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Maggie Stiefvater's Reviews > The Night Circus
The Night Circus
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Five Things About THE NIGHT CIRCUS.
Ordinarily when I do my recommendations, I do a “five reasons to read _____,” but I think opinions will be so divided on THE NIGHT CIRCUS that I think “things about” will be more useful.
1. This novel is not what it says it is. Well, back page copy is always a weird thing anyway, as it’s not written by the author. And a weirder thing because it is essentially a glamour shot of the novel. It is not a lie. But it isn’t really what the novel looks like when it’s wandering around in its bathrobe getting coffee and trying to figure out if that smell is coming from the kitchen sink disposal or under the table. The resemblance is always a bit sketchy. THE NIGHT CIRCUS’ resemblance to its cover copy is sketchier than most.
2. This novel is about a thing. It has people in it, too, but it is mostly about a thing, the eponymous circus. It’s told in third person omniscient, which means it sounds like God is narrating the thing, if God decided he really loved black and white tents and fancy umbrellas. The voice that narrates this book is interested in humans, too, but mostly about how humans make the circus and the circus’ magic interesting.
3. This is not a romance. There is a love story in it, which is good, because love makes the world go round, but it is not a romance. If you go in imagining to be swept off your feet from page one, you can keep on imagining. The novel starts before our lovebirds have hit puberty, so you’re going to have to imagine for quite awhile.
4. The circus is not really a circus. This is fine by me, because I actually don’t care for circuses. They smell, the animals always have that look of dubious maltreatment, no, I don’t want to win a prize by shooting that thing off that other thing over there, and also, clowns look a little grubby to me. No, the Night Circus is a circus in the respect that there are tents, and there are performers, and some of them are acrobats. Mostly it is a place where pretty, pretty magic is passed off as illusion so that us muggles won’t be scared by it. I’d go to that circus.
5. This is not a thriller. This is a not an action-packed adventure. It’s not even a simmering revenge or bubbling rivalry novel. It is a novel about a thing, with love in it, and it spans over a decade. If you have a problem with that idea, it’s best you walk away now. But if you like Ann Patchett or Audrey Niffeneggar novels, or if you really thought JONATHAN STRANGE & MR. NORRELL was the bee’s knees, well. WELL. You have just found your next read. Enjoy. I did.
Ordinarily when I do my recommendations, I do a “five reasons to read _____,” but I think opinions will be so divided on THE NIGHT CIRCUS that I think “things about” will be more useful.
1. This novel is not what it says it is. Well, back page copy is always a weird thing anyway, as it’s not written by the author. And a weirder thing because it is essentially a glamour shot of the novel. It is not a lie. But it isn’t really what the novel looks like when it’s wandering around in its bathrobe getting coffee and trying to figure out if that smell is coming from the kitchen sink disposal or under the table. The resemblance is always a bit sketchy. THE NIGHT CIRCUS’ resemblance to its cover copy is sketchier than most.
2. This novel is about a thing. It has people in it, too, but it is mostly about a thing, the eponymous circus. It’s told in third person omniscient, which means it sounds like God is narrating the thing, if God decided he really loved black and white tents and fancy umbrellas. The voice that narrates this book is interested in humans, too, but mostly about how humans make the circus and the circus’ magic interesting.
3. This is not a romance. There is a love story in it, which is good, because love makes the world go round, but it is not a romance. If you go in imagining to be swept off your feet from page one, you can keep on imagining. The novel starts before our lovebirds have hit puberty, so you’re going to have to imagine for quite awhile.
4. The circus is not really a circus. This is fine by me, because I actually don’t care for circuses. They smell, the animals always have that look of dubious maltreatment, no, I don’t want to win a prize by shooting that thing off that other thing over there, and also, clowns look a little grubby to me. No, the Night Circus is a circus in the respect that there are tents, and there are performers, and some of them are acrobats. Mostly it is a place where pretty, pretty magic is passed off as illusion so that us muggles won’t be scared by it. I’d go to that circus.
5. This is not a thriller. This is a not an action-packed adventure. It’s not even a simmering revenge or bubbling rivalry novel. It is a novel about a thing, with love in it, and it spans over a decade. If you have a problem with that idea, it’s best you walk away now. But if you like Ann Patchett or Audrey Niffeneggar novels, or if you really thought JONATHAN STRANGE & MR. NORRELL was the bee’s knees, well. WELL. You have just found your next read. Enjoy. I did.
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
December 5, 2011
– Shelved
December 5, 2011
– Shelved as:
adult
December 5, 2011
–
Finished Reading
November 7, 2013
– Shelved as:
recommended
Comments Showing 1-50 of 109 (109 new)
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Darcey
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rated it 5 stars
Dec 05, 2011 06:04PM
I finished this recently, and liked it more than I expected to (enough that I nearly thrust the Kindle at my husband and said "READ IT SO YOU CAN HAVE YOUR STUDENTS READ IT OVER THE WINTER", in that very loud caps-lock sort of voice). The characterization was good, and even knowing what we do, as the reader, that the characters do not know--there were still moments of suspense and moments of "Well, how will -this- work out, then?". It also had at least one or two "I did not see -that- coming" moments, which also always make for good reads.
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Excellent review. This book enchanted me, and not many books are capable of that. I read it on my Kindle, but love it so much that I had to own a tangible copy. My love is further evidenced by the fact that I ordered a UK edition because it's oh-so-pretty. An amazing story with amazing imagery.
I can't wait to read it!
You got my attention. I loved Jonathan Strange and also The Time Traveler's Wife, so it sounds like I should pick this one up. Thx!
This book is Magical!
Totally agree! This book was excellent!
