The Night Circus question

I agree with you, Jessica. The descriptions of the circus were very vivid and I'm sure it would make a beautiful movie. I prefer more character development, which I found lacking in this book. I wouldn't read it again.

I really enjoyed the book. I wish it had a little more of an ending though.

I loved this book, and how descriptive it was. My one suggestion to potential readers is to follow the dates at the begining of the chapters TO A T. It took a while for me to realize that was important - and difficult to flip around very much on my Kindle.

I found it full of set-pieces rather than character development. I really liked the relationship between Celia and Mario, but it didn't go anywhere. I was pleased I'd read it, because I really loved the circus and I thought the idea of a magical feud which produces something amazing was really really good, but so much of the feud happens offstage, and so much of the book is taken up by world-building without a big payoff.

This book has stuck in my mind, though, which is unusual and a testament to the set-pieces, I think.

I think it was an underdeveloped book that promised much and gave little. It was confusing; at times I felt like dismantling the book and putting it back together in chronological order to see if it would make more sense that way. I'm still not sure what it was all about or who (and why) was pulling the strings. Whilst the writing was pretty, the storyline was weak to say the least. Two men pitching young people together, one his own daughter and the other some random orphan. I don't expect a magic realism novel to make much sense but an aim/ending would have been appreciated. Having said all that, it was enjoyable enough for me to give it 4 stars.

The confusing part was honestly the best part for me :P I actually really liked the vagueness of the whole plot cuz the author kinda left the story to our imagination and it made readers actually think and process what they're reading, rather than gulping down a book with a too simple storyline. The writing style was also AMAAAAZING especially the imagery :D And it's a stand alone book, and I think the author put enough detail about the characters, or it would've been too much. It had the prefect balance for everything lool. I personally LOVED this book ^.^

To start with I struggled with the book but then my imagination took hold & I really enjoyed the book! Yes very very vivid & at times a little surreak! I did wonder if the end of the book was "The End" or a tail off for another sequel! Its a book that makes you think

I found it intense, but not too confusing :)

hell yeah, i understood like a 1/3 of it, so i was basically hanging by a string with undersanding it. need read it again i guess~

it was kind of boring, i actually thought of putting it down. i mean i enjoyed it and all but in my opinion i thought it was over-hyped. *shrugs*

Intense it's supposed to be. I had my problems with the book but was oddly charmed by it and was actually routing for the characters at the end (Despite Marco kinda being a dick.) I like ti for it's intensity. As for confusing... I found the dates a little befuddling at times but otherwise I thought it was quite straightforward.

Nope

Holy Crap! YES!!!! As much as I liked this book, It confused the hell out of me!

I recently wrote a review on this one. I agree, and I thought the main problem was Morgenstern was too wrapped up in impersonal descriptions about the circus at the expense of driving forward the plot and exploring her characters more deeply.

I listened to this as an audio book and so glad I did. I don't think I would have understood it as well if I was reading it. I don't usually like this kind of fantasy but I really enjoyed it being read to me.

I wasn't able to finish it, I read it fast ( diagonal reading) missing some pages. I found it boring and the characters too twisted and sad

This book is our One Book this year and I loved it. I found the environments and the circus to be a character in its own right, and I loved the backdrop and the sadness of the magician's duel. I did have to get past the first couple of chapters to fall in love, but once they started building the circus, I was hooked.

As a point, my co-worker and I put the story in chronological order, and unfortunately, it reveals too much of the plot. All the secrets are wiped away and leave nothing to be discovered.


Jamie

Nope. I actually found it to be a very easy read and was done reading it pretty quickly. I enjoyed the descriptions of the circus tents.

Love this book. What's not to understand? It was the unseen world of magic that most people are not aware of. If you believe there are things beyond our understanding that most people are not aware of, this book offers a look at the "invisible" world around us.

As far as understanding is concerned, this is not a book to pick up now and then. It must be read within a short span of time so that everything remains fresh in the reader's mind.

The parts I understood were not interesting and the parts I might have potentially been interested in were glazed over with such a thick layer of gooey descriptions that I lost interest.

This is the kind of book to let you take yourself along with. I loved the way it went from one thing to the next. I never had an idea where it was going or where it was taking me. It was a fun ride. The language was fine, the surprises many, the characters, as they were supporting the story, were wonderful. The book was just a joy to ride with. To try to figure it out along the way would have been a distracting. That was not what this book was about.

Jessica wrote: "i read this book recently but i honestly didnt grasp the book at all a few good parts now and again but for the main i was totally in the dark??"

