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)

Save your credits.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

No. I purchased this book because the narrator read the Harry Potter series. I couldn't wait for it to end.

Has The Night Circus turned you off from other books in this genre?

Yes.

Have you listened to any of Jim Dale’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

He is a great narrator.

Could you see The Night Circus being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No. It would be a flop. Too much back and forth with the story line. Too many characters to keep track of. Too many 'powers' to keep track of.

Absolutely Enchanting!

Incredible writing, wonderful story, and always, Jim Dale is a captivating narrator. This book has a lot of the feeling that I loved so much in Harry Potter but with a much different flavor. The progression of the story back and forth through time was interesting and made it feel like a mystery novel. One of the best books that I've listened to in a long time.

Amazing book

If I could give it more than 5 stars I would. My new favorite book!

Startlingly beautiful

This is an amazing book, a fantasy and much, much more. I had never heard of the book or the author when I listened to it, and I was puzzled that I had never heard of it before. In college, I wolfed down books, and am still an avid reader at the age of 74. I was certain this moving, unusual, brilliant book was a classic I hadn't heard of before. I thought maybe I should ask for my money back from Wellesley College, my Alma Mater, as they had failed to educate me properly. I'm also a published writer (mystery stories) and have a pretty good ear for language. "Night Circus" is, to put it simply, one of the most beautifully written books I've read. The writing is evocative and lovely. To read it is like falling into a dream. Congratulations and blessings, Erin Morgenstern. Just keep going.

This is a great read

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

Yes, the book is well written. It has a great story line.

What did you like best about this story?

The character are very realistic and easy to relate to.

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

He puts a voice to each of the characters. When you read the book you don't get to experience the changes is expression in the characters voices.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I listened to this book when ever I could. It took be about three days to listen to it start to finish. I loved it so much I listened to it again right after finishing it.

Any additional comments?

I highly recommend this book.

Wasn't quite hooked

Very well written to be sure but I wasn't quite hooked. Some of it may have been the frequent time changes. I'm a visual person and every time the year was stated I couldn't remember the previous timeline. It was well written though so I listened to it for the descriptions. It might just be that I'm not really into romance.

Amazing

Thisis one of my favorites ever! An amazing story of magic and real life entertained. Sophisticated and engaging!

Great story, excellent performance

I was glad to have chosen this book - the story synopsis was a bit odd, but I liked Jim Dale's reading in the Harry Potter series and took a chance. The Night Circus jumps back and forth in time, weaving a complex story that keeps you guessing until the end. Strong characters, a fascinating plot, and an excellent performance by Mr. Dale. Highly recommended!

Storytelling that truly paints a picture

What made the experience of listening to The Night Circus the most enjoyable?

I read this amazing book already and couldn't get over how incredibly visual it is. So, once I saw it was available on audio, I knew I had to own it! I have always been a fan of Jim Dale as a narrator (The Harry Potter audio book series) and so I couldn't click the "purchase" button fast enough when I saw he was the narrator of The Night Circus.

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

It has whimsical and magical tones reminiscent of Harry Potter. There really isn't anything like The Night Circus.

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

The voices of his characters is phenomenal. I particularly enjoy the voice of Poppet. I couldn't imagine anyone else telling this story.

Any additional comments?

You will find yourself listening to this over and over again.

Magical, but not always engaging

I really wanted to enjoy this book, and as I became accustomed to the somewhat cold characters and started to simply luxuriate in the wonders of the circus, I began to really enjoy it. The descriptive writing is truly splendid. However, few of the characters are really that interesting in themselves. The reader does not help this. He's actually a very good reader, and I think with another book I'd enjoy him. Not this book though. His measured, somewhat aloof reading, although it seems to be well matched to tone of the book, interfered with the magic and made the characters seem even less accessible. This may be a book that's better read the traditional way, so your imagination has a chance to absorb it.