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The Night Circus
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The Night Circus, By Erin Morgenstern, Part IV-V & Final Thoughts (Apr 2018)
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This was, as I noted in a different topic, my second reading of the book. My memory was that is the book was more magical reality than fantasy, but upon rereading the elements in the book seemed more like they belonged to fantasy, but the overall effect seemed more like magical realism. In particular, it seemed to have that dream-like quality that I associate with Gabriel García Márquez's work.
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I finished this one earlier this month and had never read it before. I enjoyed it as pure escapism. I thought it was worth reading, just for creativity involved. The phantasmagorical attractions were a delight and I tend to enjoy atmospheric writing, so that was a big plus.I wasn't crazy about the two main characters, and found the romance a bit lacking, though I am not much of a romance person anyway. I didn't quite get their mutual attraction. I found myself enjoying the supporting characters quite a bit, especially Poppet and Widget, the contortionist, and M. Lefèvre. I thought the midnight dinner parties were particularly well done.
As for Hector and Alexander, I viewed them as the villains of the piece. They are quite cruel to their students, as stated in an earlier thread. Maybe they had been around so long they just didn't have any emotions anymore?
I thought Tara's death was due to her retreating from involvement in the circus, thus losing its protective power. At the same time, the circus itself seemed to be losing some of its energy, compounding the effect. I was unclear as to whether she was murdered or just left unprotected and became distracted.
I didn’t care for the wildly jumping timelines, especially given the shortness of the chapters, but overall, I found it very entertaining and look forward to reading more from Morgenstern.
I gave it 4 stars for the creativity and entertainment value.
Interesting comments, Joy D. I agree about the romance. It felt more like respect or an understanding of each other. Poppet and Bailey's was the main romance for me--unique and kept me wondering what would happen.I read (in the posted background materials) that the reason for the jumping timelines was to introduce Bailey earlier than he would have come in chronologically. I didn't mind the jumping, but it seems like that could have been accomplished in a different way.
But for me, the jumping kind of added to the spell of the book. It felt like a looking at things from different angles.
I think the non-linear narrative added to the dream-like feel of the book (dreams don't necessarily run in a linear fashion), which I consider a good thing. I'm not sure the this feel was so much planned by the author as spontaneously emerged from the elements she used.
I loved this book!The imagery really grabbed me, and I wanted very much to be able to visit the circus.
I've read many comments here and elsewhere that the characters weren't developed enough. I think the characters were stand-ins for good and evil (black and white). Hector and Alexander - Evil/Black. Celia and Marco - Good/White.
And taking that a step further, I think the real battle was between Hector/Alexander representing Evil and Celia/Marco representing Good.
And Good prevailed in the end.
Well, wasn't this a bit of a whirlwind ending? While I am left with a plethora of questions, I would like to ask one in this thread because I'm unsure of what exactly was happening here...
It's a museum, Poppet says, overlaying the pieces in her mind and seeing where they match up with the building she has already seen in the stars. They are completely out of order, but is unmistakable. She pulls down a set of blueprints and switches it with another, arranging them story by story. I's not this building, she explains as Chandresh watches her curiously. It's a new one. She takes a series of doors, alternate versions of the same possible entrance, and lays them side by side along the floor, letting each lead to a different room.What exactly is it that is prompting this grin?
Chandresh watches as she rearranges the plans, a grin spreading across his face as he begins to see what she is doing (496).
Celia perfects Hector's enchantment, the lovers are reunited, the circus will continue under the helm of Bailey, Tsukiko ended up being a force to be reckoned with, Hector and Alexander have disappeared until the mood will strike them to set another wager, Poppet and Widget have matured...I was SO caught up in Parts IV and V, that everything I have taken issue with, once again, has fallen to the wayside; specifically, the simplicity with which the author ties up these loose ends. Did anybody feel they were given multiple presents wrapped up in pretty paper and bows, only to realize the gift was actually missing? For example, why was Bailey the one to take over the circus...just because Poppet saw it to be? I think there were too many moving parts, and Morgenstern lost control of some of what was not the circus. Xan Shadowflutter in the previous tent wrote in a comment, There's probably 10 sequels to this that could be written, and I happen to agree with him. I think the author should think about it, maybe take this macro narrative and write micro level sequels. I would read them!
In the end, I'm quite taken by The Night Circus , the mood is superbly manifested in the narrative, be it it's dream-like qualities, or the fantasy and magic associated with this mystery circus. The circus is a much welcomed character in its own right. Pleasantly unreal and totally dreamy...Well, worth the read. I give it three stars.
Peter wrote: "This was, as I noted in a different topic, my second reading of the book. My memory was that is the book was more magical reality than fantasy, but upon rereading the elements in the book seemed mo..."I see it faintly as a magical realism type novel. Yes, it's set in a realistic world, there is a dream like quality; but we spend more time in an unreal world surrounded by characteristics that defy reality. So, it renders itself, to me at least, as fantasy.
Gabriel G Márquez's words drip of honey, in general. LOL!
