For me, this was an enchanted novel written by a true magician. Reading The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is like being in a lucid dream. A part of you realizes you’re reading a book, but mostly you’re lost in its depths.
I have to say, be careful where you read this thing. It’s totally possible to forget where you are, how to cross a street, how to stir the soup, or whatever it is you are trying to do while reading. The book takes you over.
But let’s marvel at the magician – I mean the writer. How does one even begin to write in the second person, at times the first person, and the third person – all in the present tense? All with a rich, turn-of-the-century feel, an attention to detail, and a story and timelines that run on many levels? With places and settings you can walk through yourself, not just watch the characters walk through it. With characters that are sorcerers and real people, at the same time?
And even with all this sorcery, the experience feels as smooth as resting your head on a pillow.
This is a sweet, dreamy read. I was hoping it would never end.
About 10 years ago, I listened to this on an audiobook (or the equivalent to the technology at the time) while I was training for a half marathon. The daylight savings time change occurred a few weeks prior when I started the book so even though it was only like 5pm, I was running in the dark. It was very surreal, listening to this in the dark as I was running. It became even more surreal as people started putting up their Christmas lights. I kind of felt like I was experiencing the book in some way. It gives me a weird feeling just recollecting it.