Feb 6, 2012

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Book Description:

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.

Christina's BookReview
“Everything I have done, every change I have made to that circus, every impossible feat and astounding sight, I have done for her.” 

The book consist more on the back-story. And I have to say that I LOVED it!

After reading the summary of the book you automatically can't wait to see what happens with Celia and Marco and that's how I went into reading this book. But its so much more. There story is so captivating and sucks you right in. And its not only their story you are reading but how it came to be and how they WERE the circus. We don't get much of Celia and Marco until the end and even then it is a little vague but you get the whole story of the circus (which is really what the book is about),how they are the masterminds, and the characters woven into it.

I think what I loved about this book was the creation of the circus from both Celia and Marco's imagination. I was entranced reading about each of their creations and how each of them didn't compete against each other but wove together their dreams to create something beautiful for everyone! Every time a new tent was introduced I was wishing that it was real, that Le Cirque de Reves really existed! I loved each one and at the end couldn't find one that was my favorite. From the Cloud Maze's fun exterior to the Ice Garden's relaxing atmosphere. The writer does an amazing job describing these attractions.

Now i have to spend time on the other characters in this story. Both, Prospero and A.H. are characters that i felt no compassion for. They were cowards, as Celia pointed out, they fought by ruining other peoples lives instead of themselves. Poppy and Widget were two of my favorite "new" characters along with Bailey who played a big part at the end. When Bailey's storyline started I was a little confused to how he had anything to do with this story but by the end all of the pieces come together.When Isobel was introduced I was not happy because of the position she was in but as we read more about her you warm up to her and at the end feel sorry for the hand she dealt. Tsukiko was also a surprising addition and I didn't get her connection at all until it was mentioned. Barris felt more like a "father" figure to both Celia and Marco and I loved that about him. Herr and "the reveurs" were interesting to read about and I have to say that just by reading I am just as fascinated as they were.

The only thing that bothered me a little was the jumping of time but once I got used to it there wasn't much to not like. I would have liked more Celia and Marco romance parts as well but can't complain about it.

The book was great and I would definitely read this one again.