The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Title: The Night Circus
Author: Erin Morgenstern
Publisher: Doubleday
Release Day: September 13, 2011

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Synopsis:

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.

I have never been to a circus in my entire life; I know...sad, but after reading The Night Circus I feel like I fell right in the middle of the greatest circus on Earth. I think any circus I might attend would be an utter disappointment in comparison to the magic that unfolds in The Night Circus. The only way to describe Erin Morgenstern's world building is simply magical. Her descriptions are breathtaking and her characters are enigmatic and mysterious. Every piece of the circus comes alive: characters, food, exhibits, clothing, props, even the tents that house the circus. Ms. Morgenstern engages every sense in her prose, transporting you deep into another world.

"The circus arrives without warning." - opening line.

These five words describe le Cirque des Reves better than any other grouping of words I can imagine. From that single sentence, you literally feel the mystery, danger, and intrigue that surrounds a marvel so odd that it simply roles into town unnoticed and suddenly appears in a glory unknown to any other event of this magnitude. I could go on and on about the writing, but perhaps I should tell you a little about the story.

Marco and Celia have been pitted against each other since the age of six. Each of them go into this competition completely unaware of what is expected of them; only knowing that they are to use their "abilities" to best their opponent. Their creations are simply magnificent. The circus travels through the world during the late 1800's and early 1900's. Each year, the competition increases as does the romance. Every person, place, or thing is a machination of this unreal pairing. Winning this contest is not a simple as it would seem.

Gosh, this book is so hard to explain. I think I will tell you about 5 of my favorite descriptions...

*Midnight Dinners at la maison Lefevre - these dinner parties take place throughout the book, always including the most interesting characters and activities. Dinner is a series of courses, with the first being served precisely at midnight. Pre-dinner activities vary with every meeting; although, they always include some type of performance. Some of the dinners are more memorable than others.

*The bonfire is essentially the heart of the circus, or at least half of it. I could see the bonfire being lit in its most ceremonious state, every arrow that flew, sparking the fire...enabling and protecting this awe-inspiring festival. 

*The clock made by Herr Friedrick Thiessen is magnificent. Ms. Morgenstern's description of this masterpiece enraptured me. I want one...literally. From its "dreamlike" existence, to the monochromatic coloring, to each action that is precisely synchronized with the ticking of time...it is magnanimous.

*The Ice Garden. I think I could live here. All the beauty of nature perfectly preserved in ice without losing any of its essence, ever-existing, never melting...never dying. Sparkling and white, crystallized for eternity.

*All Hallow's Eve at le Cirque des Reves. Visitors are encouraged to wear masks and partake in the revelry in some semblance of anonymity, observing each of the attractions in an entire different atmosphere. As you might imagine...All Hallow's Eve has a lore revolving around death and tragedy, bringing with it unfortunate circumstances.

In all reality, I highly suggest you read this book. When you do...try to do it with as little outside stimulus as possible so you can fall head-over-heals into this mystical and dreamy book. My review does this book no justice...so here's one little teaser.

At the center, where a cuckoo bird would live in a more traditional timepiece, is the juggler. Dressed in harlequin style with a grey mask, he juggles shiny silver balls that correspond to each hour. As the clock chimes, another ball joins the rest until at midnight he juggles twelve balls in a complex pattern...After midnight the clock begins once more to fold in upon itself. The face lightens and the clouds return. The number of juggled balls decreases until the juggler himself vanishes. - Page 69