I think I read too much into the hype... it was not what I expected, and although I liked it... I also didn't like it. I think it wasn't exactly my cup of tea (or Diet Pepsi, as the case may be), I think I need a bit more people in my reading material... I agree with you on every count, though.
I did love this book but I felt the characters we lifeless, nothing more than words on a page. How did you feel about the characters? I would love a writers opinion on it.
will buy it next month..heard lot's of great review about this title....plus it's one of the fast selling novel in my local bookstore...
I loved The Night Circus. The idea of magic and how one is affected by it intrigued me.
My friend managed to snag the ARC at work and of course fell in love. She let me borrow it and you know how that goes. Can't wait to read her version of Alice.
Read it based upon your recommendation, Maggie. I found it intriguing and delightful in general, although some parts made me gasp, internally. Our fragile physical existence is something I tend to ponder. This book gave wings to my belief, I.e. hope, that we are, perhaps, inextricably tethered to people and places both known and unknown. It was a delightful dream.
Oh yes, I do agree. I loved it, but i was not what I expected and I do wish there'd been more romance, mystery, and more action. But then again, it was wonderful as it was.
I just started reading this...I can't wait to continue!!
This book is truly great, you are right about it not being a romance which is my type of reading, but the words mesmerized me into turning the nest page, it had no real action but I felt suspense, then there was the question of "who would win?" and I admit it I sort of expected them both not wanting the other to loose, but in the end I think Erin M. executed it perfectly although I don't exactly understand the meaning of 'separating' or 'erasing' yourself form the world and what the boundaries are, but it will always keep me in thought of the possibilities of their powers.
I loved this book! I was entranced by the writing and the imagery of it!!
this book is like a slow waltz through an ever-changing dream
Loved the creativity of this book. Had never read anything like it!
Thanks to reading this review, I now have to reread the book!Not exactly a hardship; it was one of my favorites of all the books I read in 2012. ^_^
Definitely one of my top 5 favorite books. Beautiful and haunting.
Yeah, the circus is like a blend of the best David Copperfield show ever and Cirque du Soliel (I fail at spelling today)
This book made me sad to see a circus with color. I want all tents to be black and white now.
Scarlet wrote: "This book made me sad to see a circus with color. I want all tents to be black and white now."Yes! Me too. ^_^
i really want to read this!!
this book seems very interesting want to read sooo badly now :D -gleeful-
I'm still reading the book! I really don't know yet how I feel about it! I usually can't put a book down but with this one I'm struggling to keep reading! it might be a bit slow for my liking. but I want to keep reading. .I guess I will comment again once I'm finished with it.
I really liked your review, And it made me laugh. it's helping me to push on passed the slower parts to remember what you wrote: this book is about a THING. good call.
Your review is absoloutely spot on! :D
Your review is spot on!
You nailed it! Awesome observations. Great review.
I thought it was much, much better than Jonathan Strange and Mr Norell, which is a book I found bitterly boring and downright ugly. Night Circus is the opposite of that, beautiful and dark and glorious. It is more closely related to Carlos Ruiz Zafon's "The Shadow of the Wind" than it is to Jonathan Strange. And since it doesn't really have the girl traveling through time aspect that Time Travelers Wife does, it's not at all like that book, either. More like Patricia McKillip's beautiful fantasy novels, like the Winter Rose, or the Book of Atrix Wolf, or Jane Yolen's Merlin's Booke, or Shana Abe's Smoke Thief, (the latter in tone of prose) or Patrick Rothfuss' Name of the Wind. It also is somewhat related to John Steinbecks early work, like Cup of Gold and To A God Unknown in that dreamy, lush prose style.
Hmm.. You know, now that you've explained that the book is about the circus moreso than the characters, I might give it another go. That eluded me the first time around.
great review. I've been wracking my brains as to how I could describe this to book to others and you said what I've been wanting to say.
Hah...i have the opposite reaction to DeAnn. Strange and Norell is so far superior a book to Night Circus that they do not deserve to mentioned in the same sentence, except to heap insult upon the latter. So many problems even with the prose here.
I started reading this review and thought, "Damn, this is a good review of this book," and then I saw who had written it and thought, "Well, no wonder."
I so agree with William above. Love love love Jonathan Strange. This does not come close. In any way. In any universe.
I agree 100%. :)Loved this book for all the reasons you said.
I agree with this review! The whole dragged out mystery and indeterminable plot was what kept me reading, and the presence of the circus itself is where the magic came from. Only sometimes do I love a sneaky bit of romance in a novel, for me it depends on the way it is written; but with this novel I didn't spot the romance til it swung itself into my face which in itself was a nice twist to an already exciting story! My only sad point was that maybe it got a little too romance and "I can't live without you" too quickly, which for me made the ending a little sickly. Other than that tiny bit, this book took me to places I didn't want to come back from, a good read if you want to escape for a little while!
I'm about half way through this book now and just bought it a day ago. So far i'm impressed and i find i'm excited to get back into reading it again everytime i put it down. It feels kinda like a strange dream i can't fully understand which is neat and i like how this book is written. Is this not an original story by Erin Morgenstern? I remember reading in your post about it not being original or something like that.
Awesome! I love Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. Guess I bought the right book!
I fell in love with this book. It's surprising to me that so many don't like it, but to me it's wonderful. I wish there was a circus like this where I could go to see magic at it's best.
I loved this book. The author captured my interest from the first page.
Sorry to see it end.
Ann
Your review has me so intrigued I almost feel like I HAVE to read this book to understand what you're talking about.
Well said! I totally agree.
Total bonus points for using the phrase "the bee's knees."
Blown away by the imagery.
