Audibook: The Night Circus

The Night Circus is written by Erin Morgenstern and narrated by Jim Dale.

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it, no paper notices plastered on lampposts and billboards. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. 

Within these nocturnal black-and-white striped tents awaits an utterly unique, a feast for the senses, where one can get lost in a maze of clouds, meander through a lush garden made of ice, stare in wonderment as the tattooed contortionist folds herself into a small glass box, and become deliciously tipsy from the scents of caramel and cinnamon that waft through the air. 

Welcome to Le Cirque des Rêves. 

Beyond the smoke and mirrors, however, a fierce competition is under way--a contest between two young illusionists, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood to compete in a "game" to which they have been irrevocably bound by their mercurial masters. Unbeknownst to the players, 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. 

As the circus travels around the world, the feats of magic gain fantastical new heights with every stop. The game is well under way and the lives of all those involved--the eccentric circus owner, the elusive contortionist, the mystical fortune-teller, and a pair of red-headed twins born backstage among them--are swept up in a wake of spells and charms. 

But when Celia discovers that Marco is her adversary, they begin to think of the game not as a competition but as a wonderful collaboration. With no knowledge of how the game must end, they innocently tumble headfirst into love. A deep, passionate, and magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands. 

Their masters still pull the strings, however, and this unforeseen occurrence forces them to intervene with dangerous consequences, leaving the lives of everyone from the performers to the patrons hanging in the balance.

The Breakdown:
1.  Morgenstern is a master of writing beautiful imaginary. This book is filled with gorgeous descriptions of the circus and the characters that make them feel so real.  It is one of those book that I would love to see on the big screen and yet, dread for the fear that it would not be nearly as beautiful as Morgenstern describes.  At the end, I was sad that Le Cirque des Reves was not a real thing because I want to visit all the tents described.

2. So I was not crazy about the narrated, Jim Dale, at first, but as the story progressed I found that he really fit the part.  He is amazing at pulling you into the story, and makes you sad when you have to stop listening.

3. I adored Celia and Marco's courtship.  While not spending much time together,  they make beautiful love letters to each other in the form of the challenges in the different circus tents.  My heartbreaks for them when they learn what determines the end to the challenge.

4. Morgenstern's characters are so wonderfully well rounded, even the supporting characters are fantastic.   I think my favorite characters are Poppet, Widget, and Bailey. They are all so interesting, and when the three of them are together, their chemistry is amazing.

5. This book hit me right in the feels multiple times, which is a little awkward when you are tearing up while driving.  The ending was so perfect for this book.

To Read or Not to Read:
Must Read