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Amazing book :)

J

justginger

Ideal_Rock
Joined
May 11, 2009
Messages
3,712
I just finished reading a new book and am so thrilled with it, I can't help but tell everyone about it. Literally anyone who will listen, I've told. :lol: Why should PSers be immune to my onslaught? :saint:

It's The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern.

The book is...sigh. Fanciful and elaborate, magical and completely enchanting. It sucked me in and spat me out, all boneless and squishy at the end. :praise:

This is my favorite quote from the book, I think it resonates with avid readers:

“You may tell a tale that takes up residence in someone's soul, becomes their blood and self and purpose. That tale will move them and drive them and who knows that they might do because of it, because of your words. That is your role, your gift.”

It's being made into a movie (according to IMDB), released next year. I can't wait to see what they do with it - it screams Tim Burton.

Disclaimer: the story is slow to develop and the prose is flowery and excessive. Avoid if you don't enjoy the act of reading.
 
Ok, you've got me ready to go get it. I read a review in the WSJ a few weeks ago & it looked good. Next on the list -- thanks for mentioning it!

--- Laurie
 
I read this a few weeks ago and LOVED it!
 
I loved it as well! It is very much a reader's book - the plot is not fundamental, the characters aren't very well described but beautifully characterized through their actions, a lot is left unsaid that becomes clear in retrospect. The circus descriptions, however, are just beautiful.

Curiously, I was disappointed with the audiobook version. Some of the author's word usage isn't great (specially with "she said", "he said" dialogues) and it jarred. The vocal talent choices and accents also distracted me.
 
It was pretty good! I didn't adore it, but did enjoy the read and would recommend it.
 
OK, I just put it on hold at my library!
 
Just got back from the library where I picked up the Playaway Audiobook
 
I've had this book for nearly a year, and I can't wait to read it!

I'm going to read it in October as I prep for NaNoWriMo, since Morgenstern wrote the first draft for NaNo a couple years ago. Thanks for posting your review, Ginger!
 
LD, I completely agree - I actually read the book myself and then read it outloud to DH on our commutes to/from work. I was in the first half-dozen pages when I realized that I had said, "she says," " he says" about a million times already. That was definitely a weakness; I must have unintentionally skipped over them when I was reading to myself.

Perhaps we can compile a list of conversational verbs for her second novel. Stated, quipped, replied, retorted, suggested, pleaded...
 
justginger|1346883326|3262845 said:
LD, I completely agree - I actually read the book myself and then read it outloud to DH on our commutes to/from work. I was in the first half-dozen pages when I realized that I had said, "she says," " he says" about a million times already. That was definitely a weakness; I must have unintentionally skipped over them when I was reading to myself.

Perhaps we can compile a list of conversational verbs for her second novel. Stated, quipped, replied, retorted, suggested, pleaded...
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Nonononono! Stick with said. Elmore Leonard said it best: "Never use a verb other than "said" to carry dialogue."
Fancy dialog tags are so distracting, and a definite sign of a rookie at work.
 
They are also, often, unnecessary. Readers can keep track of who said what in a 2 person dialogue.

Jasper Fforde jokes with this in one of the Thursday Next novels :D
 
Lady_Disdain|1346891180|3262908 said:
They are also, often, unnecessary. Readers can keep track of who said what in a 2 person dialogue.

Jasper Fforde jokes with this in one of the Thursday Next novels :D
Click to expand...
Of course! But still better to use said than another tag if you're going to use anything at all.

Off to add a Thursday Next novel to my To Read list. Thank you!
 
Ah, I loved The Night Circus as well!

I would love to see this as a movie... The author's descriptions of Celia's many costumes makes me want to find a tailor and have them made for me!
 
I've been looking for a new book to read, I am definitely going to have to pick this one up!
 
That's it! I'm going to start reading this tonight. My Book Club book can wait!
 
I'm keen to hear what you think of it, Haven...especially if the boatload of 'says' is noticeable and/or distracting.
 
That was my first book of the year. I LOVED it. It was one of those books I didn't want to end because I wanted to stay in that "world".
 
This is really helping...
Reading version is good but audio version isn't that much bad.
 
justginger|1346917532|3263016 said:
I'm keen to hear what you think of it, Haven...especially if the boatload of 'says' is noticeable and/or distracting.
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I just finished and had to come back here to say that I LOVED IT!

