Good or bad. What did you think??

[Jessica]

Not my fave!! Hated going back and forth during the years, it got confusing at times. And I did not feel the romance of the book...I do not feel as if the author came through with the promise of the love story promised in the sypno.... I thought the Circus was magic though!!! loved the ice room and the wishing tree the most <3

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

Jessica wrote: "Not my fave!! Hated going back and forth during the years, it got confusing at times. And I did not feel the romance of the book...I do not feel as if the author came through with the promise of th..."

Although I adored the book, I also felt 'romance' was not the right description.

[Beatriz]

I loved it. Then again, I am a sucker for magical descriptions and ethereal places.

The book is subtle when dealing with ideas and what is really happening in the plot. It doesn't go on at length to describe what the two different philosophies of magic are, who the two mentors are and what is behind the game. The same approach applies to characters. They are rarely described but the little things in their interactions and mannerisms show their characters.

I also liked how flawed the characters are. We discover just how bad a father Hector really is, how manipulative Marcos acts and how Isabel fools herself into not seeing the truth.

I found a second reading of the book invaluable. Little clues are peppered all over the place (like Isabel's comment on the scales). Since much is left unsaid, rereading allows you to put many things in place.

[Ellie]

I felt too sorry for Isabel to really like Marco or Celia.

[Diane]

I absolutely LOVED this book. I consider it one of my favorites! The writng is very good. The characters are great. I thought it was mesmerising! I couldn't put it down. The creativity was excellent. You can imagine yourself there!

[Meenu]

I loved it so much that i could not put it down. I loved it and the characters were awesome. :)

[Bookworm1122]

LOVED THIS BOOK! I wish I bought this instead of renting it from the library ! Words can't describe how much I enjoyed this book.

[Rebecca]

THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING!!!

[Susana]

When i started this book i didn't expect to enjoy it as i did! I Loved it. For me it was a truly mesmerizing book.

[Isidro]

I found this novel absolutely amazing with subtle twist and turns. I especially liked the narrative style of the author. She was able to create a world with an incredible amount of richness and depth. And at times I could not put it down. Memorable characters inserted into a plot that was fresh and full of surprises.

[Eileen]

This book is one of my all time favorite books now. Its intricate weavings really made me think. I loved it!

[Deborah]

We read this book at book club and it was a split vote. Those of us who liked it, absolutely loved it; and those who didn't, really hated it. It made for some great discussions. I myself couldn't put the book down!

[Sarah]

Have to say I'm in the dislike camp. I felt that the characters were thin and not at all nuanced. Though there is no denying that her descriptions and the idea of this circus is pretty incredible.

Ultimately the characters are more important to me than the descriptions and since I couldn't connect with either of the magicians it's a wash. I will check out her next book - maybe she'll put more emphasis on character development next time.

[DeB]

First of all, I think that somewhere on the cover of this book, "Fantasy" needed to be placed. "Magic" doesn't really mean much in terms of any tale, and this novel has to be put into the Fantasy category in a big, big way. Then the unsuspecting will not be wooed into buying it by those chosen critics reviews.

It is a genre novel. A long, long fairy tale of sorts with the evil characters and the good characters and then love transcends everything. If I had known that before I started reading I MAY have enjoyed it more - if that was the kind of book I was looking for. I like my books to be grounded a bit more in reality and be at least somewhat relatable. This one is just an endless and often dreary journey, with great effort to make the circus scenes something out of a special effects movie to try to keep you hanging in and make you think you would have something special in store for you if you kept reading.

The writing is atmospheric, the characters Dickensonian and the sentences very flowery but I'm sorry, I just had no heart for this book. It was a kind of "Why Bother" read to me, probably made worse by all of the Bling promises. Definitely a one star for me.

[Jessica]

I loved that it wasnt a love story. It was actually just a story, until the end... But I liked having a plot, and not knowing where it would go next. Obviously we all knew it would end with someone falling in love, but not the way they did. I traded my friend a book for a book and I made him read this. He is liking it, said its a bit slow, and doesnt have the issue of not wanting to put it down, but its still good!!! :D

[Jeffrey]

I believe this book has promise. Not being elitist or anything, but the fact that they have marketed this as the next Twilight somehow tarnished the overwhelming potential of the book.

