Best 'Night' ever
A friend's recommendation. The first of quite a few, actually.
Le Cirque de Reves is a very particular, very special kind of circus. It opens only at night. Its acts are one-of-a-kind and must be seen to be believed. The food from its concession stands is out of this world. It even has loyal fans who try to follow it, as no one ever knows exactly when or where it might open its gates to the wonders inside. But the Night Circus is not what it seems - not even to its wealthy, eccentric proprietor Chandresh Lefevre. The circus serves as an arena for two very bright, very different magicians: the willful Celia and the observant Marco, both of whom have been trained by masters and sent to challenge one another in a mysterious game of survival. Complicating things is the sudden and passionate love affair that blossoms between the two players, and instead of raising the stakes, they choose to complement one another's glorious achievements of magic - achievements that function as attraction in the circus itself. But their masters insist that they game must be played, and that the fate of both the Night Circus and the lovers' great affair are to wither and fade. But with some outside help, Celia and Marco may yet find a way to keep the Night Circus alive.
This is one of those books that reminded me about the simple thrill of a beautifully-rendered plot. The Night Circus never misses a beat, creating suspense and sewing up its plot threads with great zest and energy. There is something cheeky about this book, too, in the way it introduces these various subplots and takes its time to prod them into shape. It helps to create a serious but somewhat gentle tone, which in turn helps give the story a proper mysterious air. And even though story matters greatly here - it's the first thing that will grab your attention - the characters are something wonderful as well. Celia and Marco make for a satisfactory pair of protagonists, though personally I must give the edge to Celia; her character has a stronger emotional arc. Several of the circus's denizens stand out, such as Poppet and Widget, twins born on opening night who possess magical powers of their own. Many of these characters exude a warmth and a passion that makes it easy to love them. The general theme of "love conquers all" is tied in with another theme - one of choice - that I felt could've been emphasized a little more. But I do love that Morgenstern chose to tell her story from multiple viewpoints - this illustrates a discovery made by the main characters that the circus may have been made for them, but belongs to anyone who falls in love with it.
Even if you, like me, may find the prose a bit too precious for your taste, you will soon be too invested in the story and the intricate magic spells to notice. The Night Circus is a wonderful and endearing read, as scrumptious as the sugary snacks it provides. Rating: 4.5 red scarves out of 5.
This is one of those books that reminded me about the simple thrill of a beautifully-rendered plot. The Night Circus never misses a beat, creating suspense and sewing up its plot threads with great zest and energy. There is something cheeky about this book, too, in the way it introduces these various subplots and takes its time to prod them into shape. It helps to create a serious but somewhat gentle tone, which in turn helps give the story a proper mysterious air. And even though story matters greatly here - it's the first thing that will grab your attention - the characters are something wonderful as well. Celia and Marco make for a satisfactory pair of protagonists, though personally I must give the edge to Celia; her character has a stronger emotional arc. Several of the circus's denizens stand out, such as Poppet and Widget, twins born on opening night who possess magical powers of their own. Many of these characters exude a warmth and a passion that makes it easy to love them. The general theme of "love conquers all" is tied in with another theme - one of choice - that I felt could've been emphasized a little more. But I do love that Morgenstern chose to tell her story from multiple viewpoints - this illustrates a discovery made by the main characters that the circus may have been made for them, but belongs to anyone who falls in love with it.
Even if you, like me, may find the prose a bit too precious for your taste, you will soon be too invested in the story and the intricate magic spells to notice. The Night Circus is a wonderful and endearing read, as scrumptious as the sugary snacks it provides. Rating: 4.5 red scarves out of 5.
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