Review: "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

I am writing this post from Patara, a small beach town in Turkey. There are so many things that I could share about the things that I have seen and experienced on my trip thus far, but I'm going to save that for future posts. Instead, since I have some free time this evening (and I'm not too sleepy), I want to write about a book that I just finished reading today. I basically read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern in the past two days; my friends and I have done a lot of traveling on buses lately, which has provided me with a lot of reading time.

I can't remember when I have been this excited about a fantasy novel, at least since I read Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell a few years ago. Much like the circus described in this story, this book is cleverly written, crafted and designed - down to the black and white pinstripe pages inside the cover. The story revolves around two ill-fated students of rival magicians; these students end up pitted-against each other in a magical competition that has been organized by their teachers. The "Night Circus" (Le Cirque des Rêves) is the venue for this magical competition. The students are required to use their magical powers to create various spectacles and tents within the circus grounds.

For me, the best part of this book were the fantastic descriptions of the circus, magical enchantments, different parties, and even the whimsical clocks created by a German clockmaker. I loved the description of the clock that was commissioned for the circus itself. This clock would slowly expand and contract, depending on the time of day. It also would change colors, getting darker as nighttime approached and lighter in the day. Plus, all of these other whimsical features were included, too. This is part of the clock description:

"The face of the clock becomes a darker grey, and then black, with twinkling stars where numbers had been previously. The body of the clock, which has been methodically turning itself inside out and expanding, it now entirely subtle shades of white and grey. and it is not just pieces, it is figures and objects, perfectly carved flowers and planets and tiny books with actual pages that turn. There is a silver dragon that cruls around part of the now visible clockwork, a tiny princess in a carved tower who paces in distress, awaiting an absent prince. Teapots that pour into teacups and minuscule curls of steam that rise form them as the seconds tick. Wrapped presents open. Small cats chase dogs. An entire game of chess is played.

At the center, where a cuckoo bird would live in a more traditional timepiece, is the juggler. Dressed in harlequin style with a grey mask, he juggles shiny silver balls that correspond to each hour. As the clock chimes, another ball joins the rest until at midnight he juggles twelve balls in a complex pattern" (p. 69).

Doesn't that clock sound awesome? I want one for myself!

For the most part, this book is set at the turn of the century (end of the 19th century/beginning of the 20th century). You have to pay attention to the dates at the beginning of each chapter, in order to understand the chronology of things (the chapters skip back and forth in time). It can be a bit confusing at first, but it's easy to get the hang of things if you pay attention.

Since finishing this book, I've been thinking about the types of fantasy books that I enjoy reading. I definitely don't like all types of fantasy books - I'm not drawn to full-blown fantasy wars, for example. I like fantasy books that have an element of "real life" or relatively recent history, perhaps because it makes the fantasy elements seem even more charming or distinct from the "regular" world. I think that's why I was drawn to Half Magic and the Oz books as a child, because there is an element of magic among the "real world" and regular people. The Night Circus is no different in this respect. One of the underlying ideas in this book is that magic actually exists, but normal people are not perceptive enough to notice.

If you like fantasy books, whimsical descriptions, or a combination of magic and "real" life, I would recommend this book wholeheartedly.