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)

Just great.

Wonderful display of methafores. Celia and Marco connection and relationship is pure magic. Jim Dale as the narrador also a major plus.

Fantastic book

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I highly recommend this book, rarely have I been so hooked so quickly.

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

Jim Dale brings books to life.

a unique story

one of the most unusual yet fascinating stories I've heard in a long time. very well narrated.

One of my favorite books

Jim Dale did a phenomenal reading of this story. I had bought the book a year ago, and read several times, but this audio version added a new dimension to the fantasy. This will be one that I listen to and read for many times to come.

Whimsical and Decadent Read

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I'm not embarrassed in the slightest to say that I've re-listened to this title 4 times in the past year alone. After the first listen, I weaned all color (aside from red) from my wardrobe to mimic the monochrome-with-a-splash-of-scarlet worn by the circus-enthusiast Rêveurs in the novel. After the second listen, I re-acquainted myself with my own deck of tarot cards and began doing frequent readings for friends a la Isobel. After the third and fourth reads, I knew this was a text that would stick with me for life. The intricate universe in which this novel exists is easy to lose oneself in from the get-go, due in large part to the rich descriptions and immersive sense of place that the author establishes. For anyone who's had the pleasure of attending Punch Drunk's Sleep No More, this feels like it's literary equivalent. All five of your senses are submerged in whimsy and magic. Do not miss this listen.

Who was your favorite character and why?

It's so difficult to chose one character as a favorite. I think the menagerie of personalities (and the way they coexist in the universe of the circus) is one of the most compelling things about this read--it's a literary ensemble of unforgettable and complex characters.

What about Jim Dale’s performance did you like?

I grew up listening to Dale's narration of the Harry Potter series -- he underscored our car rides, long walks, and bedtime stories with his soothing cadence and excellent command of characters. He brings the same articulation, character distinction, and emotive energy to his narration of The Night Circus.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

For those of you new to The Night Circus, please note that I have included spoilers below.

A moment that's giving me chills just TYPING about it is the eulogy that Lanie gives at her sister's funeral. It captures the immense bond between sisters in a simple, understated, and wildly tear-jerking paragraph.

okay,,not great.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I wouldn't recommend this book. I found it left me puzzled. It was hard to follow. Others may like it and that's okay. I just wasn't real fond of the story.

Step right up!

Would you listen to The Night Circus again? Why?

I would listen to this story again because I hated leaving this world at the end of the book.

A really fun listen!

A wonderful narrator, and a fun story. **spoilers** I just wish they went into more detail when revealing the challenge and why the circus was an ideal venue. The falling in love and lack of obstacles other than the challenge to the love story almost felt too easy and bordering on cheesy. Some of the sub-plots deserved a little more closure. On the whole I really enjoyed it and would recommend it!

Magical!

Loved this book! The story was excellent: unexpected turns and twists; interesting characters; fantastical but believable.

Great story read by Jim Dale

I have enjoyed listening to Jim Dale since the Harry Potter audio books came out. The story itself was well written; I listened during the long commute into DC, and I could mentally & visually "see" the circus as the story went along.
The storyline could be a bit confusing due to the time jumps if one was not paying attention, but I loved that the ending was open, the author leaves it up to the imagination of the individual readers to think about what could happen after the book ends!