The Night Circus in Challenge Corner

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The Night Circus

Erin Morgenstern

Start date: January 1, 2020

Finish date: January 31, 2020

Discussion: Book of the Month

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What Members Thought

Feb 26, 2013 Lu rated it really liked it

The Night Circus only opens at night and it pops up unannounced and seems to follow no set schedule. The circus however, is not your run of the mill circus. There are tents that you can't even imagine, tents that amaze and surprise, and not to mention the food. It is not something you sit through, it is something you experience, something you will always remember!

A young girl and boy are chosen for a challenge, that will put their training to the test. They don't know who their opponents are, wh ...more

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Apr 06, 2011 Shruti morethanmylupus rated it it was amazing

What an amazing book; full of metaphor and circus magic. Truly one of the best books that I read this year - and definitely on the best reads of my life list. I suspect this is going to be a love it or hate it book for most people, depending on how much they are bothered by the fact that the characters aren't as well-developed as one usually expects from a book. It must be read with an open mind, and I certainly suppressed my more cynical tendencies just as I do when attending a magic show.

I ado What an amazing book; full of metaphor and circus magic. Truly one of the best books that I read this year - and definitely on the best reads of my life list. I suspect this is going to be a love it or hate it book for most people, depending on how much they are bothered by the fact that the characters aren't as well-developed as one usually expects from a book. It must be read with an open mind, and I certainly suppressed my more cynical tendencies just as I do when attending a magic show.

I adored this book. Morgenstern truly made the magic of the circus come alive for me. I found that I was so captivated by the characters that I was still thinking about them even as I stepped away from the book. The characters came alive and the relationships between them were never dull. Not because they took on a tawdry drama but because they developed over many years in the subtle way that real relationships do even without the magical factor.

The third person narrative isn't my favorite, but in my opinion Morgenstern pulled it off. I will say that this book is about imagery and relationships. It is touted to be about the competition between magicians - and it is - just not in the manner of action and violence a la The Magicians or Harry Potter. People who are expecting that sort of magical competition and a fast-moving action-based plot will be disappointed. In addition, it should be noted that the plot has some holes. (view spoiler) I recognized this, but given the context of the book I wasn't as bothered as I probably would have been in other story-lines. After all, the whole context of the book is a magical circus; it defies reason.

Usually, I am a person who looks for distinct characters that are well-developed and draw a strong reaction from me, even if it is not a positive one. In this book, however, the characters are not nearly as well developed as are their relationships with other characters and with the circus. This may bother some people. Certainly, it would usually bother me. Honestly, though, this book wasn't so much about them as it was about the circus and how they interact with it and with each other as a result of their interactions with the circus.

I could have read this book in one delicious marathon read except that I wanted it to go on and on as long as possible because I absolutely didn't want to say goodbye to the circus. Beautifully done. ...more

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Jun 08, 2012 Trisha rated it liked it

I've been reading this on and off for a couple of months and taking breaks to read others in between. I think any time that I take a break from a book is not a good sign. It means I got bored. But, I guess I did keep coming back so that makes it worth something.

The stories were interesting and I did like the idea and concept of the magic and the circus.

I, however, love character development through a book. I normally want to feel like I understand why someone acts a certain way or makes the choi ...more

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Dec 27, 2011 Mandi rated it it was amazing

In the beginning, I wasn't exactly sure how to feel about switching characters every chapter. But, as the story progressed, it worked out very well. You get to see what is going on with everyone and how they actually relate to the Circus. It was really enjoyable. All of the characters were great. It is also a very detailed, and can be a slow story, so be prepared. It didn't bother me at all though. The ending was unexpected, but it was a good ending. Although I was confused about what happened t ...more

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