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kattila's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Violence, and Alcohol
Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, Death, and Sexual content
bookbrenna's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I listened to the audiobook for The Night Circus and I enjoyed it. I loved listening to Jim Dale give each character a voice and life. Erin Morgenstern's writing is beautiful and detailed and fun. The Night Circus bounces between the past and the present and that form of storytelling had me excited for every new chapter. However, no matter how much I loved listening to it when I was done I was a little disappointed. The writing is beautiful for the first three quarters of the novel but becomes less so in the last quarter of the book. It felt rushed, as though the author saw the finish line and was beginning to hurry to get to the end. I didn't have a problem with how Ms. Morgenstern ended her novel, I just didn't like how rushed it felt when we got there.
Content Warnings
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Child abuse
craftysnailtail's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
So initially, I thought this book would be about 3⭐ for me. It was very difficult to follow as an audiobook, with it jumping back and forth in time and character focus. It was also painstakingly slow and long-winded. I started it in Sept and let the rental lapse twice over the course of 5 months before I finally finished it.
But I think if I had read this rather than listened, I would've liked it a lot more. And even more confusingly, I keep thinking about this freaking book! I've read several very good books since this one, but whenever I space out throughout the week, this book is what pops into my head. The fanciful descriptions of the circus have burrowed under my skin. And that ending! Unlike any other book I've read. I think I would have been missing out if I hadn't gotten to that ending.
This novel really felt like a meandering dream in the most frustrating yet fascinating way... So I have to bump up my rating. I think maybe the author achieved exactly what they meant to. It was just very difficult to stick with it in audiobook form. And you have to be in the mood for a book this unique. Do you want to feel like you're tripping through a magical circus where time moves incredibly slowly? Then this is the book for you!
But I think if I had read this rather than listened, I would've liked it a lot more. And even more confusingly, I keep thinking about this freaking book! I've read several very good books since this one, but whenever I space out throughout the week, this book is what pops into my head. The fanciful descriptions of the circus have burrowed under my skin. And that ending! Unlike any other book I've read. I think I would have been missing out if I hadn't gotten to that ending.
This novel really felt like a meandering dream in the most frustrating yet fascinating way... So I have to bump up my rating. I think maybe the author achieved exactly what they meant to. It was just very difficult to stick with it in audiobook form. And you have to be in the mood for a book this unique. Do you want to feel like you're tripping through a magical circus where time moves incredibly slowly? Then this is the book for you!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Mental illness
megj23's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Blood, Murder, and Suicide
zophronia's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, and Child abuse
Minor: Animal death
ninahuynh's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
If you enjoy multiple storylines and interconnected plots, this is the book for you. Every character has their own breath and life. The jumping in timeline is a bit confusing, moreso since I listened to it. That ending was not how I expected it to end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Bullying, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Death, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Sexual content
adyn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Beautiful book, the imagery and magic of it all was stellar. I wanted to read it during a blizzard while listening to haunting classical music. It’s not 5 stars for me because the characters weren’t particularly compelling, and that’s what I value most in a book.
But I don’t think this book was meant to have super deep character development. I think it was meant to sweep you off your feet with magic, to parallel the experience of visiting Le Cirques de Rêves. And it does that excellently.
But I don’t think this book was meant to have super deep character development. I think it was meant to sweep you off your feet with magic, to parallel the experience of visiting Le Cirques de Rêves. And it does that excellently.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Abandonment, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Alcohol, Sexual content, and Addiction
tays_books's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Alcohol, Murder, and Self harm
Moderate: Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Suicide
Minor: Sexual content, Infidelity, and Death of parent
kathrynok's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Abandonment, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
theaceofpages's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I'm so happy that got to relive the magic again after so many years. The last time was back in school and I actually did an artwork inspired that striped cover page (well actually two since our end of year project had to incorporate elements of other works we'd done over the year and those stripes were a great way of connecting things!).
I'd definitely forgotten a lot of what happened! While it wasn't quite the same as reading it for the first time, it was still such a great experience. The writing is just as beautiful as I remember it being. I loved the mysterious tranquillity of the circus. And the clock! I love the clock. Being able to explore some of what it contains was definitely my favourite part of this book! I will say that, like last time, I found keeping track of all the characters was a little confusing, although it was better this time around. (also, a side note here. The original adults are terrible! I had forgotten or maybe didn't even realise the first time just how bad they are...I mean, essentially sacrificing kids, stealing their childhood and actually their whole lives and abusing them for your own pride and entertainment??? No! It definitely got better when the various plots, prophecies and timelines came together towards the end. I do feel like the action everything built up to was a little rushed, although I can kind of see why Morgenstern did this. That doesn't change that I would have loved this part to have been a little longer though.
I'd love to be able to see some of Bailey's circus to see how it has changed because while it was definitely a dark place for a while, the people who worked there still managed to make it something beautiful. He's definitely one of my favourite characters in this. I can only imagine what it could become when someone who loved the circus for its magic rather than seeing it as a competition field took over and became its caretaker and owner. The ending... That last part was so beautiful. (Now all I have to do is find this mysterious circus...)
I know this book is recommended a lot and I love it, but I can understand why others struggle with it. Be aware that this is a meandering walk through space and time (although in a magic way rather than a scifi one!) full of descriptive writing for most of it. You might enjoy this less if you need a lot of action to keep you engaged. There is action, but it takes quite some time to get there. But if you are the kind of reader who enjoys the journey to the climax, this might be the book for you!
I'd definitely forgotten a lot of what happened! While it wasn't quite the same as reading it for the first time, it was still such a great experience. The writing is just as beautiful as I remember it being. I loved the mysterious tranquillity of the circus. And the clock! I love the clock. Being able to explore some of what it contains was definitely my favourite part of this book! I will say that, like last time, I found keeping track of all the characters was a little confusing, although it was better this time around. (also, a side note here. The original adults are terrible! I had forgotten or maybe didn't even realise the first time just how bad they are...
I'd love to be able to see some of Bailey's circus to see how it has changed because while it was definitely a dark place for a while, the people who worked there still managed to make it something beautiful. He's definitely one of my favourite characters in this. I can only imagine what it could become when someone who loved the circus for its magic rather than seeing it as a competition field took over and became its caretaker and owner. The ending... That last part was so beautiful. (Now all I have to do is find this mysterious circus...)
I know this book is recommended a lot and I love it, but I can understand why others struggle with it. Be aware that this is a meandering walk through space and time (although in a magic way rather than a scifi one!) full of descriptive writing for most of it. You might enjoy this less if you need a lot of action to keep you engaged. There is action, but it takes quite some time to get there. But if you are the kind of reader who enjoys the journey to the climax, this might be the book for you!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Grief
Minor: Death of parent, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicide