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)

Nothing short of enchanting

This was a really engaging and unique story. The details paint such a great picture of this amazing circus that you will be thinking about it between reading and long after. You feel like you get to know the characters because you see so much of their emotions and cool abilities. All the magical (yet so well thought-out that they seem logical) details reminded me of Harry Potter- this author creates a whole world. Loved it and will definitely re-read sometime in the future.

Never really gets off the ground

Would you try another book from Erin Morgenstern and/or Jim Dale?

Probably not. At times it is a little hard to follow and although a clever story, it does not build much suspense and the end is anticlimactic. I enjoyed the listen, and I would mildly endorse others to read or listen, but have limited expectations.

A glittering, magical gem

I originally chose to listen to this book solely based on the fact that it was read by the incomparable Jim Dale. His voice is perfect to lure you to the magical destination of The Night Circus. The tale is lovely, well crafted and completely satisfying. A confection that I did not want to end.

Great narrator, ok book

Jim Dale never fails to deliver a great performance. I tried this book because it had said it was like Harry Potter. It isn't. While magic is rampant, and it is as creative, it's a love story. 2 kids learn magic to fight each other is a magical circus arena. There's no formal school shown (tho implied), the central stories are ultimately about a girl and a boy, and everyone is obsessed the the circus. the circus is with obsession, I hope there is or will be another book with higher focus on the magic and the circus.

Voices in my head

I loved the book and I enjoyed this audio version as well. The one thing I wish this book had was a female voice reading.

EXCELLENT Story + EXCELLENT Narrator = FIREWORKS!

Any additional comments?

Could somebody PLEASE build a circus like this one?! The entire time I was reading this, I kept wishing there REALLY WAS a Le Cirque des Reves to go visit! Real people pulled into a fantastic world within the circus --- doesn't that sound awesome! The writing is excellent! You have to stay focused as the author flips you back & forth in time, but I found it quite easy to stay on track as it all fit together into the greater story quite nicely. The characters were built very well. I was able to connect & build a feeling around each of them.

JIM DALE! VERY FAVORITE NARRATOR! I'd read (& probably like) any story he narrates. I would've loved this story regardless of the narrator. But when you put a "10!" story & a "10!" narrator together..........FIREWORKS!

Age recommendation: 12 & up (Due to the jumping back & forth in time, I'm afraid younger readers would miss each of the very important, very lovely aspects of the story.)

On a scale of 1-10 stars, I give it 10!

I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH!! 😭😭😭

I've been waiting all my life for a story like this. And I'm so incredibly glad I got to hear it first instead of reading it because Mr. Dale is a faaaaantastic narrator. I have yet to here any better set of voices.
It's nice to see someone else gets it😭😭😭

Brilliant!

I’m picky, but this book was amazing! Very well done! Writing style is perfect, narration is fabulous. Highly recommended.

Complex & Enchanting

I adored this book! Full of magic & intrigue & yet soft & delicate like a painting. Must read!

great story and narrator

the story unfolds like a Neil Gaiman tale. detailed world and character craft and a fun story.