Run away to the Night Circus

Do you enjoy Cirque du Soleil shows?  If yes, you will want to read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.  It tells the story of Celia and Marco, two magicians dueling with magic inside a travelling circus at the turn of the 20^th century. Although the love story follows well worn patterns, there are unique supporting characters. 

 This novel is more about looking around and enjoying the circus experience instead of following a plot through to a conclusion.  Now I’m done, what I remember are the imaginative descriptions of the circus itself.  What remains vivid are the bonfire in the courtyard, the bright red scarves of the devoted fans the Reveurs, the hot chocolate with cinnamon, and the various tents with their magical offerings.

If you enjoy being read to, I recommend listening to the book CD of this story, read by Jim Dale.  He’s the versatile voice actor who read 146  different characters in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  He creates a separate voice for each person, extending their characterization.  It’s like the way an illustrator can develop characters in ways not outlined in the plot. 

An interesting sideline about this bestseller is that there is a Night Circus game on Twitter so that you can connect with other readers to extend the reading experience.  The use of social media and online gaming is fascinating to watch.  How will we take the solitary joy of reading and make it a social experience?   I’m sticking with my friends in book club.  But then, I’m all about the food.  And now to put some cinnamon in my hot chocolate….