The Night Circus

A Novel

By: Erin Morgenstern

Narrated by: Jim Dale

Length: 13 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's 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.

Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.

©2011 Erin Morgenstern (P)2011 Random House

Critic reviews

" The Night Circus made me happy. Playful and intensely imaginative, Erin Morgenstern has created the circus I have always longed for, and she has populated it with dueling love-struck magicians, precocious kittens, hyper-elegant displays of beauty, and complicated clocks. This is a marvelous book." (Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler's Wife)

"Self-assured, entertaining debut that blends genres and crosses continents in quest of magic…. Generous in its vision and fun to read. Likely to be a big book—and, soon, a big movie, with all the franchise trimmings." ( Kirkus Reviews)

"Debut author Morgenstern doesn't miss a beat in this smashing tale of greed, fate, and love... a giant, magical story destined for bestsellerdom. This is an electric debut on par with Special Topics in Calamity Physics." ( Publishers Weekly)

Well ?

Would you listen to The Night Circus again? Why?

No - because once was enough . This book was so good until the end. I felt like it just ended and I missed something. I rewound the last 6 chapters to see if I missed one. It was incredible until the end.

If you’ve listened to books by Erin Morgenstern before, how does this one compare?

First one to listen to by Erin.

What does Jim Dale bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The reader is excellent. I would listen to more of him with joy.

Who was the most memorable character of The Night Circus and why?

I liked all of the characters - each one was unique and interesting.

Any additional comments?

I wish the author would go back and redo the end. This would be a great movie!

a truly magical read!

A book Ive put off for a long time but it was magical as they say and as much as this isnt my usual genre, I truly enjoyed the story. dont read the reviews or synopsis too much just dive right in! #magical #suspenseful #femaleprotangonist #tagsgiving #sweepstakes

Enchanting story

The story is very compelling, full of details and interesting tidbits, but I had a slight problem following the timeline at some moments and felt that after a long preparation of a scene, the event went through a little bit too fast. I had a feeling like on a rollercoaster - it is slow to take you to the top and then it's a crazy ride down.
It was a long book with a lot of characters, but the focus was only on a few and the rest was just a colourless background. For the amount of details I got about Celia and Marko, I would have loved to find out more about Laney, Ethan and Chandresh, and more backstory about Alexander and Prospero, not just an offhand comment at the end.
I like the book, it was interesting and well written, I just feel it left me wanting for more instead of just the bittersweet love story on the background of tragedy.
#Magical #TorturedHero

Ambitious, but...

In the interest of brevity I will omit the recap of the story as I feel that if one were to desire to read this book after reading my review. My recap would only serve to be superflous. I had many problems with this book, but again, in the interest of keeping things short i will only discuss the top 2.

Erin Morgenstern was definitely ambitious in her scope and desire to blend three very popular novels, seamlessly into one. Sadly, for people like myself, that have read all three, this book offers very little in the way of originality, and where there should be surprises she serves up hot gaudy contrivancies. The character development is very clumsy and at times seems to be hurried and created for an effect rather than to add to the story. J.K. Rowling, Suzanne Clarke, and Stephanie Meyer can rest easy, this story at its best is only an echo of what they've already done, and it's not at its best very often.

The next question I have is: Why use Jim Dale in the audiobook? Mr. Dale is Brilliant in the Harry Potter novels (in the same genre?). The problem is; what voice of his have we not heard? Within the seven Potter books he must have covered every sentax, dialect, and accent to be found in, on and around Europe. I love the guy (his readings were what pulled me into the stories), but if I were him, I would never want to read another wizarding, magician, magical book ever again. For those that are familiar, listen for the voices of Harry, Madeye, Hermione, Seamus Fennigan, and the rest, all alive and crystal clear, but in the wrong book saying the wrong things.

As I said, I had many issues with this book, but these 2 should put you on the right track to deciphering this books problems or pleasures.

Surprising!

Any additional comments?

I don't typically like books where you have to suspend reason to follow the story, but this book pulled me in before I knew what was happening. Nice weaving of the story and I did not find it to be predictable. Great book! can't wait til the movie!

Read the kindle version twice!

I read this book on my kindle twice before listening to the audiobook. So I was already a huge fan of the book. Adding Jim Dale's voice made it all the more magical. I'm pretty partial to him since I loved Pushing Daisies and listening to him narrate the Harry Potter books.

But this book is a magical story about how two magically inclined people were forced into a competition to the death, not that they are in a physical battle with one another, but things change when they start to have feelings for one another.

Erin Morgenstern does a great job with her debut book. It keeps me captivated and always wanting to continue listening/reading.

Story telling in its perfection!

After reading the reviews, I still went forward with this book. Part of it was that the writer was heavily influenced by Neil Gayman as based upon some of the reviews and an interview that I heard. What I couldn't understand after reading this book is how anyone could possibly give it a negative rating ... They would either have to have, no understanding of intricate detail, magic, or the subtleties of the imagination or they would have to be a very young, inexperienced reader.. This is a book that I re-read immediately after the first time and I look forward to the next time I read it again. The Author has captured Classic story telling in all of its glory. The narrator garnished that glory with the magic that is only available to a master story teller. The circus appeared in the night ... what a wonderful way to start a day.

You could listen over and over...

And hear something new and wondrous each time. My favorite by far. Be inspired. Be enlightened. Fall in love.

Favorite book ever

What other book might you compare The Night Circus to and why?

It's like no book I have ever read

Which scene was your favorite?

There were many good scenes

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was compelled to read every day.

pure magic

An amazing performance which should be listened to again and again, always fresh! Jim Dale makes magic come alive....