Casceil wrote: "I finished the book today. I loved it! I liked what the author did with the Merlin story. As is mentioned in the book, there are different versions of the story out there, but the common thread is ..."Oh, I loved the Merlin aspect as well; in fact, so much more than the affiliations with the Shakespeare pieces which read to me, cheesy (ergo, the one line about Hamlet on page 425...or the reference to As You Like It, on page 426.).
Joy D wrote: "I finished this one earlier this month and had never read it before. I enjoyed it as pure escapism. I thought it was worth reading, just for creativity involved. The phantasmagorical attractions we..."I enjoyed it as pure escapism. I thought it was worth reading, just for creativity involved.
Yes! And, YES!
Maybe they had been around so long they just didn't have any emotions anymore?
I was thinking they were narcissists, too in love with their own image and prowess...not needing much else to sustain themselves.
I was unclear as to whether she was murdered or just left unprotected and became distracted.
Perhaps, it was that she was creating an imbalance within the ranks asking all those questions; thus, creating a shift in the order of the circus. I do believe, Alexander took matters into his own hands and dealt with Tara in his wicked way. There were so many moving parts involved in the homeostasis of the circus, I'm sure there were other powers at play as well, Joy D.
I didn’t care for the wildly jumping timelines, especially given the shortness of the chapters, but overall, I found it very entertaining and look forward to reading more from Morgenstern.
At first, I thought it enhanced the dream-like quality of the narrative, but after Part II, I thought it just added more chaos...to the growing chaos in the story. :P
Kathleen wrote: "Interesting comments, Joy D. I agree about the romance. It felt more like respect or an understanding of each other. Poppet and Bailey's was the main romance for me--unique and kept me wondering wh..."Poppet and Bailey's was the main romance for me--unique and kept me wondering what would happen.
Yes, I too was curious about these two; to see if we would learn anything more about their relationship. They obviously were smitten with one another, Poppet's blushing at the mention of Bailey's name, or Bailey's nostalgia and sentimental value associated with Poppet...It was all rather sweet and innocent. I was looking forward to reading about how their relationship grew...alas, but to no avail.
But for me, the jumping kind of added to the spell of the book. It felt like a looking at things from different angles.
this is a good point, Kathleen.
Sue wrote: "I loved this book!The imagery really grabbed me, and I wanted very much to be able to visit the circus.
I've read many comments here and elsewhere that the characters weren't developed enough. I..."
I see this, the good vs evil approach. It was just too simple for me; the circus being quite intricate, we delved deep into the inner depths of it; yet, the characters, their dynamics with one another, it didn't live up to the imagery and mood Morgenstern describes in such rich detail since the beginning of the novel.
I'm glad you loved reading it. It really was quite exciting to read.
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For example, why was Bailey the one to take over the circus...just because Poppet saw it to be? "
I think Bailey was a key element in the structure of the book. The reason for jumping around in time, I thought, was so we could watch Bailey grow up. The whole thing with the tree he and siblings climbed was a tie to the circus, and the Merlin aspect. Bailey was the new generation to carry the circus forward into the future. He was destined to be Poppet's love and the future of the circus.
Casceil wrote: "Ami wrote: "Well, wasn't this a bit of a whirlwind ending? For example, why was Bailey the one to take over the circus...just because Poppet saw it to be? "
I think Bailey was a key element in ..."
How about I failed to recognize, equating the Merlin story to anybody or tree outside of the circus... Yes, Bailey’s acorn tree!
Along as we're talking Arthurian parallels, maybe Baily == Bedivere, the knight who was at Arthur's side at the end, before Arthur sails off for Avalon? Not really a close parallel I know, but as long as we're playing the game we might as well play it! But there isn't really an equivalent for Excalibur in there, is there?
Peter wrote: "Along as we're talking Arthurian parallels, maybe Baily == Bedivere, the knight who was at Arthur's side at the end, before Arthur sails off for Avalon? Not really a close parallel I know, but as l..."What about the ring, it binds him to the circus... as the sword did Arthur to Camelot? Is that stretching it?
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Sorry, I am in the minority (of one?) here - I didn't care about the characters very much and found this book both too lengthy and too shallow at the same time. I liked the symbolism, but I found the story to be a bit goal-less in the sense of why is there a competition at all? Why is the grey man playing along at all? How many iterations of this challenge have there been and why keep doing them? The explanation didn't seem sufficient. I am glad that most of you enjoyed the book - it is just not for me. I did tremendously enjoy the discussion threads, though :)
Kay wrote: "Sorry, I am in the minority (of one?) here - I didn't care about the characters very much and found this book both too lengthy and too shallow at the same time. I liked the symbolism, but I found t..."Apologies are not necessary. This is what makes for a great discussion!
"The Night Circus" isn't without fault, by any means. I also thought it was too simplistic, and shallow, regarding the aspects that weren't tent related. I see a great imbalance in the narrative, in quality, with the overall focus of the novel...The storylines for the characters didn't hold a candle to that of the circus or the dynamics within it. Attaching myths, folklore, even Shakespearean tragic elements to the characters helped to create a baseline for their trajectory, but when it's all you have to rely on, I would have been better off reading those myths, folklore and Shakespearean tragedies. :P So, "no," you're not alone. I just chose to focus on the elements I really enjoyed because I often get too "heady" about my reading; this book, for what it's worth, was enjoyable. Of course, it could have been better, but I took it for what it is...simply, fun.
