The Night Circus
discussion
Like it? What did you not understand?
@Patricia: I thought the backstory was the parallel to the Merlin story which is visited (see "Wizard in the Tree" chapter (171-175?), the old magic against the new. Prospero is the upstart rejecting the ways of his former teacher A.H. (and we see the results of his experimentation with his "death"). I agree with Teresa about the conflict between teaching styles although I believe it is about egomaniacial dominance and power, where the participants show disdain for those "underlings" who really pay the price for their godlike manipulations. Kiko is not a player in the current game, just an interested bystander, having survived an earlier game. Her binding would have ended with Hinata's death (notice the parallel that Kiko loves her just as Celia loves Marco, as if there is another kind of bonding in place where their love is doomed and therefore tragic.
@ Jack and Teresa, thanks for your answers!
For some stories a slightly 'open' ending is best so if the reader can 'connect' to the story he/she can conclude their own ending. The Night Circus is full of illusion so the customer sees what they wish to see. I have my own ending to the story which is personal to my own understanding/feelings of it. Someone elses ending could be miles differant from mine yet just as valid. I leave it to you.
Maybe I din't read the book carefully enough, but how did Celia find a way to avoid the competition?
I thought it was the charm that Marco put over the circus (the fire) and as long as it stayed lit, the circus would continue.
Ali wrote: "Maybe I din't read the book carefully enough, but how did Celia find a way to avoid the competition?"
Celia avoided it by going into a loophole called limbo. The rules are the winner is the survivor basically, but neither of them are dead nor alive. They can't continue the ge in their state because they are stuck in that state for eternity. The challenge isn't done because neither of them died, but it is since neither are left standing. It was over because Alexander decided to close it as a tie.
Celia avoided it by going into a loophole called limbo. The rules are the winner is the survivor basically, but neither of them are dead nor alive. They can't continue the ge in their state because they are stuck in that state for eternity. The challenge isn't done because neither of them died, but it is since neither are left standing. It was over because Alexander decided to close it as a tie.
Muneet: I was also left slightly confused, what happened to Marco and Celia? Any perspectives?I was under the impression that Marco and Celia ended up as ghosts, like Celia's father. Alive, but not. The point being that they're "not alive" together and within the circus. Immortal-ish. Am I way off?
I just finished this book and in addition to some of the questions here, I also wondered about the device employed by Morgenstern where she would go back and forth between years, one chapter would be in 1901 and then the next chapter would be in 1902. The chronology confused me because the events seemed to be happening in order.
Elena wrote: "i liked the book but i also didn't understand the ending...i was actually a bit confused about what happened to the circus and what happened to celia and marco....i was expecting a happy ending for..."During the novle, Celia makes reference that her father has sort of gone "invisible." well, parts of him at least. There is a conversation between Celia and Marco where she explains this. She also says that her father has a hard time "pulling himself together" because he had no point at which to anchor himself, to prevent various bits of himself from floating around. So, Celia found a way to anchor both her and Marco to the circus itself, so that when things go awry at the cauldron with Kiko, they're both anchored and connected to the circus - in essence, they sort've became "ghosts." That's a poor description, but the best work I can think of, and now they're in love and together forever and won't have to leave the circus.
I understood everything. I loved every bit of it.
Muneet wrote: "I was also left slightly confused, what happened to Marco and Celia? Any perspectives?"Marco and Celia are kind of like ghosts. They are not tied to the living world anymore. They are only tied to the circus, so they can only "live" within the circus. But because they are not in contact with the physical world, they aren't complete physical beings. It's magic :p
Celise wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Is there going to be a movie? I think Ryan Gosling would be a great Marco!"I actually pictured Joseph Gordon-Levitt."
OMG ME TOO!! I would LOVE it if Joseph Gordon-Levitt played Marco!!!!! He is so charming!
I think this book was intricate in its plot and required an ability to infer and read with a thoughtful mind. Perhaps it is not in the taste of the popular readers. I absolutely loved it, but it apparently appeals to a certain niche of reader. I hope she continues to write.
Christina wrote: "And, BTW, has anyone tried to email to bailey@nightcircus.com and see what happens? I'm vaguely curious. I might try just for kicks."I did! I got an auto reply from his assistant! (Erin :p)
Saying that if the email is regarding inquiries as to the itinerary of the circus, they cannot disclose such information, but if it is another matter, she will reply in as timely a manner as possible :)
fun
Christina wrote: "And, BTW, has anyone tried to email to bailey@nightcircus.com and see what happens? I'm vaguely curious. I might try just for kicks."This was funny when I read it - were there .com's in those days?
DeeJ wrote: "Christina wrote: "And, BTW, has anyone tried to email to bailey@nightcircus.com and see what happens? I'm vaguely curious. I might try just for kicks."This was funny when I read it - were there..."
