The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

I've had the paperback version of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern in my 'to be read' pile for years. I've been wanting to read this novel ever since I obtained it from the FOL Used Bookstore in Carpinteria, California for a $1. 

So in an effort to read older books in my 'to be read' pile, I chose to listen to the unabridged audio version of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and narrated by Jim Dale from Audible instead of reading the physical book as I am having better success listening to books verses reading them these days. I chose to leave the paperback edition of The Night Circus at a Little Free Library not to long ago.. 

Listening time for The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is 13 hours, 40 minutes.

I have heard nothing but rave reviews about The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern from other readers and reviewers, which could be both a blessing and a curse. A blessing in a sense that it meant this fantasy novel is an excellent one not to be missed... Or a curse as it may not live up to the hype. 

Fortunately for me, I truly enjoyed listening to The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern more than I thought I would. Jim Dale is also an excellent narrator and he really made this novel truly stand out. I thought that storyline, characters, and writing were good. I also enjoyed the tarot/fortune telling aspect featured throughout this novel as I have been somewhat intrigued by tarot and divination in general. I now want to read a few tarot books and learn more about it. And, of course, the entire theme of magic and the circus within The Night Circus are quite captivating as well.

Although, I really liked The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, I didn't love it. There were a few minor plot details that I had questions about once I finished listening to this novel. Additionally, I felt a few areas of the novel were a tad slow. Lastly, I wished the novel's timeline was completely linear instead of going back and forth in time.

The following is a plot summary for The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern from Audible:

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 per­formers 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.

I enjoy hearing authors talk about the books they write. Below is an author interview of Erin Morgenstern talking about her novel, The Night Circus in an interview.

I am giving The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!