The Night Circus
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Good or bad. What did you think??
message 51:
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Candice
(last edited Feb 12, 2012 07:54AM)
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rated it 3 stars
Feb 12, 2012 07:54AM
Katy- That explanation makes sense. I always wondered why Bailey came to be the new owner, considering he has no magical abilities, but that does work in nicely with the book.
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I loved this book. It was such a visual pleasure. It was out of my typical book genre and so I was pleasantly surprised and how much I enjoyed it.
I found the narrative style incredible and well-plotted. The story was tight and seldom wasted time. The author constantly brings you into the magical world of the circus and the magicians' competition. It is a violent and abusive world that consumes and ultimately destroys. As the story develops, we begin to recognize the struggles and conflicts that form the lives of these characters. Like the real world, the circus suffers from the errors of desire and the need to control. The use of black and white becomes symbolic of these two polarities. The use of second person creates a similar polarity and opens the text in so many ways. As a result, the novel makes the unbelievable real and plausible. Great story woven into a solid, compact gem of a novel!
I think it was really, really bad...As a reader I felt the characters was at best a bit "meeeh", and at worst silly... The story was a bore, and the writing lacked in most places.
The positive side is that it was an easy and fast read, so I didn't waste too much of my time reading it.
Best novel I have read in quite a while.
I thought it was fantastic!! I would love to see it as a movie!!
For some reason it was just perfect... Imaginative and exciting. I enjoyed it so much I finished the book in a day, literally couldn't put it down. It makes you want to join the circus - to be part of something so special...
I loved it. I picked it up on a whim because I was doing some heavy-duty reading and loved it. Fresh idea and entertaining. Of course, I've been accused all my life of wanting to 'run away to join the circus.'
I didn't like the writing style at all. I thought the story had potential, but didn't live up to the possibilities.
I gave the book 5 stars but only becuase you can't do 1/2's. I found the book to be very good once you had the chance to get into it. It wasn't a book that grabbed you right away and made you want to keep reading. I found the bouncing around a little irating, but it is a book I would reccomend.
Randa wrote: "I gave the book 5 stars but only becuase you can't do 1/2's. I found the book to be very good once you had the chance to get into it. It wasn't a book that grabbed you right away and made you wan..."Same!
It's funny how some of the people who didn't like it complain about how books are so cliched these days, but when Morgenstern writes a cliched story in a different voice, using a different technique people don't like it. Maybe there were some spots that dragged on, but it was only those points that were creating background like every other book out there--story isn't linear, it jumps in time and place.I thought it was an intriguing book and thoroughly enjoyed it
Learned to love it but not to the extreme. Excruciating and dragging beginning, but the moment Marco met his love of his life, and though fear is what he felt the first time he saw Isabel Bowen I cannot put it down. My imagination didn't let me sleep as I read the part Isabel threw Marco's book and became a black bird - I exactly pictured Kiera Knightley throwing the book and Jim Sturgess being stunned. Maybe I was imagining too much.
And the moment when they became ghost-like, I appreciated that - and again pictured Keira and Jim. haha
The twins were very interesting, and with the Contortionist. They are just who they are, no need for further explanations.
The weakness for this book / plot is the explanation for the battle between the teacher and the student. Why they want to prove one school of thought as a wrong idea when in the first place, an Idea is a seed - you only need faith to make it happen. I didn't feel the urge of winning the battle.
I enjoyed Marco and Isabel's moments of battling one another and falling in love. so cute, makes me want to go to circus. :)
I feel so sorry for Isabel, and I hate Marco for abandoning her like that.
I abandoned this book at around 40%. The descriptive language held my interest for a while, but then, I wanted to care about the characters in some way. That never happened for me. I was not interested enough in the characters or the story plot to continue reading. I tried to like this book, but I didn't.
Nelly wrote: "Loved it. Slow at the beginning, but then it had me. I couldn't put it down. The sights, smells, and textures were all so palpable. I felt like I was there."
I agree.This book is a magical experience.
I agree.This book is a magical experience.
This book is so awesome! Impecably written and intricately phrased and worded with scenes of intrigue!
I gave up on this one really early too. Didnt grab me in the least.
This was another book that I finished reading primarily because I don't like to stop reading a book once I've started one. I read it during the aftermath of chemotherapy and surgery, so I may have been a bit "slow" at the time. However, even without "chemobrain" in charge, I don't think I would have liked the organization of the book. This was another book that I did warm up to once I was about halfway in or so, but I really can't say I loved it.
Definately good..great? That is debatable. Maybe it is just me, but I felt a little dizzy afterwards. I was chasing the story in so many directions, I struggled to keep up. BUT Erin can slip you right into the scene as if you are part of it, amazing descriptions!!
Beth wrote: "Very well written. But I lost interest because the characters were not sufficiently developed. I did not care what happened to them. Actually the only character was the circus, which did dazzle.Th..."
What a great point Beth! To me, there was no chance to truly invest in the characters. I had a hard time liking or disliking any of them. Morgenstern almost created them because she had to. Her true poetry was in the circus, which was incredibly dazzling. There were many compelling descriptions written about it.
However, for me, that is not enough to make a good book. I enjoy well-detailed settings but I found it to be very slow paced. I didn't care for the layout either, learning about the tents was at the bottom of my priority list.
The ending too left something to be desired.
I loved this book. Normally I don't enjoy slow plots with lots of flowery descriptions but this one was truly magical for me. I was sad to get to the end and am hoping for more of the Night Circus!