I didn't notice the dialogue tags whatsoever. It was a total non-issue for me. I really enjoyed the story. The descriptions of everything were enthralling, and I really loved the pace of the story. I'm a bit sad to leave it behind.
 
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Haven. I am incredibly interested to see what they do with the film - I hope it translates well. I picture it a bit like "Big Fish," very fantastical and quirky, but darker.

I told DH that I'm naming our future children Widget and Poppet. His only concern? Won't you confuse Poppet the child for Poppy the ring? :lol:
 
justginger|1347665021|3268345 said:
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Haven. I am incredibly interested to see what they do with the film - I hope it translates well. I picture it a bit like "Big Fish," very fantastical and quirky, but darker.

I told DH that I'm naming our future children Widget and Poppet. His only concern? Won't you confuse Poppet the child for Poppy the ring? :lol:
Click to expand...
Ooh, I think a film could be beautiful if it's done well.

Ha! to confusing Poppet with Poppy. A concern only a PSer would have. :cheeky:
It took me a while to stop thinking of The Crucible every time I saw the name Poppet, but by the end of the book I adored the pair of names. I would totally adopt two more pups and name them Poppet and Widget. I love the nicknames 'Pet and Widge, too. So adorable!
 
I just borrowed it from the online library. I really got into it last night and couldn't put it down.
 
I just read it too, based on your rec JG! I enjoyed it quite a lot, some passages were really fantastic, about the circus tents in particular.

DONT READ BELOW IF YOU'RE READING IT PERHAPS!!


I think it could have been a little longer and dare i say it but even more descriptive, probably because i found the passages that described the 'magic' the best, and wished there had been more of them. And im not sure that Bailey/Poppet/Widget being catalysts worked entirely well, or perhaps it wasnt described enough to be convincing to me, but i suppose a plot device was needed to end the competition.

Inspired by magic now ive started reading Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, which ive been meaning to read for a long time. So far so good!
 
I guess I need to download this onto my iPad Kindle....

ETA: I just downloaded to my iPad. I love an "I couldn't put it down" kind of read....
 
Blackpaw--I agree with your review, esp. about wanting more description of certain aspects.

My book club is reading this for January. I'm excited to see what they all think.
 
Blackpaw|1348761499|3275497 said:
I just read it too, based on your rec JG! I enjoyed it quite a lot, some passages were really fantastic, about the circus tents in particular.

DONT READ BELOW IF YOU'RE READING IT PERHAPS!!


I think it could have been a little longer and dare i say it but even more descriptive, probably because i found the passages that described the 'magic' the best, and wished there had been more of them. And im not sure that Bailey/Poppet/Widget being catalysts worked entirely well, or perhaps it wasnt described enough to be convincing to me, but i suppose a plot device was needed to end the competition.

Inspired by magic now ive started reading Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, which ive been meaning to read for a long time. So far so good!
Click to expand...

yes I felt this way too. I also felt like we needed more of a story on Bailey. I hope this becomes a movie; I think they could do so much with this. I think the beginning was a bit slow and the ending too fast. lol overall it was a fun read :))
 
SPOILER ALERT but I saw tons of similarities between this book and the Hunger Games, anyone else think that?
 
Examples? I'm struggling to see any similarities. :confused:
 
justginger|1349530606|3280502 said:
Examples? I'm struggling to see any similarities. :confused:
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okay they are different in the writing style but both have similarities.

Celia and Marco's purpose is to be in the circus for one to win, same with the Hunger Games (2 from 1 district but only 1 is suppose to win).

Both are placed in a game like setting: circus/arena

Both fall in love with each other. Oh and both somehow challenge the rules to be together! Like in the Hunger games they both do something so they both win the game and same with Celia and Marco so they can stay together.

Just those similarities :)) Both books were fun reads!!!! I was just curious if anyone else noticed those things too?
 
I didn't notice them when reading, but perhaps it has to do with the proximity of readings? It's been a while since I've read the Hunger Games, so the Night Circus competition didn't trigger memories of that book. Perhaps if you've recently finished HGs it might be more fresh and connectable. :))
 
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