That part of the story takes place in the present day wrap-up, so yes, there are dot coms. :D
They're still there, aren't they? Marco and Celia, I mean. What Celia did was basically a more *stable* version of what Hector did to himself. They're not dead, just out of their physical bodies. Kind of like astral projections. The circus remains stable because they (Celia and Marco) are still *there* to "hold it all together". Remember how in the end, Widget commented on Marco having taught him a trick? Marco still has influence over the circus despite his lack of a body.
The way I see it makes me think as though they cast a sort of protection over the circus that the charm Isobel made backed up. It's still terribly unclear to me how they actually work to serve as a backbone for the circus, but I suppose we'll have to accept it as it is for the time-being.
Gerd wrote: "DeeJ wrote: "Christina wrote: "And, BTW, has anyone tried to email to bailey@nightcircus.com and see what happens? I'm vaguely curious. I might try just for kicks."This was funny when I read it..."
Thank you Gerd. I must have had magic dust in my eyes (I didn't realize the story was in .com days when it ended, however the .com address was definitely my clue). I've raised my rating on this book; it still has a grip on me.
Did anyone think she named him Bailey b/c of "Barnum & Bailey" ?(Although she said in an interview: prefers Cirque du Soleil to Barnum & Bailey.)
I'm writing an essay about The Night Circus right now ! -- basically as an example of someone riding Harry Potter wave (or Jonathan Strange).
I liked Jonathan Strange more than The Night Circus -- but I actually think they could make the movie better than the book, perhaps.
Celise wrote: "I was confused about a lot of things in this book- one of them being what Isobel did to the circus. Anyone care to explain that bit to me? What were you confused about?"Isobel put a charm on the circus to protect the others from the competition. When she removed it a man died and that is when things began to unravel. It didn't completely fall apart until Celia and Marco left the world and Marco's protection over the circus, the bond fire, was broken.
Grafovna wrote: "I am almost done with the book and I have yet to see a duel or even to understand what exactly this competition entails or understand how it will affect anyone?Did I just totally miss this in the ..."
It wasn't a duel. It was a test of endurance. They both had to use magic and maintain each tent while "one-upping" the other. When one couldn't hold their creations together anymore the magic would then be too much pressure and it would kill one of them from trying to do too much and not being able to control it.
Abigail wrote: "It wasn't a duel. It was a test of endurance. They both had to use magic and maintain each tent while "one-upping" the other. When one couldn't hold their creations together anymore the magic would then be too much pressure and it would kill one of them from trying to do too much and not being able to control it..."That's such a nice succinct description, I wish they would have hired you to write the back cover blurb.
Elena wrote: "i liked the book but i also didn't understand the ending...i was actually a bit confused about what happened to the circus and what happened to celia and marco....i was expecting a happy ending for..."Remember how Celia's father tried to remove himself from the physical world and then tie himself to the world but then was only able to momentarily cling the certain people or objects? That is what Celia did but instead of trying the whole world, which is why her father failed, she tied her and Marco to the circus. However if they wanted to be able to stay there they had to keep the circus going. That is why they needed Bailey bound to the circus.
Gerd wrote: "Abigail wrote: "It wasn't a duel. It was a test of endurance. They both had to use magic and maintain each tent while "one-upping" the other. When one couldn't hold their creations together anymore..."Lol thank you. I really loved this book and realized that in my book club a lot of people were confused. I think most people would like it if they actually understood what happened. It is very, VERY confusing at times. I would love to answer questions to help make it more clear :)
As a young actress, as soon as I read the first chapter, I knew I had to play Celia Bowen at some point, not because I particularly liked her (honestly, I preferred Isobel and Bailey as characters), but because she is described to look exactly like me. Liked the mystery of the book, but didn't find it remotely romantic. Am I the only one?
Also: am I the only one who didn't think that Celia and Marco were really in love? They just seem to be doing this because they feel an inescapable fixation on each other and want to rebel against their fathers. They seem to be more in hate with their fathers than in love with each other. Another question: WHERE THE HELL DID ISOBEL COME FROM? They never explain who she is...
Melinda010100 wrote: "The ending confused me.... but I can't wait to see the movie! I'll be expecting beauty and magic!"I wish I could look forward to the movie, but I'll be more sad that I'm not in it. Actresses who look exactly like Celia Bowen problems...
I don't think you can read this book expecting to understand everything. It just is. That's part of the magic. I think Marco and Celia are together in that in-between world by themselves. Existing in the circus but not seen.
It's been a while since I've read this book so I don't remeber everything, but I was confused about Bailey. I don't understand how Poppet goes to Bailey and tells him that he needs to come to the circus, but then Bailey arrives at the circus a year later. He made the decision to go that same night Poppet told him, but how does it take him that long to actually be present there? That part didn't make much sense to me >.< Can anyone help????
twelvejan wrote: "Rida wrote: "It's been a while since I've read this book so I don't remeber everything, but I was confused about Bailey. I don't understand how Poppet goes to Bailey and tells him that he needs to ..."Yea, I remember Poppet went to Bailey the same day, and that Bailey decided to leave that same day, but how did the year gap happen? It's mentioned in the book that he arrives a year later.
