Like it? What did you not understand?

[Nick]

Muneet wrote: "I was also left slightly confused, what happened to Marco and Celia? Any perspectives?"
They live attached to the circus as ghosts (like Celia's father except he can move anywhere) and Marco can still make adjustments to the circus with his magic and they can live anywhere Marco imagines

[Alexandra]

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 was a duel between the mentors or teachers which the students or hero and heroine refused to carry on, in my mind. They found a way out of the trap they had been placed in (a way out, that is) through their love ...love is a magic of its own. While they each helped to hold together the magical circus, once they understood the terms of the intention of their teachers - the duel to the death - they rebelled. Then love of the circus and of magic itself prompted the next generation to carry it on.

[Gerd]

Nick wrote: "They live attached to the circus as ghosts (like Celia's father except he can move anywhere) a..."

Actually, Celia's Father can't move anywhere, he is everywhere sort of, but because of this, because he has no focus like Celia and Marco he's become insubstantial, he sort of lost lost his sense of being as I read it.

[Aly]

I loved this book!

[Jeff]

To a previous poster, Bailey didn't end up at the circus a year later. All the last chapters, except the wrap up with Chandra she, take place over Oct 31 and Nov 1, 1902.

I felt that Celia and Marco were in love, and I appreciate the fact that they fell in love unknowingly and apart, through the creations and emotions they created for each other - kind of like pen pals.

In the end, they managed to "move on" together, but only part way. They are still tied to the circus, and the proprietor is still Bailey, by my calculations 128 years old.

I think that Poppet and Widget had their page removed from the book so that they could remain as part of the circus, but also apart from it. They weren't bound as tightly, but still protected.

I wonder to the fates of others, Lainie and Mr. Barrit etc .

I don't think Isobel's Original name was important, but the part she played, keeping the scales strengthened with her charm, was. If she hadn't destroyed her charm, perhaps the contest could have gone on much longer. I think her part was to point out that when a magician teaches another, it can have unexpected effects - such as delaying the entire games conclusion.

I like imagining the Night Circus still travelling the world, as it's own self contained enchantment, all the players immortal, or nearly so. It gives the romances (Poppet/Bailey & Celia/Chandra) nearly eternal love.

I admit, I had to turn back a few pages occasionally while reading to make sure I was understanding the time line, but it wasn't that difficult. Most of the time line was clear from context.

I loved it. Adored it. And may never read it again. I'm not sure it's the kind of book that would do well a second time through, I've already experienced it once.

Hope my musings help a person or two.

[Andrea]

I had high hopes for this book since I had wanted to read it for so long but it just didn't do a thing for me. I was hoping for a romantic story but darn if I could find one. It was so boring and each page seemed like a completely different story that made no sense at all. So my answer is that I really didn't understand any of it. I even tried skipping ahead to the "Romance" section and there was only one line that intrigued me. The beginning of this book had such promise and I feel kind of stupid not understanding this book that so many rated so highly. Maybe it was just over my head but I was more than happy when I finally got to the last page.

[Butterfly]

There is a chapter in Part 4 titled with Japanese characters. Can someone translation to english please?

[Violet]

Thankyou so much for everyone who's trying to explain <3 I loved every bit of this book but the ending confused me and now its cleared out

[Lori]

So glad to see your comment, Andrea. I had high hopes for the book, also. Didn't do a thing for me either. Too disjointed and flowery for my taste. From the description, I expected a heart-pounding duel and was sorely disappointed.

Andrea wrote: "I had high hopes for this book since I had wanted to read it for so long but it just didn't do a thing for me. I was hoping for a romantic story but darn if I could find one. It was so boring and e..."

[Ash]

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."

It actually is a real email, and he'll reply. :D

[Arleen]

Poppet had Chandresh sign over the Circus to her, while Widget was getting the piece that Alexander, the man in Grey, still had. In fact the story he tells the man in Grey is the very beginning sentence in the book, which means this book is the story he tells him. The man in Grey says to Widget, that once Widget tells the story the competition will be considered a Draw...That alone should have set Celia and Marco free. Because neither he nor her father have any control over either of them. But, the Girl at the booth, who gives the card with the email address...That had to have been in the 1990s.....Bailey first shows up in 1897, which would make him, as Proprietor, well over 100 years old when this person receives the card with the email. These people age very slowly .....Alexandra, the man in Grey was as old as Dirt, and so was his first student, the contortionist.

[Peter]

Butterfly wrote: "There is a chapter in Part 4 titled with Japanese characters. Can someone translation to english please?"

In that chapter it describes someone, I forget who, looking for Tsukiko’s room on the train. It’s the only one on the train with both an English name and also two foreign characters, so I assumed they’re her name.

Edit: google translate translated the two characters (I copy pasted from the ebook) into “Tsukiko”.

[Readasaurus]

This whole book to me seemed confusing..I had a hard time picturing the setting. At the end I had more of a "um....well....ok then" attitude rather than a "that was brilliant, I need to own this book" attitude.

[Catherine]

Near the end when Bailey removed Widget and Poppet’s name in the book and writes over them with his own name does that mean both the twins will die of old age someday and won’t be aging very slowly like the others??

[Michelle]

I finished this yesterday and honestly I don't get the hype. It was really long with basically nothing happening. The ending was such a letdown. Like the author got tired of the story too and just ended it the easiest way she could.

I thought Caraval was sooo much better.

[Maryam]

The midnight dinners, loved it even more than the circus itself

[Dana]

Greetings I really need to know...I am the only one searching for proof that Elizabeth really just a projection from Celia?

