A review by _chrstnlvly
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

It usually takes me about 30 to 50 pages to become fully captivated by a book. However, The Night Circus grabbed my attention right from page one. It’s been a while since I’ve experienced that. 

Some say this book lacks a traditional plot and relies solely on atmosphere, but I disagree. While the plot unfolds slowly, Erin Morgenstern's writing is so enchanting that you often don’t realize how much the story has progressed. I ended up tabbing many pages because there are so many mesmerizing quotes I want to remember. 

“I am tired of trying to hold things together that cannot be held,” Celia says when he approaches her. “Trying to control what cannot be controlled. I am tired of denying myself what I want for fear of breaking things I cannot fix. They will break no matter what we do.” 

Although I’m not particularly a fan of the central characters (I felt their romance was a bit forced and was too convenient for the plot) the supporting characters are incredibly lovable, especially Poppet and Widget.

“Someone needs to tell those tales. When the battles are fought and won and lost, when the pirates find their treasures and the dragons eat their foes for breakfast with a nice cup of Lapsang souchong, someone needs to tell their bits of overlapping narrative. There’s magic in that. It’s in the listener, and for each and every ear it will be different, and it will affect them in ways they can never predict. From the mundane to the profound. That tale will move them and drive them and who knows what they might do because of it, because of your words.” 

The Night Circus left me feeling book-drunk; I savored every page and was completely absorbed in the story, unaware of how quickly I read through it until it was done. 

I understand this book might not appeal to everyone, but if you enjoy atmospheric writing, beautiful prose, and reading as an escape from reality, then this book is definitely for you. 
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