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foxonabook's reviews
173 reviews
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The book's premise is really interesting but the original synopsis (which is was prompted me to buy the book) is misleading. While a 'duel' between the two protagonists is what inspires the series of events that lead to the Night Circus' founding, neither the duel nor the protagonists play a central role in the book. I suppose in that sense, the real main character is the Night Circus itself, and I'm glad the synopsis has been updated to reflect that.
We are introduced to a plethora of characters and we get to experience things from several of their perspectives. I enjoyed some of these more than others, but I didn't feel particularly attached to any one character. I think this is because there isn't any real character development throughout the book nor any real focus on the characters really, and I finished the book with a sense that I still didn't know any of them any better than at the start of the book. This lack of investment also meant that I couldn't care about what what was at stake for the two duelling magicians.
I wasn't at all invested in the romance between Cecelia and Marco either, but I enjoyed how they played off of one another in the circus. What would have made it more enjoyable for me was if we got to learn more about the magic system and the different learning methods. I do understand why the magic system isn't explored in more detail thought; it helps keep the mystery of the Night Circus alive.
The writing is very good and undeniably the reason why I kept reading the book despite its slow pace and the lack of actual plot. Morgenstern's writing is beautifully descriptive without crossing into flowery prose. It was incredibly immersive, with the sights, smells and atmosphere jumping right off the page.
Anyway, this is a definitely not a book for everyone nor for every occasion. It's best described as a book for readers who love atmospheric and vibes-y books, or for those who enjoy beautiful, evocative writing.
We are introduced to a plethora of characters and we get to experience things from several of their perspectives. I enjoyed some of these more than others, but I didn't feel particularly attached to any one character. I think this is because there isn't any real character development throughout the book nor any real focus on the characters really, and I finished the book with a sense that I still didn't know any of them any better than at the start of the book. This lack of investment also meant that I couldn't care about what what was at stake for the two duelling magicians.
I wasn't at all invested in the romance between Cecelia and Marco either, but I enjoyed how they played off of one another in the circus. What would have made it more enjoyable for me was if we got to learn more about the magic system and the different learning methods. I do understand why the magic system isn't explored in more detail thought; it helps keep the mystery of the Night Circus alive.
The writing is very good and undeniably the reason why I kept reading the book despite its slow pace and the lack of actual plot. Morgenstern's writing is beautifully descriptive without crossing into flowery prose. It was incredibly immersive, with the sights, smells and atmosphere jumping right off the page.
Anyway, this is a definitely not a book for everyone nor for every occasion. It's best described as a book for readers who love atmospheric and vibes-y books, or for those who enjoy beautiful, evocative writing.
The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
This isn’t for me.
- The writing is superficial and everything feels rushed.
- The characters also lack any depth or dimension, making it hard to be invested in the protagonist’s story and blending all of the other characters into one. I also don’t like how the author is using an undefined, ill-described mental illness to explain an equally poorly defined character’s rudeness. It’s clear that the character is meant to be unlikeable, but mental illness is not an excuse for abhorrent and abusive behaviour. It’s also a cheap trope for what’s meant to be the book’s ‘villain’.
- The dialogue feels forced and unrealistic, and I think it’s because the author is using the dialogue to compensate for the other aspects that the writing is lacking.
- This doesn’t feel like a historical fiction romance. Whole scenes are skimmed over and I’d have liked the author to have spent more time on the scene setting and creating the right atmosphere for the different scenes. Instead, little is dedicated to truly encapsulating the rich, warm Iranian culture and on imparting what life was like in 1950s Teheran. This book could be set anywhere and at anytime in modern history for how little ambiance there is in the book.
- Lastly, at even only 25% through, this book already feels like a soap opera which in and of itself isn’t a big deal, but combined with the above just makes it hard to push through.
Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.
The author goes into far too much detail (we don’t need the repeated mundane descriptions of people opening apps, searching names etc., we get it. Life is full of mundane moments). The book was a bit of a slog