The Night Circus

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Random House 2011

Bold and unique, like describing a bottle of fine red wine or some Gordon Ramsey entrée, that’s what Erin Morgenstern’s Night Circus is. 

Morgenstern tells the tale of two star crossed illusionists, deeply in love and irrevocably competing under the black and white stripes of a circus tent.  This is the Le Cirque des Reves however, the Circus of Dreams, and quite unlike any other.  Celia and Marco are trained by two distinct gentleman (in Celia’s case, her father) and unbeknownst them, pitted against each other in a battle of style.  It is their magic that fuels the Night Circus.

In this debut novel, Morgenstern takes a fresh look at fantasy literature.  She allows it to flow in a hypnotic pattern that draws the reader along.  The chapters move between time, weaving the storyline together and creating a very exclusive mood and atmosphere for the novel.  This and her descriptive powers are Morgenstern’s true talents.  From the magic and aromas of the circus to the extravagant dinners with Chandresh (the circus’ enigmatic proprietor) she creates scenes that will haunt the reader long after the novel is finished.  It is no wonder that Summit Entertainment snatched up the movie rights.

The characters, unfortunately, remain a bit flat.  Celia and Marco are described as sharing an intense love but it somehow never quite makes it across to the reader.  The young twins as well, who are introduced as a new and mysterious piece in the competition, seem to travel along as mere flotsam.  Even Tsukiko, whose true role is revealed late in the novel, never quite blossoms into what she could.  Her back story is hastily described and the reader is left wanting more.

So who will enjoy this book with its remarkable scenes, tepid characters, and vividly imagined illusions? Is it for fans of Harry Potter and Twilight?  Is it for fans of literature and the written word?  Probably on some levels, it will appeal to all of them.  The magic of Harry Potter is certainly there.  Perhaps even more beautifully told.  But the depth of the characters and the plot can’t come close to Rowling’s.  (I don’t believe Ms. Morgenstern was really trying to anyway.)  The Twilightesque romance?  As much as this reviewer disliked “those” vampire novels, the passion between Bella and Edward certainly overshadows anything between Celia and Marco.  Other titles that come to mind are Magicians by Lev Grossman, The Bartilmaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud and one I intend to read again, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell by Susanna Clarke.  The Grossman title, like Morgenstern’s, has a flaw in its character development.  Unlike Morgenstern’s, Grossman’s unfortunately also lacks descriptive beauty.  Stroud’s YA stories about a djinni and the young magician who enslaves him are remarkable, and unforgettable.  Similarly, Clarke’s 2006 novel about two 19^th century magicians is one that never fully left me.  Pieces of it, images or scenes, will still float unbidden to mind.  I imagine that someday I will be saying that about The Night Circus as well.  In a way, it is almost too bad that Hollywood will turn it into a blockbuster; I quite like the images Morgenstern’s words created.