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carol. 's Reviews > The Night Circus
The Night Circus
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carol. 's review
bookshelves: fantasy, favorites, my-library, lovely-lovely-language, my-library-hardcover
Sep 13, 2011
bookshelves: fantasy, favorites, my-library, lovely-lovely-language, my-library-hardcover
Sometimes I want chocolate. And sometimes I want the chocolate experience. I'm as guilty as the next person of the occasional vending machine pick-up for when I need those quick fixes. But then there's the slow anticipation. Take last week, for instance. It had been a few days since the last time. As I waited in line for my latte, my eyes happened to linger on a cute little cupcake, dark velvety goodness. Short, stacked, with a swirl of fluffy milk chocolate frosting. I resisted temptation, but the thought of chocolate lingered in my mind, and it was only a day or two before I found myself heading to my favorite chocolatier, craving the bittersweetness of an espresso-infused truffle. The overwhelming rich smell of cocoa as I opened the door. The charming smile of the clerk. The snap as my teeth bit through the dark chocolate coating, and the coffee-flavored richness of the silky ganache coating my tongue.
The Night Circus is achingly beautiful. I'll concur with the critics that it might not have much of a plot, but sometimes the point is the storytelling. Morgenstern's writing reminds me of In the Night Garden in it's deceptively simple storytelling, of Peter S. Beagle's melancholic and star-crossed lovers, and of Steven Millhauser's love of ornate visual details in a magical environment. It's lyrical and evocative. If you want hair-trigger, gun-slinging action, this is not the book for you. If you look for slow, winding beauty, the walk in the sun-filled garden and the sparkle of sunlight off ice-covered trees, this might be your book.
Cross posted at http://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2012/1...
The Night Circus is achingly beautiful. I'll concur with the critics that it might not have much of a plot, but sometimes the point is the storytelling. Morgenstern's writing reminds me of In the Night Garden in it's deceptively simple storytelling, of Peter S. Beagle's melancholic and star-crossed lovers, and of Steven Millhauser's love of ornate visual details in a magical environment. It's lyrical and evocative. If you want hair-trigger, gun-slinging action, this is not the book for you. If you look for slow, winding beauty, the walk in the sun-filled garden and the sparkle of sunlight off ice-covered trees, this might be your book.
Cross posted at http://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2012/1...
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Reading Progress
September 13, 2011
– Shelved
Started Reading
December 1, 2011
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Finished Reading
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Will
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Dec 12, 2011 02:17AM
Well said. And so agree. Some of the prose is out-of-this-world beautiful.
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I haven't read the book, but this little comment is itself so beautifully written!
Thank you, Will and Mayine!
hello there...your first paragraph captured the slow, dream-like writing of this book, which I did like, kind of like suspended animation.
Thank you, Kathleen.
LOVE your comparison!
whichwaydidshego? wrote: "LOVE your comparison!"Thank you! It was an inspiring book.
That was a lovely and pretty much perfect review :) Though now I am seriously contemplating raiding the chocolate brownies my sister left in the kitchen... ha oh well.
Thanks, Nicky! I say go for the brownies. ;)
Thank you for putting my thought into words. I listened to the audiobook I thought it was a feast for the senses.
Ann wrote: "Thank you for putting my thought into words. I listened to the audiobook I thought it was a feast for the senses."Thank you, Ann.
Great review Carol. I too found it achingly beautiful. I’ve seen a lot of people mention that the second person walk-through’s of the circus seemed gimmicky but those were some of my favorite parts, I just love the way she described how things looked, it was so honest in its story telling and just beautiful.
Thanks, Becky. I agree-she was able to create a very experiential read.
I have not read this book but i'm guessing you liked the writing and not the story
Maya--thanks for stopping by. I need both writing and story, but in this case, the writing outshone the story. Still a decent story for me.
Carol, you seem to have captured this book perfectly.
Thanks, Sean. I imagine you will enjoy it, after I glanced at your profile. And thanks for the reminder of The Color Kittens. I loved that book when I was younger, but had forgotten it. Off to order...
Wow. Having just finished the book I can now appreciate your review. Perfect!
Thank you, Melora! I'll look for your thoughts!
Carol. wrote: "Thank you, Melora! I'll look for your thoughts!"My comments are nothing like so poetic as yours, and you nailed the issue of plot. I haven't read A Fine and Private Place in probably thirty years, but now I want to reread it, and I now have the Valente book on my list as well.
Apparently the most reviewed fantasy book on GR. The best review of the book is this one of course :)Is it similar to Something Wicked This Way Comes?
First, thank you, Apatt!You know, that is a fascinating idea. I'd say so, although Night Circus is perhaps slightly less linear in plot. Really, though, same kind of story concept and visual writing.
Your description of the cupcakemade me want to run out and find one just like it!
Your review of the book has just convinced me to bring this closer to the front of to-read line. "achingly beautiful" and "lyrical"--yum!!! Now I really want to read this.
That's a great take on this! I was looking for the proper ingredients when I read rather than the overall sensory experience and I think I would have enjoyed it much more had I just relaxed and scratched & sniffed at the goodness.
Lata--thank you! I confess, I start thinking about chocolate too :) I ended up buying the book. I should re-read it.
Amy wrote: "That's a great take on this! I was looking for the proper ingredients when I read rather than the overall sensory experience and I think I would have enjoyed it much more had I just relaxed and scr..."I've discovered that sometimes my mood is a driver of enjoyment level, so I can sympathize with looking for normal reading recipe ingredients and not finding them.
I want to say that I need to read this book after your splendid review, but all I want right now is chocolate.
Thank you!Mmm, chocolate. I think I need to make time for a
carol. wrote: "whichwaydidshego? wrote: "LOVE your comparison!"Thank you! It was an inspiring book."
I get that it was "lyrical and evocative," carol. can you tell me more about inspiring?
Well... no. Except to write this review. ;)This was 8 years ago...
carol. wrote: "Well... no. Except to write this review. ;)This was 8 years ago..."
Okay, you get a pass on it. ;-)
Yes, I agree. In this book, how the story is told is what makes it good, delicious, let's say. Morgenstern uses literary artifacts to their full benefit, and it shows. I enjoyed it very much. Glad you did too. Also, that chocolate-filled review has left me craving some of it... excellent!
What a beautiful review, Carol. I’m not into fantasy, but you sure did pique my curiosity.
That sounds like a wonderful experience. Stories for storytelling's sake can indeed be mesmerizing.<3
Such a beautiful review, Carol.
Lovely review, Carol. Now, I'm really craving some good chocolate!
Great review Carol - I'm going to have to hunt down this book... and some truffles ^^
I have to agree. Normally I get annoyed when books are all about the lush writing rather than the plot, but this was one of those rare instances where I liked the flowery writing. I've been describing it as a rich dessert that's meant to be savored, so I see I'm not the only one who felt that way about it!
Awesome review. Now I am jonesing for some chocolatey goodness.
