bookworm wednesday – the night circus

let’s kick off the virtual book club with an enchanting story i devoured while visiting my brother in colorado over the new year: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (3.5 of 5 stars)

Le Cirque des Rêves is only open at night, and the fact that it appears and disappears without warning is the least curious thing about it. the nocturnal attraction, styled entirely in black and white, is full of extraordinary wonders, and not even the performers know that it is the setting for a behind-the-scenes magical duel.

i was certainly charmed as celia and marco play in a game they’ve been trained for since childhood. their complicated relationship with the circus, the performers, the patrons, and each other entangles the fates of many into an already high-stakes battle.

the descriptive and imaginative detail in this book is truly…well…magical.

the fantastical themes really worked for me, sweeping me into scenes where i marveled at the creativity and inventiveness of the author.

for me, the story was more entertaining when i decided to just enjoy the ride and not worry about the route or destination of the sprawling, time-jumping story. the puzzle is tightly woven and very slowly unraveled, and while i usually get into a good brain-twister, trying to reconcile all the pieces of this one would only have diminished my delight.

has anyone read this book? were you drawn in by the mystery or the imagery?