The Night Circus
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 per formers 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. - Publisher.
Stats for nerds
2recommend
6mentions
4people
2019–2025years
67% recommend17% neutral17% critical
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
- I really like magical realism, but mostly ones where everything isn't so depressing like the Night Circus and the Starless Sea books.
One Hundred Years of Solitude is just too depressing. The closest I got was playing through Kentucky Route Zero, which is kind of like a theatrical play in video game form with lots of references to Marquez. A phenomenal game.
- *I meant to say that Night Circus and Starless Sea are good examples of books that are not depressing.
- "The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea" by Axie Oh. My absolute favorite this year! So well written and such a beautiful story! The way the story comes to life through her storytelling is unreal!
"The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern. Beautiful, magical story about a circus that opens only at night.
"The Leviathan" by Rosie Andrews. Dark and mysterious story set in 1643 England. I was so blown away that this was her debut novel! Just wow!
"I'm Glad My Mom Died" by Jennette McCurdy. This was my favorite non-fiction book by far! I devoured this in less than a week! Amazingly insightful and well written!
- Erin Morgenstern's "the Night Circus" and "the Starless Sea", and Jim Butcher's latest two Dresden Files books (Peace Talks and Battleground).
- I have aphantasia.
I love reading fiction, but books that rely on extensive visual imagery tend to fall flat for me (most recently The Night Circus, but there have been others).
- In no particular order the best ones I've read this year(so far) are:
Children of the Nameless by Brandon Sanderson - Probably one of the few very good magic the gathering books.
Augustus: The Life of Rome's First Emperor by Anthony Everitt - excellent overview of the emperor
King Rat by James Clavell - fictional depiction of being a prisoner in a Japanese camp during WW2.
1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created by Charles C. Mann - talks about the natives in the Americas after first contact. Follow up to 1491.
Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship by Robert C. Martin - Good book for people looking to write clearer, more understandable code
The Elric Saga Part 1 by Michael Moorcock - Interesting protagonist.
Currently enjoying and will finish by end of year:
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern - It's about stories so far. If you liked the Night Circus, then you will like this. Great atmosphere.