Yes, it is confusing. I had to read it twice. The second time around was better. If your mind wanders the book is not right for you at this time. It is a book you have to pay attention too. I think I wrote things done, to keep it straight in my mind. I don't think you are alone. This book got alot of mixed reviews. Some loved, some hated. etc.

This is good but the flipping timelines made it confusing. I so love Marco and Celia's love story but I pity Isobel though.

I loved it! I was confused at first as it kept jumping from year to year and then back again but then I just stopped thinking and went with it which really helped as it pulled me in even more.

it's one of those books that you don't want to end but then you want it to end to find out what happens. I like that the ending wasn't complete as it leaves it open to your imagaination and also keeps it in tone with the mystery throughout the book.

If you think about it, the ending is quite beautiful and simple, the circus is under new management, still going as it was and Celia and Marco haunt it like ghosts would but can finally stay together without complications.

The only thing it leaves open is whether Alexander (the man in the grey suit) keeps to his end of the deal after Widget tells the story. It's wonderful to think it was actually Widget's story that you have been reading.

OK, I tried with this one but is very hard to get into. After reading comments I am pretty sure I won't finish it. Needs more development and flow, very confusing!!!

Fantastic book. The imagination of the writer is impressive to say the least. My minds eye loved every minute. This book will stay with me for a really long time.

I had trouble with it too. A nice concept for a story, but it was disjointed on and off. There are too many other good books out there, so I won't waste my time with this one.

Omg!!! i totally loved this book, i got confused with the dates but that was about it. LOVED IT SOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!! :)

I started this book, got half way through, but put it down and never picked it up again. Honestly, I don't know if I liked it or not! A little confusing....I'm not certain I'll ever finish this book.

I was a bit confused at bits -- and I think that's largely because it was my first book on an eReader, and I didn't have the comfort of flipping between timelines to keep Marco/Celia's story straight as it merged with Bailey's.

That being said, I loved the book simply for its entertainment value, and definitely mean to re-read here soon. Maybe I'll find something different a second time around -- who knows?

I picked up a copy because of the summary on the cover. It promised lots of action (two characters fighting to the death, apparently) and romance. But I didn't get either of those two! Sure, there was romance, but I didn't feel like it was moving enough. I didn't like the main characters so there was nothing there for me. Also, what happened to fighting for their lives? I was so confused about what was actually going on all the time. But I did like the circus. I would want to go to something like that if it actually existed.

I Bought this book becuase it was supposed to be the next big thing. Im still not sure of half of what I read. I think I liked the book, Maybe. i was at times lost in the story other times I was just plan lostand had to back track to see if I could find where I missed the story line.

Jessica you're not the only one! This book was chosen for my book club and I had a really difficult time getting into it.
For me, the plot was far too slow in the beginning; I felt like it took ages for me to get hooked. When I finally did, it was because of *****spoiler***** Marco and Celia finally realized each others' identities and the inevitable love that came with the discovery. (I'm a sucker for star-crossed lovers.) Other than that, I found myself drowning in Morgenstern's descriptions, so much so that I couldn't truly appreciate the poetic nature of them.
There was so much descriptive work that I was overwhelmed while trying to piece the picture in my head.
To add to Judy's note, there wasn't enough character development for me either and I felt a certain relief when putting it down, being almost grateful that I could leave the characters and their world behind. It was a bit disappointing really, because I like the concept and thought I would have gotten into this book. Not all can be winners, I suppose.

It was a fairly interesting book with absolutely beautiful visuals, but the flaw in that is that is this a book and not a movie. As a book, it lacked a lot of characterization and plot, both of which were flimsy at best. Had the author attempted to write this as an exploration of different magical fields, something more Henry James in nature, I could forgive it, but it was supposed to be plot and character-driven and it just fell short. It was a good effort, but not good enough, and you can definitely tell that the author doesn't have much experience writing or in literature.

Help me find the good part in this book. It was a verbal tease. I want my money back.

I would read it again if I were you. This is absolutely one of my most favorite books of all time. I agree it could be confusing, but that was part of the ... um... "message?" if I can call it that?

Kimberly Ann...don't fret. There are no good parts! Not in my edition. Seriously. Well, maybe that's the problem here. The story takes itself too seriously. No humor or light-heartedness in the relationships or the scenarios...it's deadly serious because it is Victorian magic and no one had fun back then. ???

The book was confusing and can't be blamed on just the time shifts. In some places it simply needed more sentences to explain motivation or feelings or circumstances that were propelling the characters or the plot. Instead we got pictures of their food and clothes.

Re-reading would just be like banging your head against the wall. You'd only be hurting yourself.