[[deleted user]]

I loved, loved, loved this book. It was so clever and witty and nuanced and beautiful. The characters are very subtle and not melodramatic or over the top like so many fantasy characters are. Celia deals with all the stress and tension of keeping the circus running with little complaint and doesn't go around whining about how much work she had to do. Marco is a very manipulative person and that comes back to bite him when Celia leaves him and causes the horrible repercussions in the circus when Isobel destroys the spell she created. Everything is beautifully connected and the story isn't cliched at all. I was expecint Celia and Marco to be at each other's throats and a real showdown to happen. What happened instead is much more beautiful and meaningful than any stupid battle of magic. Every fantasy story ever has one of those. Something different is much nicer.

[Beatriz]

Comparing the Night Circus to Twilight? Completely different themes, styles, characters, audience. Very strange.

[Jerilyn]

Loved it. Innovative/original. Excellent writing. Amazing for a first book.

[J]

It is true what they say, Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I loved the book, the characters, the story.

[Becca]

In my opinion, it was good. Not great. Not terrible. It was good, I wasn't hooked and attached to it, and that may have been my own fault. My expectations for this book were extremely high, one of my close friends read it and raved about it for about a week to me. So, automatically, I jumped when it was available at my school's library. The writing style is particularly good, I loved how she described things. Good.

[Jade]

absoulutely loved this book, my friend originally got it out and i was just reading it for fun but then got really hooked to it. the descriptions were so vivid, i could almost believe myself to be in the circus watching tsukiko and celia perform their acts, almost smell the caramel wafting between the shadows of the tents and when i finished i really wanted the circus to be real. perhaps character wise the bookcould have been better, but in terms of storytelling it was brilliant!

[Atharva]

Disappointing novel... nothing magical, in fact it really tends to plunge into boring descriptions about where the circus is and which new tent has been added and things that I never really cared about. Really, it could be because I had read great reviews about this book everywhere and when I myself began reading I was bored to death that I find it disappointing, but whatever it may be, it certainly didn't provide me with a 'magical' ride.

[Jade]

but the tents and the affect the circus has on its surroundings and its patrons is what makes the book magical. as a reader (and armchair patron), i really appreciated the thought put into each tent and how it can please each patron as they visit. the mystery the circus holds is captivating as you never know what lies around the next corner, or what new creation celia or marco will create.

[Atharva]

Jade wrote: "but the tents and the affect the circus has on its surroundings and its patrons is what makes the book magical. as a reader (and armchair patron), i really appreciated the thought put into each ten..."

Sure, but as I said, it was too descriptive. I personally think that too much description spoils the magic of the narrative. Plus, the love-story was, well, no offense, lame. Everyone has their own opinions about the novel, but honestly speaking, I wouldn't recommend it.

[Nina]

It was a book that I think I didn't like but also a most fascinating book I have ever read. That might not make sense. It was beautifully written and i did care for the characters but I too wanted there to be a bit more of an ending of competition. That part was a bit of a let down. However, I think the author must be part genius. nina

[Nina]

Ok I'm cheating and reposting from my review...Criticize me for liking this book as much as I did, I know I've earned it. There is nothing here that is earth shatteringly over the top, no plot twists to wow you, no torid sex, no apocalyptic visions to give you nightmares. Erin Morgenstern's black and white and red fantasy has the subtlest touches, and she weaves her way into your imagination gently using only good old fashioned beautiful prose and vivid imagery. The book does meander, I admit it, but as good as Morgenstern's writing is, I didn't mind.

[Lena]

I thought the book was beautiful. It was really slow and kept dragging on about things I didn't really care about most of the time, but the concept was very original, and the atmosphere was phenomenal. I wouldn't say it was good or bad because that would be too vague. It was pretty bad in some parts, like character development, but it was really good concerning the story's concept and atmosphere. I would say it was an excellent book if only the character development was better.

[Jeanne]

Adored this book. Yes it is intense and you do need to pay attention to many different characters, but it is so riveting. The concept was fresh and exciting and as a night owl, I found the idea of a circus that started at dusk and ended at dawn so appealing!

[Barbara]

one of my all time favorites. not the same old.

[Elizabeth(The Book Whisperer)]

I thought it was magical! I loved it.

[Alex]

I couldn't put this down, a really imaginative and original book.