Thanks for your help!
Rida wrote: "twelvejan wrote: "Rida wrote: "It's been a while since I've read this book so I don't remeber everything, but I was confused about Bailey. I don't understand how Poppet goes to Bailey and tells him..."The circus left before he got there so he went searching for it but since no one knows where it will turn up it took a year for him to find it again. That is how he met up with the Reveurs.
Abigail wrote: "Rida wrote: "twelvejan wrote: "Rida wrote: "It's been a while since I've read this book so I don't remeber everything, but I was confused about Bailey. I don't understand how Poppet goes to Bailey ..."OHHHH thank you for that :)
I've only just read the book, and one thing which is annoying me is how it's implied that Isobel lied about her name when she first Marco but then it's not addressed again, is it? Did I miss something here?
I realized that Marco and Celia are not the only ghosts, in fact they can take this form, as well as physical. Celia was more skilled than her father because she tied Marco and herself with one place - circus, so they didn't left to float like Prospero, but may have a physical form. When I read the last chapter, where we readers are walking through the circus at the present time, I realized that while reading the book we met all the characters who have became immortal...
Chapter "Reflection and distortion"
In the tent of mirrors we see a reflection of the man with a bowler hat (Marco was often wearing it). When we turn it out, it's illusion.
Then, in the next chapter "Labyrinth", we hear Silias laughter and feel her breath. It's also illusion, they are in ghostly form.
But finally, in the 3rd part of the book, chapter "The lovers", in the tent full of audience, we see couple performance. They seems not moving, actually make a very subtle movements. The girl has dark wavy hair and man wears a suit and a bowler hat. We see Celia and Marco in physical form.
In other chapters we see or hear about others, Bailey became owner, Poppet in her tent predicts the future from stars... etc.
oh wow nice analysis :) didn't think of it like that lol especially the illusion mirror one
yeah I thought for a moment that celia was Isobelle in the begging of the book...and that kinda confused me :/ but that was probably because Isobelle was a bit shy and didn't know what to do around a strange man like marco
I wanted to like this book I really did but it was too ambiguous for me and there was little point to some of the characters.How did hector and Alexander come to be involved in the 'game' and what was the point to it?
Why did hector start to fade into oblivion and why did Alexander have no shadow?
What actually happened to isobel in the end? Did she just disappear into thin air?
These are just some of the unanswered questions in this book and nothing was really explained properly. Too damn confusing.
I really liked the detailed descriptions of the circus and all of the different tents. I found keeping track of the dates at the beginning of each section to be confusing. It also took me a while to realize the "battle" was not what I thought it would be. I kept waiting for an actual duel!
I have to say while I really liked this book there were a few flaws such as the weak plot, but I did not find it especially confusing.
i am telling you that it is one fine intoxicating book that i have ever read in my entire life.i understood every detail of it! except this--> Q: what ever happened to the lovers after the book finished? are they bound at the circus forever?can they leave the circus to stroll the streets for a while? can they still eat? do they still have some sexy time?
Q: are they bound at the circus forever?A: yes
Q: can they leave the circus to stroll the streets for a while?
A: don't think so, but it is atravelling circus, sio they have to whole world to roam
Q: can they still eat?
A: don't think so
Q: do they still have some sexy time?
A: probably not in a phyiscal sense. :D
i really enjoyed the book but I don't understand why bailey had to rip out poppet abd widge's pages of the book before putting it in the cauldron?
Sadly this book apparently wasn't understood to which I say why the need just enjoy the journey. Love that Erin answers the emails! Very talented young woman.
I think Night Circus brought something special to the table. I loved the unique premise and setting. I loved the way I felt when reading it; I was transported to a fantastical place. I didn't struggle with the plot. I had to work a bit with the dates, which was fine. Without a doubt, Erin has a brilliant way with words.
Gerd wrote: "Q: are they bound at the circus forever?A: yes
Q: can they leave the circus to stroll the streets for a while?
A: don't think so, but it is atravelling circus, sio they have to whole world to ro..."
As far as the sexy time, I disagree. They were solid to each other, so I don't see why they couldn't.
Me confused about a cou
I'm confused about a couple things. Why and how was Chandresh's memory wiped? Also, Isobel seems so mysterious to me. Why do you think she goes by Isobel and not her real name? Lastly, why on earth has Tsukiko lived so long without aging? Wasn't she described as a young woman?
One thing I didn't understand is the importance of Marco not having a shadow.(on page 249). What did that mean exactly?
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2) I think the lack of backstory adds to the mystery and diception which is us why I think the author left it out. I think in the book it says that it started in simple games between their students and teaching styles then turned more and more complex over the years.