The Night Circus

by Erin Morgenstern

[tellemonstar]

UPDATED: 11/11/11 - FailBetter games, the creators of the mazing text-based browser game Echo Bazzar, have created an incredible text-based browser game based on the book. All you require is a twitter or facebook account to play. http://www.nightcircus.co.uk/

Updating from my previous review - this book is really good. It worms its way into your brain and you find yourself thinking about it at odd moments sometime after you've finished. It's a little slow to start with, it starts to get better after page 53, but don't skip the beginning or you won't understand. As you get further into the book you get further and further involved in the lives of the characters that make up the impressive 'Le Cirque des Reves'. I was worried that the descriptions were going to become Tolkien-like and take up more of the pages than stricly necessary, but Ms. Morgenstern manages to avoid this. The descriptions, especially of the actual circus, help to bring parts of the story to life.

As is gleaned through the story, the circus is the stage for the main characters stories to play out, although it is an important part of the story itself - it is almost a character in it's own right. I was never 100% sure whether the circus itself was malevolent or benevolent.

That said, if you are expecting a story about clowns, acrobats and strongmen, then I am afraid you are going to be disappointed. There are few things tradtional about the Night Circus. If chapters that switch from future to past (although only by a few years) annoy you, then that may put you off this book, but don't let it. The back-and-forthing wasn't terribly confusing (and normally it's something I really dislike.)

If you are after a change of pace and have a spare weekend, try this out and see.