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)

Magical!

I love this story and the narrator is a favorite. I was excited to hear this performance and it didn't disappoint!

AMAZING!

I opted for The Night Circus to be my first audio book and it did not disappoint! The narrator was phenomenally matched with this whimsical tale!

One of my ultimate favorites!

I have read and listened to The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern many times. It is absolutely one of my favorite books.
If you loved Harry Potter and the world that JK Rowling created, you should read this book. It is amazing.

Such a delightful read. I laughed and cried

Seems cliche to laugh and cry but I did. I was taken with all of the characters except for Celia's overbearing father Hector. I listened to some chapters repeatedly because I enjoyed the flourish of Erin's word selection. Great read!

A Dreamlike Book and Circus

This is my second time reading it (and listening to it). It was as beautiful and magical and dreamlike as the first time. The narration really helped add to the mysterious and magical atmosphere of the book. All the characters I love (except Prospero) and even the circus itself seems to be it's own character. I absolutely loved it.

Jim Dale

You really do not need more reason to listen to The Night Circus than the narrator alone - his voice is the end all be all of narration IMO. No one makes a story feel quite so magical as Mr. Dale does. This was another library listen as well that I later purchased to be able to revisit time and again!

BEAUTIFUL! BEAUTIFUL! BEAUTIFUL!

This is why I READ books on tape. The wonder, the merriment. The Joy. This is one of those I didn't want to end.

Okay, it is a little dark and somewhat sad. But I can't wait to hear it again and again.

Another outstanding preformance by Jim Dale

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

The mystery of the circus comes to life, the already rich descriptions of the different acts and shows are amplified by Jim Dale's reading.

uncertain at first

touch and go towards the beginning, struggled to get to the middle. once you're there though it picks up and is very entertaining.

Way too long!

This book just kept going and going and going. It was very slow in the beginning, then got a little better in the 2nd half, but I found it hard to focus and enjoy the story. In fact, several of the aide stories and chapters could've been left out entirely. I understand it's a magical setting and needs development, but my desire to be inspired by the magical elements and surprises left long before the end. I found the last 3 or so chapters wholly unnecessary.

The narrator was very good.