Michael
Erin Morgenstern paints a picture of a magical circus known as Le Cirque des Rêves, or Circus of Dreams, that is unlike any other circus in the world. Draped
only in black and white, the circus that appears in a new location overnight
without warning and features mystical tents that can hold an entire garden made
out of ice, carousel animals that breathe, and moving statues. The circus was
to be the stage of two magicians who are pitted against each other in a
mysterious challenge. The Night’s Circus delivered exactly what it had
promised, a quick and enjoyable read to pass the time. Morgenstern does a beautiful
job describing the circus in images so vivid that it makes the reader want to
step into the book and enjoy the circus. That being said however, any analysis
of the actual story will leave a person frustrated. The story had started off
as an interesting premise but eventually devolved into simply another tale
about star-crossed lovers. The constant time skips serve nothing more than to perplex
the reader. Although the major qualm I have with this book is the ending. Throughout
the novel there was plenty of build up towards a climax in which the challenge
is explained, however it did not happen. Truthfully the ending felt like
Morgenstern was running out of time and needed to come up with a conclusion
quickly since it left the reader confused with more questions than answers. However,
other parts of the ending were so cliché and predictable that the reader could
guess what was going happen before part two of the book. I would recommend this
book only if it were to be used as a time-killer say on a long plane ride or
relaxing on the beach.
Sherry
The writing, plot, and execution of her story wasa lackluster to say
the least.
I prefer imagery to complement a plot rather than substitute it.
The book dragged on and felt incredibly tiresome due to her
never-ending descriptions.
I wouldn't even recommend it to someone looking for an "easy"
read. It was just all so predictable.
I would write more about it but I've honestly tried to forget as much of it as I could in the last 3 months...
I would write more about it but I've honestly tried to forget as much of it as I could in the last 3 months...
Anusha
The Night Circus was an enjoyable book with a slew of characters and luxurious
settings. Personally, I did not feel that this was a book for a critical reader
out for a tale that would engage his or her ideas about the world, but if one
was looking for a light read filled with a mysterious romance, the Night Circus
is a wonderful place. The characters are not quite believable, but a little
more dreamlike in nature: the powerful Celia, the handsome Marcus, the
marvelous Chandresh, and the dark Alexander. The settings and the description
of the more physical details can carry the reader into a land of plush from the
several extravagant rooms where the Midnight Dinners are held to the
circus. The night circus with its never-ending paths, physically impossible
tent contents, exuberant decorations, fantastical clock and mouth-watering
delicacies is like a dream and found only at night. It leaves town and pops up
in a new place without warning. The story and the whole experience of The
Night Circus is perfect for those looking for an escape to a magical
late 19th century.
Becca
I really enjoyed reading Night Circus. While it wasn't a
book with a lot of depth, it was a quick, easy read full of wonder and great
description. The story was captivating and Erin Morgenstern created a place I
could easily get lost in with the circus. That being said, many of the
characters were overshadowed by the circus, and Morgenstern used a few odd
writing techniques that did little to add to the story. Overall, I would
recommend this book to pretty much anyone who's looking for a light, easy read.
It's definitely a page-turner.
Nikki
I thought that The Night Circus was a very fun read. It was quick and
easy, not a book that demanded too much from me. I thought that the characters
could have been better developed, but then again, I also feel as though it
wasn't the kind of book that was trying to win a Pulitzer or anything. Overall,
I give it an A-.
Sam
Overall, I did not enjoy Night Circus. While it was a quick read, the
characters were poorly developed and the author failed in her attempt to mimic
an older writing style. Ridden with clichés and cheap imagery, the novel could
rely only on plot for value. However, due to the lack of character development,
I was uninvested in the characters, and so uninvested in the plot, which, I
found, was predictable anyway. Furthermore, the author’s employment of multiple
perspectives did not enhance the quality of her work, as such a tactic often
does in other pieces of writing. Perhaps, overall, I was disillusioned because
any author who tries to write about magic is competing with the genius of J.K.
Rowling, and Stephanie Meyer has already covered a niche market of lovesick
preteens who do not appreciate good literature.
