The Night Circus: IMBT

Before I left for vacation I asked my friends for book recommendations.  A few mentioned The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.  For some inexplicable reason I was skeptical, but since those who recommended it gave it such high praise I figured I would give it a go.

So SO SO glad I did.

For those who are interested, here is a synopsis from the New York Times review (if you'd rather read the book knowing very few details in advance - as I did - then skip this paragraph):  "The setting is the late 19th and early 20th centuries in and around major world cities — New York, London, Paris, Boston and so on. The Cirque des Rêves is an entertainment that whirls through these cities, appearing suddenly, disappearing suddenly, filled with psychics and contortionists and elaborate rooms and labyrinths of great holographic intensity. People are overwhelmingly drawn to the circus. Some, known as “rêveurs,” even go so far as to follow it from town to town dressed uniformly in black, white and red à la Diana Vreeland, maybe. Caught in the power vectors of the Cirque des Rêves are two special children, Marco and Celia, who grow to adulthood over the course of the novel. Both are orphans; both have been hypertrained by stern guardians in telekinetic and psychic powers; eventually, it is revealed that the two have been groomed since an early age to be each other’s “opponents” in a contest of magical creation, of which the circus is the arena. The guardians have created this contest for what seems to be nothing but their own sense of power, and they are ruthless in seeing it through to the end: death for the loser. Celia grows to be an illusionist whose illusions aren’t really illusions (she turns clothing into birds and can change the color of a fabric with her mind, among other powers); Marco can create entire worlds at will, invented environments of great beauty, simply by passing his hands over one’s eyes. Eventually, of course, they meet, fall in love, defy their fate."

The Night Circus is magical and emotional and whimsical and delightful and immersive, but it was the love story thread that really kept me from being able to put it down.  How would they meet?  What would happen when they kissed?  Would they find a way to be together?  I skipped a handful of activities on our cruise that I might otherwise have been interested in because all I wanted to do was find out what would happen next.  I even cried after one particularly heart-breaking section.  After I finished the book I actually went back and re-read a couple chapters that were exceptionally wonderful so I could experience the beautiful writing and emotional punch for a second time.  The copy I read was borrowed from the library, but I plan on purchasing one so that a) I can read it again in its entirety and b) I can share it with any of my friends who would like to read it.


My only criticism (and it is a very small one) (also, this is slightly spoiler-y if you didn't read the synopsis - just in that I'm mentioning names) is that I wanted to go even deeper into Marco & Celia's thoughts.  I wanted to know more about what they were feeling and experiencing.  The Night Circus has so many wonderful characters, and I was glad to meet them all, but its heart and soul is Marco & Celia and I would've loved to delve even further with them.


Regardless, The Night Circus is being added to my list of All-Time Favorite Books.  I can't wait to read it again!