The circus arrives without warning.
No announcements precede it ...
it is simply there, when yesterday it was not.
And so begins the enchanting tale of "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern which I've just finished reading for the second time.
I love to read, but it is fairly rare for me to read a book twice, however I knew I had to re-read this book well before I finished it the first time. The tale is so intricate, layers of detail, jumping in time, space and perspective. Details are revealed that you do not realise the import of until much later, all of which makes for a captivating re-read filled with ah-ha moments.
The first time I read it, I just enjoyed being swept along with this tale of an impossible circus, an intricate game and an unconventional love story. The second time I read it with the internet open to fully understand the meaning of tarot sessions, noting details and meaning I had missed before and in a way being like the fortune teller who can understand what is to come.
It is hard to provide a synopsis of the story without revealing details that are a joy to discover. It is a fantasy filled with magic, but written in a way that my mother who gets annoyed at fantasy and magic still enjoyed. It is a romantic love story without crossing the bounds into the true romance genre. It is an adventure without feeling dangerous. And somehow everything in it seems perfectly plausible within the monochrome walls of mysterious circus.
It is also beautifully written. Erin Morgenstern has not only crafted a great story, she has structured it in a complex and layered manner that makes it as much a discovery as a good read.
If you enjoy a little magic, like a journey of discovery and most likely are prepared to read it twice, I think you will love The Night Circus.
Great review, Lisa.
ReplyDeleteI think that if you've read it twice, that's testament enough that I need to download it too.
SSG xxx