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.

  • breadkittensayy@alien.topB
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    10 months ago

    Meh, this book to me was a super cool idea and had massive potential but was really wasted. It was really, really boring and neither of the main characters were particularly likable. There was essentially was no plot, just pages and pages of descriptions, somewhere in the middle the secrets of the circus were uncovered and all the magic was gone.