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Nov 21, 2012 Book Concierge rated it really liked it

Shelves: concierge, strong-women, library, romance, book-club, audio, sfe, 19th-century, magic

Audio book performed by Jim Dale

The circus arrives without notice. Clad entirely in black and white, the tents materialize overnight. While it is in the vicinity patrons flock to its gates, open only from nightfall to dawn. Yet this strange colorless world within the iron fence is vibrant and alive. The public is enchanted and awed by the spectacle of acrobats, fortune tellers, an ice garden and the beautiful illusionist. What the public doesn’t know is that the circus is but a venue for a deca Audio book performed by Jim Dale

The circus arrives without notice. Clad entirely in black and white, the tents materialize overnight. While it is in the vicinity patrons flock to its gates, open only from nightfall to dawn. Yet this strange colorless world within the iron fence is vibrant and alive. The public is enchanted and awed by the spectacle of acrobats, fortune tellers, an ice garden and the beautiful illusionist. What the public doesn’t know is that the circus is but a venue for a decades-long competition pitting two fledgling magicians against one another. And the competitors, Celia and Marco, are themselves the puppets of two senior magicians, Hector and Alexander.

Morgenstern has created a unique world, and a love story that is infused with magic. To her credit she doesn’t overly explain the wonder, but allows the reader to experience the spectacle and fantasy on her own. It is a product of her imagination that fuels the reader’s own imagination. I didn’t think she really explored the love story very well; Celia and Marco have few scenes together and there is a palpable magnetism between them, but not very much basis for love. But this is a fantasy, a dream, a wish, an illusion. And while I agree with the character who warns “dreams can become nightmares,” I sure enjoyed living in this dream for a while.

Jim Dale is spectacular performing the audio book. My only complaint is that virtually everyone has a British accent (except for the Scottish twins and the German Mr Thiessen). Celia was raised in New York, and Bailey in Massachusetts, so their voices should have been more “American.” But that’s really a small complaint. I was skeptical going into the book. It’s not the genre I usually gravitate to and I was expecting that it would not live up to the hype. But Dale’s performance captured me at the outset and I happily followed his voice through this magical novel.

Oh, and while it has nothing at all to do with what is inside the covers, I just have to say that the publisher did a wonderful job of packaging this novel. The cover art is wonderful, the end papers and section separators add to the feeling that the reader has fallen into this world.
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Nov 19, 2012 Nancy Brady rated it really liked it

Shelves: book-exchange-library-group-read, library-book

It arrives without warning is how this novel begins. It is the magical, mystical story of a circus of dreams, but more than that it is the backdrop for the game started by two men. Binding two young people together in a contest not of their own making, they are intricately involved in it and all the persons connected with it. The outcome is unknown, but it is a fantasy worth reading.

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Sep 22, 2013 Nancy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I really loved this book, despite it taking me an inordinately long amount of time to read. There was so much detail to it though - it actually deserves a second read. I adored Celia, who is one of my favourite characters in recent books. The magic and the whole idea was fantastic - I can only admire the author's imagination. ...more

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Oct 03, 2014 Amy Hayes rated it liked it · review of another edition

An interesting and beautifully descriptive book. I'm glad I decided to listen to it on audio book because it never would have held my attention if I was reading it. Too many characters to keep straight and a lot of flip flopping between times. ...more

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Mar 27, 2020 Jessica rated it it was ok

Shelves: z-read-in-2020

I guessed reading the reviews that this book wouldn't be for me, and it was not my style. Yes, there is some very lovely writing in there but the third person omniscient, lack of strong plot or deep connection to characters, and even the romance that came out of nowhere weren't my cup of tea. I felt like maybe if the time was in order it might have been better for me. I did like how the ending tied all the ends together in a way that gave you a sense of the magical, I just wish it was more like ...more

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Aug 07, 2018 Kristin rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, stand-alones, read-in-2018

I purchased this book in London while studying abroad this summer and boy did I pick a good one. I've never read a book quite like it before. Highly recommend. ...more

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