[Rhys]

I loved this book. It's completely set a new standard for me as to what I consider 'excellent' to actually be. I thought it was superb.

I did find the dates confusing as they would go back and forward for each chapter, but I think I eventually got into the swing of it (or managed to read it and enjoy it despite the dates, I'm not sure).

It wasn't a battle like I thought it would be, and I'd say that anyone looking for an action packed book would find it rather dull if they couldn't appreciate a slow paced battle of wills and then romance intertwined.

I found beauty in how the love that built between the two lead characters wasn't forced, and was even questioned at one point as to whether it was a clever ploy within the game they were playing.

It had a beautiful ending, and I felt a huge sense of both satisfaction and longing at it being finished, without there being more.

Absolute magic!

[Colleen]

I loved that it was driven by the setting, rather than the characters. I also really enjoyed how the characters were "created."

[Jaki]

Loved it & didn't want it to finish :)Wish I could go to a circus like it <3

[Jessica]

I still don't understand why they fell in love! Not enough character development.

[Dani]

I loved it! The imagery was amazing...I especially liked the ice garden descriptions! The mystery of the game and how these two opponents would work things out for love was intriguing.

[Reenie]

Sorry...no

[Candace]

I loved this book from start to finish. The imagination of the writer is beyond amazing to me.

[Cheryl]

Thought the book was a terrible mess. There are some cool visual elements -- author clearly has talents in theatrical design / visual arts and I can only think that may be what those who love it are responding to. But at the level of what a novel should do, which is its own form of magic, it just doesn't work. Should have been whittled down into a beautiful little allegory / dream and instead has been pumped up into a pseudo Young Adult Victorian melodrama. Bad advice.

[Sarah]

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..."

I loved this book and I don't know why, just did. But Beth, I think your observation that the circus, for you was the only interesting character is quite a statement. Perhaps those who loved it, loved that character.

[Chelsea]

I think that I prefer the cover of the book more than I actually enjoyed the book.

[Celia M.]

Awesome but the end was a little disatisfying. She stole my name ;)

[Dionne]

Mandy wrote: "No you are not alone Kelley. Sometimes I wonder if the publishers sent out two different copies of this book, and I got the bad, confusing, ultra-boring edition and others got some five-star, magi..."

Lol, you are funny! I thought the same thing when I read the 5 star reviews. I just don't get that people can fall in love with a book with such a shallow plot and characters. Maybe it's a bit of smoke and mirrors ;)

[Lauren]

I loved it, one of my favorites from last year.

[Dionne]

Liz wrote: "Dionne wrote: "Mandy wrote: "No you are not alone Kelley. Sometimes I wonder if the publishers sent out two different copies of this book, and I got the bad, confusing, ultra-boring edition and ot..."

She did a wonderful job with the atmosphere but for me story is about the people. It wasn't well-rounded enough for me.

Do you read a lot of fantasy or was this your first foray into the genre?

[Dionne]

Liz wrote: "Dionne wrote: "Liz wrote: "Dionne wrote: "Mandy wrote: "No you are not alone Kelley. Sometimes I wonder if the publishers sent out two different copies of this book, and I got the bad, confusing,..."

Cool, it's always interesting to get other people's perspective :) Reading is such a subjective thing.

[Debs]

I started enjoying the book but it just wandered all over the place after that, leading to a complete anti climax at the end. It was more like a comic stage performance where the characters come on and do their bit and then leave and the others appear. The challenge was completely pointless and took far to long to explain. The secondary characters actually had far more interest until you found out they were totally superfluous to the story. The circus itself was beautifully written about but again you found that was just a sub plot. I was so disappointed with the whole book. It had such potential and none of it was met. It just left me feeling really sad that people could repeatedly hurt each other so much and never learn and innocent people got stuck in the huge egos of the men setting up the challenge and suffered so much for it. Even the fact that a young innocent boy was practically forced into taking over the circus with no choice because of his love of the circus just added to the feeling of despair and heart ache.

[Karen]

I am on the fence about this book. I had to force myself to read for about the first third. Like others here, the description of the circus really pulled me in. That was enchanting and worth reading.

[Casey]

She created a fascinating world that was a pleasure to read about, but the love story & characters involved were too sappy and shallow. I enjoyed it enough to recommend it, though unenthusiastically.