Discussion Question #14

[Amy]

What did you think of Marco and Celia's relationship? Why did they fall in love?

[Amy]

Well, here we go . . .this gets into the things about the novel I really didn't like. I found Marco and Celia's relationship unbelievable and very cliche. I couldn't stand reading some of the parts. I realize the idea was that they were almost halves of a whole, but it was so cheesy it made me feel a little pukey. I guess they fell in love because they had no other choice, really. They were bound to one another, and even without Isobel's intervention, they would have fallen in love. I just wish the "love story" part and "chemistry" would have been real, not contrived.

[Amy]

I never though I would say this about any book ever...I think Twilight did a better job at romance than this book could ever think of doing! It was awful!!! Just when I thought that there was some kind of tension starting, it was over. And it happened again and again. While I thought that the Twilight books were not very well written books, they did a great job at making you "feel the love", feel the build up, etc. They made you want the characters to be in love. And all without sex! (for the first 3 books anyway) I never felt anything like that in this book! I couldn't have cared less if the fell in love or got married or lived happily ever after...I just didn't care! And did they fall in love????? I'm not really sure...honestly, I think that growing up with no love or compassion in your life could make you into a sociopath. A sociopath with magical powers??? Oh boy!!! That just spells disaster!! I think Marco (or even Celia) could have used love as an edge in the competition.

[Amy]

I haven't read Twilight, but I agree...didn't care. AT ALL.

[Sheryl]

That's one of the problems with this book, there is so much going on that a lot of the story lines, like the romance, come off as kind of half baked. With a book like Twilight at least the romance is always kept in the forefront, but that wasn't the case here. When they first met, I thought there was this underlying sense of magic to their initial attraction, but then it didn't really take off.

[Tasha]

I have given up on Night Circus. I let it go back to the library today . . . oh well.

[Amy]

Sheryl wrote: "That's one of the problems with this book, there is so much going on that a lot of the story lines, like the romance, come off as kind of half baked. With a book like Twilight at least the romance ..."

Exactly!

[Amy]

Tasha wrote: "I have given up on Night Circus. I let it go back to the library today . . . oh well."

Honestly...don't think you're missing out! lol

[Amy]

I agree!! Btw, Tasha, do you want to pick one? I was just thinking we should start something new...

[Tasha]

Well, my book club just finished The Paris Wife. Any interest in that one? It was interesting and a fairly quick read.

[Amy]

Sure, I am fine with anything!

[Amy]

Just realized which book this was...it is on my nook wishlist, so yay!

[Amy]

Just started it...it made me think of Midnight in Paris. :)

[Tasha]

Yes, that is what someone said when we discussed it. I haven't seen the movie yet, though.

[Amy]

Finished it today!

[Tasha]

Do you want me to add discussion questions as a June selection for the book club? Or May?

[Amy]

Sure! End of May/start of June works for me! Other Amy Rennie, did you read it yet?

[Amy]

Oh goodness it has been a crazy month! I am probably not going to get to it! Sorry! : (

I will try for next month's book!!

[Amy]

Ok! But tead it someday...it is good!

[Amy]

OK! I will! I feel like a book slacker! I have read about 20 pages in the last month! Why does my stinkin' job have to interfere so much???

[C.J.]

I just finished this book and wanted to see what others were thinking and feeling about it. In some ways I felt it was such a delicious concoction--and so visual. I kept imagining it as a movie.
But where it didn't go, was into the hearts and souls of the characters. Again, I felt like I was "watching" characters on a screen instead of living inside of them the way you do with the best novels. So to finally answer the question, I didn't "Not" believe they were in love. But I didn't really feel it, or desperately wish for them to be together, either. And given the adversity they both faced in their lives, we really should have cared more.

[Amy]

Absolutely!

[Amy]

Well said C.J.!!!!

[[deleted user]]

I have not arrived to Marco and Celia's love yet (judging by the comments I may never) but I understood they were in competition with each other, which doesn't expressly prohibit love but I am actually more interested for Bailey to see the red-haired girl again.

[Amy]

You know, when I think of this book now, the only part I really think of is Bailey's story. He was the one character who felt REAL to me.

[C.J.]

Amy, you are so right about that. I loved Bailey too.