The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern

[sweetpea]

I found the fact that the book wasn’t written in a linear time line a bit confusing and had to keep going back to check what year something happened and was it before or after what I’m reading now. At times it became slightly frustrating.

The descriptions of the circus were very beautifully written. Morgenstern uses all of your senses and you can almost smell the secents and hear the sounds for yourself. "You can smell caramel wafting through the evening breeze beneath the crisp scent of autumn leaves", "Small lights begin to flicker as though the entirety of the circus is covered in particularly bright fireflies". Though the descriptions are beautifully written their sheer lenght almost grinds the story to a halt. At some points I found myself reading the descriptions and not being interested in them, instead wanting to skip them and find out what was happening next.

I found the first half of the book quite slow paced but the pace of the story picks up substantially towards the second half of the book and it becomes a lot more exciting. The characters now know what it is they need to do and set about doing it.

The book for me is really split into two. I found the first half difficult to get through but enjoyed the second half. Overall I thought it was quite enjoyable.

[Gannon]

I found the fact that the book wasn’t written in a linear time line a bit confusing and had to keep going back to check what year something happened and was it before or after what I’m reading now. At times it became slightly frustrating.

The descriptions of the circus were very beautifully written. Morgenstern uses all of your senses and you can almost smell the secents and hear the sounds for yourself. "You can smell caramel wafting through the evening breeze beneath the crisp scent of autumn leaves", "Small lights begin to flicker as though the entirety of the circus is covered in particularly bright fireflies". Though the descriptions are beautifully written their sheer lenght almost grinds the story to a halt. At some points I found myself reading the descriptions and not being interested in them, instead wanting to skip them and find out what was happening next.

I found the first half of the book quite slow paced but the pace of the story picks up substantially towards the second half of the book and it becomes a lot more exciting. The characters now know what it is they need to do and set about doing it.

The book for me is really split into two. I found the first half difficult to get through but enjoyed the second half. Overall I thought it was quite enjoyable.

Hi there sweetpea, "The Night Circus" was easily my favourite read of 2011, even though I read it in early 2012. I think that the chapters not being written in a linear time line is a great idea. I also found myself going back to previous chapters to check things out. By doing this I came to enjoy the story more.
I also agree with you that Morgenstern's writing is beautifully descriptive and you do get the feeling you are there with all the smells and sights and sounds.
I love how many times in between chapters there are short passages that describe parts of the circus as if you were wandering around the circus itself, these passages add greatly to the description of the circus.
I think it is a great idea in the beginning that both the main characters do not know what is going on and what is expected of them. This adds immensely to the suspense as they slowly figure it out as the novel goes on.

I cannot wait for her next book, If it is as good as her debut, I can see her becoming one of my favourite writers.

[victoriaaa]

I was wary of reading this, id just read water for elephants and although alot of people really rate it i just didnt find it as good as expected. I was recommened the night circus and at first i thought "really? can i be bothered to read another circus book?", but im sooo glad i did. Its so captivating and magical i just wanted to go explore it myself.

[Carrie R]

I've recently added this one to my to-read list. I've picked it up in the bookstore many times, only to put it back down. But several people have said it's a must read, so I'll give it a go.

[kelleys4girls]

Though I'm not much for romance, I really enjoyed this book. The magic created was described in such a way that I could see it and wanted desperately to be able to reach out and touch it or wander around inside it. I loved the star-crossed lovers within powerful, beautiful magic. I'd like to see more books with magic for the sake of beauty, not for power or personal gain.

[AnaF]

I really enjoyed reading this book.
I read it last year and it become one of my favorites books for 2012. I had never read a book set in a circus, so it was a really nice change for me and I also liked the fact that even though there was a romance going on it didn't focus too much on that and allowed the reader to know more about the circus and "explore" it

[ShoppingMonk]

Wow its a nice book right now i am studying this...after completed i will share my experience with you guys

[Kimber945]

I too was skeptical about this book but it drew me in and I couldn't put it down. It tickled all my senses with beautiful imagery. I don't reread books very often but I may pick this one up again for a bit of escapism one day.

[MirageMe]

This book was hands down my favorite book of 2012! I read it on my kindle, then listened to it from audible.
I was drawn in from the very first line.
"The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not."

From that very first line it was like being swept away into a beautiful, magical, enchanting adventure...