[Dana]

Muneet wrote: "I was also left slightly confused, what happened to Marco and Celia? Any perspectives?"
Oh they became like her father, like the glass of wine, without the glass, she performed the magic that she saw her father do to himself. To save him, from jumping into the flame and killing himself.

[Oriana]

Here's what I don't understand about the ending: Celia wants to end the challenge because she's tired of having to control the circus. Technically, if she wanted to, she could just stop controlling it and let the circus end, but she doesn't want to do that because she wants it to continue on for people like Friedrick who love the place. Her solution to this is to make her half of the circus independent of herself, like Marcos has done. Now, IF she were to have done that, which of course she didn't, why would there still be a need to end the challenge? If Celia had her own "bonfire", the circus could just keep going, and neither of them would die. The only other reason I see to ending the challenge other than what would've been the solved problem of Celia's exhaustion is their not being able to leave, but the two of them end up tied to the circus anyway, so really, what's the point? Once Celia no longer has to put all her effort towards keeping it together, the challenge itself no longer has a negative impact other than being stuck there. And after carrying that weight for so long, Celia, of all people, would feel comfortable pushing that horrible burden onto a child?? I just don't get it. (Also, why did Tsukiko want it to end so badly?)

[Katerina]

Nick wrote: "One thing I didn't understand is the importance of Marco not having a shadow.(on page 249). What did that mean exactly?"

When Alexander leaves the party Widget watches him and observes that he has no shadow and Chandresh hears him while he mentions it to his sister (page 233-234) and in the page you mention he mutters that to himself after his discussion with Marco!

[Katerina]

Dana wrote: "Greetings I really need to know...I am the only one searching for proof that Elizabeth really just a projection from Celia?"

Hi! Sorry but which Elizabeth?

[Rita Ferreira]

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?"

To my understanding, she put a simple charm on it which was made to even the scales. That's why the Temperance was the card she put on it. I think she wanted to give Marco and Celia the same opportunity, to make them have equal footing.

But I think what it actually ended up doing was to manage the outcome of the changes they kept doing to the circus, to soften the blow, the repercussions they had on the people connected to the circus.

[Rita Ferreira]

Muneet wrote: "I was also left slightly confused, what happened to Marco and Celia? Any perspectives?"

Basically as Widget put it they are part of the circus, they are the circus. I think it's a similar state to Hector, but they have the boundaries of the circus.

To put it plainly: they might be haunting it.

[Rita Ferreira]

Oriana wrote: "Here's what I don't understand about the ending: Celia wants to end the challenge because she's tired of having to control the circus. Technically, if she wanted to, she could just stop controlling..."

Dana wrote: "Muneet wrote: "I was also left slightly confused, what happened to Marco and Celia? Any perspectives?"
Oh they became like her father, like the glass of wine, without the glass, she performed the m..."

Technically, she gave the child an option, and she still felt terrible.
Tsukiko didn't wanted this challenge to end like hers did.
If Celia was able to make the circus independent, I honestly don't know what would happen. Because I'm not sure if one had to die anyway, if that was a rule. Everything is vague and hazy in terms of rules and boundaries on this book.

You know there's apparently two ways of teaching magic but that's it. This is a soft magic type of magic system, so not much can be asked because not much has been estabelished.
Same with their game.

[Brian]

Tracy wrote: "I just let it wash over me like a wave, and I found it emotionally satisfying, if not intellectually."
Yes. This was not a book for linear thinkers. It was book for lovers of the abstract.

Some mentioned a movie. Sorry Ms Morgenstern, but I hope one is not made. Hollywood requires a concise plot and complete predictability. Those things would utterly ruin this story.

[Katerina]

Brian wrote: "Tracy wrote: "I just let it wash over me like a wave, and I found it emotionally satisfying, if not intellectually."
Yes. This was not a book for linear thinkers. It was book for lovers of the abst..."

I don't know why is this happening but every author nowadays thinks himself acomplished if his book is made into a movie or tv-series! I agree on the part that people who weren't familiar with the book might get a copy after watching but that isn't a guarantee!
Personally I'm not watching movies based on books I've read because I'm gonna be 100% disappointed by something wether from the actors, their acting or something that wasn't included or was included but wasn't as great as while I pictured it during my reading the book!
Sadly I think that a movie will be made out of The Night Circus since it's the wish of the author...! Great thing is that I can avoid watching it!

[Clarisa]

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 just did it!!! this was the answer::

Thank you for your interest in Le Cirque des Rêves!

If you are inquiring as to the itinerary of the circus, we apologize,
but it is against our policy to disclose information about current or
upcoming locations.

Other inquiries will be responded to in as timely a manner as possible.

Cheers,
Erin

Erin Morgenstern
assistant to Mr. Clarke
erin@nightcircus.com

[Jennifer ✨]

I think it would be interesting to have a prequel to The Night Circus. About Mr A . H and Prospero and how they met etc.

A movie adaption would be nice

[Nicole]

To me this was the most magical book I’ve ever read. My take was when they were put together for the contest, love wasn’t meant to be part of it, but it was and it conquered. The duel was never going to happen because it couldn’t,
so it was all closed down, if it wasn’t it would have been never ending and everyone would have been stuck in a loop time world waiting for it to happen.
As for the movie, unknown actors would be great.

[S]

What would have happened if they didn't do anything about the completion and just went about their lives? Would they die or something? The Night Circus

[Sharon]

From what I gather, at some part, they, Celia, tried to find a way to just runaway from the challenge with Marco but apparently even the thought of that would give her insufferable pain by the ring she wore. I think they were bound to the game with their lives either way.