Erin Morgenstern: The Night Circus

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The Night Circus
Erin Morgenstern
Published September 13th 2011 by Doubleday
ISBN: 0385534639
387 Pages

Synopsis
This was a complicated tale of two people locked in a competition they didn't understand, and pitted against each other by two opposite schools of thoughts. The Circus would become their game board, and all the people and characters within small pieces to be manipulated. There can only be one winner, but how does one win? Through exhibition of unique magical skill. The players build off of each other, and their creations, until the circus grows to uncontrollable proportions.




Musings
I chose to read this book for three reasons - the unique cover art, the idea of a quirky paranormal story told in the setting of a circus, and the amount of hype surrounding author Erin Morgenstern's first novel.

Reading this novel was just as dizzying and ethereal as the story itself. I felt addicted to it, and constantly wanted to read it, but after reading for an hour, had to set it down - only to crave it again. When I finished the book, I was sad. I wanted there to be more to the story, more for me to dig into.

The tale itself, in the recounting, is pretty light and not all that powerful. The characters have little depth, and not much in the way of back story.  It is difficult to empathize, and the 'how' of the magic is never elaborated on, but the way she tells the story - breaking up the timeline, and feeding you bits and pieces at a time, and the elegance and sensory descriptions she uses to paint not only the visual picture, but the aroma, temperature, and emotional feel of each important place in the story - makes it all worthwhile. I began to crave going to the circus in the story, and experiencing the possibility of endless imagination.

Become a rêveur, a dreamer... Follow the circus.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a unique read.
-Rita
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