The Night Circus: The Third Time Was Not the Charm
Some books just aren't for everybody
I have made three valiant attempts to read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. The initial endeavor back in 2013, I was trying to get a job as an assistant with the editor of this book. Book publishing pro tip: Always research and read a few titles from the editor and/or publisher you’re trying to get a job with (shows your interest in the position even more). I didn’t get the job, a blessing in disguise as book production not editorial was my niche. Despite my efforts, I could only muster the enthusiasm to consume around 60-70 pages on that first attempt. The book just wasn’t interesting to me.
In 2019, I gave this a second chance but I read the same 60-70 pages. Fast forward to last month, I gave this elusive tome another try. I was determined to finish the book. I put in the effort; I even took notes. I was falling asleep when I took some of those notes, which should have been a sign. Sometimes, the most thought-provoking decision is to acknowledge when a narrative simply isn't for you. I did chug my way through 158 pages before I decided life is too short to read boring books.
What’s this book about?
Here’s a few sentences from the back cover copy: “The circus arrives without warning. . .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 both, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Amidst the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon tumble headfirst into love, setting off a domino effect of dangerous consequences, and leaving the lives of everyone from the performers to the patrons hanging in the balance.”
Sounds intriguing. The cover is also gorgeous—I’m a sucker for a good cover. This book lured me in not just with its stunning cover but also with a barrage of enticing buzzwords scattered across the cover and the first few pages. “A showstopper.” “Enchantingly perfect.” “Exquisite.” “Part love story, part fable, and a knockout debut.” All of these words implied greatness was ahead. I didn’t see any of that in the 158 pages I read. Sometimes, it's intriguing how the promises made on a cover can unravel into a different reading experience altogether. To be fair, I did find the writing to be lyrical. But in my opinion, lyrical writing didn’t add up to a great book.
The pacing in The Night Circus is sooooo slow. Across the 158 pages I managed to navigate, there is a lot of exposition. A lot of descriptions of different circus tents. The timeline was confusing. The book begins in 1873, then jumps ahead a year or two, then jumps ahead four years, then ahead 13 years, then back and forth to the 1880s, then to 1902. I was struggling to understand when things were taking place. I’ve read plenty of novels that weren’t linear, but none as confusing as this.
Our two main characters, Celia and Marco, are not interesting—no personality. These two are supposed to have a “fierce” duel and fall in love along the way. Since I didn’t finish the book, I can’t speak to the “fierce part.” The promise of romance was elusive almost nonexistent, in my opinion, with the seeds of love seemingly neglected in the initial thirty percent of this expansive 512-page narrative. Celia and Marco interacted a handful of times. The sparks weren’t flying. I wasn’t looking for insta-love, but the characters should have more than a few minutes in the same room to make me believe they will fall in love. There was nothing that made me want to root for Celia and Marco.
Three attempts to read this book. Three attempts to conquer The Night Circus. What am I missing? All the praise, all the glowing reviews. What is it that I'm not grasping amidst all the acclaim? I just don’t see what others see in this book. Have any of you read this book? I’m genuinely curious what resonates with people about this book? What did you like? What didn’t you like?
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