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sampayn3's review against another edition
3.0
Carter's absurd tale was a whimsical adventure into circus life, and the mechanics of performance. While there is an overwhelming fantasy element to Nights at the Circus, there is much more striking political discourse simmering away underneath. As it engages with truth and reality, the novel toys with identity and what it means to be wearing a well-maintained mask. Gender, sexuality and feminism are all relevant here as Carter dissects our unjust social perceptions, and the norms that we associate with different members of society. The aerialist, Fevvers, is everything that a women is not - and for that I am thankful. Nights at the Circus uses magical realism to destabilise all current 'common sense' understanding of each other, rending the audience utterly confused. It is a wonderful, wild adventure.
angela__g's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-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? It's complicated
3.25
jooooooolia's review against another edition
3.75
“all the women will have wings, the same as i.”
oh my god, the brilliance of angela carter’s mind to write this novel. with that being said, this novel was NOT written to satisfyingly fulfill anyone’s expectations and it also was NOT written to lay out clear definitions of gender identity for anyone. nights at the circus will make you think about new wave feminism and the construction of gender (including your own) in a way that you have not before. the best way to enjoy this book is to accept the direction the narrative takes freely. there is a point to the frustration— a point which i find myself fascinated with alongside many other things about this book.
pineconek's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
This book has everything. And by everything I mean: the vibes of a traveling circus in a mythologized turn-of-the-century st Petersburg that later gets stranded in Siberia, a mysterious woman who may or may not have wings, and several side stories one of which features a panopticon of murderesses.
I am both enchanted and frightened of Angela Carter now. This was my first foray into her work, and I'm not sure if I enjoyed it. Each sentence goes on its own narrative adventure to the point where I struggled to keep in mind the overall plot (was there one?). But I'm intrigued and I think I want more. The mixed feelings have earned this book a 2.75 on SG, up to 3 on GR.
I am both enchanted and frightened of Angela Carter now. This was my first foray into her work, and I'm not sure if I enjoyed it. Each sentence goes on its own narrative adventure to the point where I struggled to keep in mind the overall plot (was there one?). But I'm intrigued and I think I want more. The mixed feelings have earned this book a 2.75 on SG, up to 3 on GR.
louise_jayne's review against another edition
5.0
A beautiful book full of twists and turns and the truly unexpected.
erboe501's review against another edition
3.0
It took me forever to get through this audiobook. Listening to it in small chunks over a couple months didn't help me stay engaged. The plot of this novel is very quirky, with a magical realist or fantasy element. I've wanted to read more Angela Carter and heard this one referenced a good deal. It was entertaining and preposterous. And there's a lot of good material for analysis and scholarship. But I just wasn't that into it. I liked the theme of the New Woman and Fevvers's independence. But the narrator's voice on the audio annoyed me.
coragane2005's review against another edition
5.0
Honestly, awe-inspiring! Fevvers is brilliant, every page was fantastic, Angela Carter did that mesmeric thing where you’re in a trance (like in The Bloody Chamber).