I had no idea of the intellectual cleverness I was getting into when I began this book. I realized that all of that Joseph Campbell stuff I had been into in the 1970's was being channeled by the author of this story. (even if not, reading Joseph Campbell's myth books definitely created insight into the heart of the characters.) The emotions are not overt, so the reader has to supply more than normal imagination and life experience into the reading. Overall, I like it a lot.
Interesting how divisive this book seems to be. I loved it, and I was really surprised that I loved it. It is not particularly well written; not great writing; a penchant for unimpressive metaphor; sloppy prose. But she has a natural gift for compelling event and plot, and an unimpeachable sense of pacing. It felt like the work of someone with prodigious natural talent, who hasn't particularly mastered craft just yet. And all of my comments are perhaps unfair, because I haven't mentioned how magical is the experience of reading it. A book for adults who will bring a childish heart to it.
I liked the writing, but I found the going back and forth somewhat confusing. It was very creative, but I never got caught up with the characters. Maybe after the hype, I expected more.
It does start off really slow but I really liked it. It seems to be one of those that you either love it or hate it.
At first the book started slow for me, but then after about the 5th or 6th chapter I got really into it and finished it within days. I really loved it and was shocked at the ending to be quite honest, and was surprisingly upset about it! I would love to have my own little Reveur associates. I am honestly hoping their is a sequel to this book.
It was a great book. I love all the tree references, especially like the wishing tree. what a lovely picture I have in my head of that tree! I am waiting to get it back from a friend so I can reread it!
A book where nothing happens full of very looooong, very dull descriptions. Gave up around page 200. Found some of the turns of phrases used annoying. Mainly 'After the fact' which turned up about 4 times in the first 80 pages and each time it felt like some one had hit me with a flaming brick.The name Widget seemed too modern for the time period as well but I'm just guessing about that.
I was too distant from all the characters to care about them.
In short, I didn't like it.
I agree with what you have said about the book...I liked the book despite its flaws....I think it will make a very visual movie...
Mediocre.I know a lot of people complained about the dates and her writing style, but I actually enjoyed that. I had no problem following along and loved how descriptive she was.
The book was not boring to me, but the character development between the main characters could have used a little more work. Less of the other characters and a more developed romantic storyline between the main characters to make their "love" believable. I dreaded reading their chapters towards the end of the book and cared more about Bailey and the twins. I am not sure that was the intent?
Another thing that bothered me was the game itself. I still fail to see the point of the game and why he main characters couldn't just stop playing. None of it made sense to me. Is was just a long drawn out torturous game for those involved to wank over as they watched a young couple slowly disintegrate into nothing at the end for absolutely no reason.
Krystal wrote: "Mediocre.I know a lot of people complained about the dates and her writing style, but I actually enjoyed that. I had no problem following along and loved how descriptive she was.
The book was n..."
I liked what you said about caring more about Bailey and the twins. Eventually, I was tired of listening to Celia and Marco's problems (especially since the game seemed too remote a concept anyway) and so I wanted to know what was Bailey's deal and why he was so important to take up half the book.
@Mark- I didn't like the book until pg 220. And I use like generously- more that I could finally read more than 10 pgs at a time once I passed the 220 mark.
GOOD! It's writing style, I found, was so refreshing. I loved the descriptions of everything. I was truly impressed with this writer.
I thought it was a wonderfully imaginative book, however, if she used the word caramel one more time, I was going to scream. I can see it being up Tim Burton's alley, but I think Johnny Depp is way to old to play the hero, he'd have to play one of the older magicians or the clockmaker...
I enjoyed this book. I took my time, drank lots of tea and let myself get lost in it. (And that's why I like to read!!)
Jessica wrote:@Mark- I didn't like the book until pg 220. And I use like generously- more that I could finally read more than 10 pgs at a time once I passed the 220 mark.
Maybe I'll return to it later in the year and try again, but at the moment the to-be-read pile is too high!
Mark wrote: "Jessica wrote:@Mark- I didn't like the book until pg 220. And I use like generously- more that I could finally read more than 10 pgs at a time once I passed the 220 mark.
Maybe I'll return to i..."
A book worth reading. Has several twist and turns, and I agree it is slow in developing. The author has a way of keeping your attention with details and descriptions.
It was not my "usual", but I enjoyed it.
The duelling magicians / love story play a desultory second fiddle to the descriptions of the Night Circus -- both seem endless. Paper-thin plot, insubstantial characters mean the book sags badly in the middle. But the ending is really interesting, which makes you wonder if Morgenstern padded it out deliberately. Bailey is by far the best, most interesting character -- frustratingly, the story leaves him at a very intriguing juncture.
WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!! MY WORD!!!!!! THERE'S ANOTHER ONE???!?!!!!!!!??!
COOL!!!!!! What'd she say about it???
I thought this was a brilliant first novel, and eagerly look forward to her next one. I gobbled up the circus descriptions, and enjoyed the plot (and yes, there was one). Even my sister, who generally loathes anything 'fantasy' related, enjoyed the book.
I loved it because it was original. I've read all my life and I hadn't read anything like it.
Good or bad isn't the question. Frustrating is the question, and yes it was!
Loved it. Long and confusing to read but wonderful to listen to. Agreed - creative and imaginative.
This has to be my favorite book that I read last year (and I read a lot of really good ones). I can't quite put into words why I loved it so much. It was just amazing :)
At first I kinda got confused but in the end its beautiful! I hope the circus is real, I'll definitely be a reveur.. :)
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