The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Date Published: September 13, 2011
Publisher: Doubleday
Pages: 400
ISBN: 978-0385534635
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5


Book Summary: The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.


But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.


True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.


My Thoughts: The Night Circus is an amazing book that engages all of your senses and impacts every emotion. I’ve read very few books with plots that involve fantasy and magic. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to read The Night Circus although I’ve always loved the circus. The reviews I read by bloggers and critics were extremely positive and then, one day while shopping in a bookstore, I saw a hardcover copy of this book for the first time. It’s a breathtakingly beautiful book with a gorgeous cover and very detailed graphics throughout the book. I didn’t hesitate to purchase a copy. When I read it, I discovered that the beautiful design of the book is lifted from the pages of this amazing story and Erin Morgenstern’s very detailed images of the circus.


Ms. Morgenstern transports you to a different world with her detailed, lush descriptions of every feature of the circus from the grass on which the circus tents sit to the food and drink available for the patrons. Reading this book was like having my most wondrous dream become a reality. It’s simply enchanting. The circus in these pages is called Le Cirque des Rêves, The Circus of Dreams because that’s what it is. Ms. Morgenstern’s alluring, lyrical and rich prose brings the vivid images of the circus to life enabling readers to ‘see‘ her vision in all its glory. Ever word feels specifically chosen to enhance Ms. Morgenstern’s amazingly creative vision I felt like I could see and smell the exhibits, the clothing and food detailed in these pages when I closed my eyes.


There’s a host of interesting, eccentric characters in The Night Circus. Many are developed only to the degree necessary for their role. Their secrets and mysterious nature serve to enhance the magical world of the circus. Celia and Marco, the main characters, are the most detailed, fully-developed. They are young children in the early chapters of the book when they are being educated and groomed to compete against one another. Marco is often evasive and remains a bit of an enigma for most of the book. There were several times in the story when I wasn’t sure he could be or should be trusted.


Celia is a sweet, smart young girl who grows into a mature, complex woman. She’s intelligent, kind, emotional, strong and reserved. Celia cannot separate her professional and her private life much as she’d like to. As her worlds become more hopelessly and inextricably intertwined, she struggles desperately to juggle what is required of her with what she desires seeking, as well, to avoid harming anyone. Celia knows something must be sacrificed to make everything work but she’s not sure what that is. Can she preserve the world of the circus and bring the competition to an end without anyone losing?


Le Cirque des Rêves is a world of beauty, elegance, laughter and light. But, as in many Sadness, worry, and uncertainly linger beneath the beauty and merriment heightening the suspense and mystery of the circus world. Ms. Morgenstern has searched the depths of her imagination to give us this captivating story thereby encouraging us to use our own imagination as we read The Night Circus. This is a book that must be read, experienced for anyone to fully understand the wonder and beauty in its pages. I highly recommend The Night Circus for everyone. You won’t be disappointed.

Erin Morgenstern’s website.  Be sure to check it out!