I'm so glad you forged through, even when you had doubts about doing so. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your comments, and am happy to have had you on this train.
These are such excellent points. I too had questions about the competition, and found it all a little shallow. I got swept up in the atmosphere of this one though, and didn't care about much else. :-) Just fun, as you say, Ami. So much depends on what I'm in the mood for, and this just hit the spot.Comments from this thread helped me see symbolism I had missed, so thank you all for that!
So Hector was Alexander's first student, and they disagreed and separated, Alexander continuing with order, and Hector representing chaos? That, I guess, makes the challenges duels between chaos and order. Then Celia and Marco find a way to (eternally) maintain a balance between the two. No more challenges, and Alexander hints he is not too much longer for the world. Perhaps Hector too. (My imagination may not be as good as Morgenstern's, but I have one.)What I liked best was the very end when Widget tells Alexander he tells stories, and Alexander immediately perks up. Widget gets the circus in return for a story. Stories are magic, or better than magic. And Widget begins, The circus arrives at night . . . .
Excellent ending.
Is the book we just read Widget's story he's telling to Alexander?
Xan Shadowflutter wrote: "Is the book we just read Widget's story he's telling to Alexander?"I believe so, Xan... At least it’s what made sense to me. I was quite surprised Alexander was so piqued by Widget’s story telling capabilities. Alexander, so often seen as not having much time for anyone, or any thing; yet, he didn’t appear to be very busy either, though he was quite mentally preoccupied. I thought he had some ulterior motive sitting there with Widget... listening to his story.
The ending is poetic... It “is” great!
Thank you Ami for being kind. Everyone else probably got that. But in my defense, I'm slow on the uptake.It was fun people. Thank you everyone for your insights. They all made the experience so much better for me.
And a special thanks to you, Ami. All the images, the intros, the comments. A lot of work. It's appreciated.
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I will echo the thanks to Ami too. Even though I didn't enjoy the book as much, I truly loved the images, comments, and other information you all shared.
Me too--Ami, your images and discussion points were so much fun and helpful. All of you added much to this story for me! Thank you.
Ami, your enthusiasm, energy and work for and on this read was amazing, and added a huge amount of fun to it.
Joy D wrote: "I finished this one earlier this month and had never read it before. I enjoyed it as pure escapism. I thought it was worth reading, just for creativity involved. The phantasmagorical attractions we..."Sue wrote: "I loved this book!
The imagery really grabbed me, and I wanted very much to be able to visit the circus.
I've read many comments here and elsewhere that the characters weren't developed enough. I..."
Peter wrote: "Ami, your enthusiasm, energy and work for and on this read was amazing, and added a huge amount of fun to it."
Kathleen wrote: "Me too--Ami, your images and discussion points were so much fun and helpful. All of you added much to this story for me! Thank you."
Kay wrote: "I will echo the thanks to Ami too. Even though I didn't enjoy the book as much, I truly loved the images, comments, and other information you all shared."
Casceil wrote: "Yes, thank you, Ami. The images and intros did add a lot, and this discussion has been fun."
Xan Shadowflutter wrote: "Thank you Ami for being kind. Everyone else probably got that. But in my defense, I'm slow on the uptake.
It was fun people. Thank you everyone for your insights. They all made the experience so m..."
These words encapsulate my thoughts for this discussion...
This was all you!
You, chose to indulge one another in this bountiful discussion, which veered into unexpected areas many of us found illuminating.
You, chose to bring your own magic to the table.
I, just facilitated what was already happening organically. Well, maybe the Background & Resources was a little bonfire of our own? :P
I was actually apprehensive about implementing images, especially in the discussion tents. I didn't want to encroach upon the imagery Morgenstern was creating for you in your own minds, not wanting to influence you in any way. I wanted your words, and thoughts to fall as they may; however, some of what is out in the ether was so perfect...well, I absolutely couldn't keep it to myself. So, I'm elated to read you were all happy to see the images I posted, that it enhanced your experience, and our discussion process. I still have a couple more up my sleeve, you'll see them in the coming days.
These tents will remain open infinitely, becoming a museum of sorts just as Chandresh envisioned. I am around tying up any loose ends as our official time together with this particular Night Circus will soon come to an end in five days, and then it's off to next destination. Let me just say, it's been a real treat for this Master of Ceremony to have been able to set up in 21st Century Literature , for the time being...facilitating an escape of sorts while reading a book full of wonderment and whimsical nuances that are unforgettable. Boy, those midnight dinners still dance through my mind, even now.
I genuinely thank each of you for your time and participation.
Until we meet each other at the next Circus...This was a lot of fun!
Please enter this tent to discuss Parts IV-V and any other Final Thoughts you would like to muse upon ...