The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not.”
// Erin Morgenstern, The Night Circus
The Cirque des Rêves is a production of illusions set in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Appearing and disappearing unexpectedly in the finest cities around the world. The novel revolves around two gifted children trained by their guardians in telekinetic and psychic abilities: Celia who is an illusionist whose “illusions” are truly magic and Marco who can create enchanting worlds that look and feel real. Both children experienced a sad childhood, both isolated and pressured to overachieve in their respective study of magic. Eventually, Celia and Marco meet, unaware that their guardians created a contest using them as pawns in a ruthless game of magic theory. Captivating ice gardens, curious intricate clocks, and gowns that change color were beautiful displays of magic, however, the most compelling magic written was the contrast between cruelty and love.
“Someone needs to tell those tales. When the battles are fought and won and lost, when the pirates find their treasures and the dragons eat their foes for breakfast with a nice cup of Lapsang souchong, someone needs to tell their bits of overlapping narrative. There’s magic in that. It’s in the listener, and for each and every ear it will be different, and it will affect them in ways they can never predict. From the mundane to the profound. You may tell a tale that takes up residence in someone’s soul, becomes their blood and self and purpose. That tale will move them and drive them and who knows what they might do because of it, because of your words. That is your role, your gift. Your sister may be able to see the future, but you yourself can shape it, boy. Do not forget that… there are many kinds of magic, after all.”
// Erin Morgenstern, The Night Circus
I was immediately fascinated by The Night Circus and finished reading it within a few days. Erin Morgenstern’s writing style is beautiful and mysterious, I honestly couldn’t put the book down.
Have you read The Night Circus?
No, but it sounds so good! It’s definitely going on my reading list! I recently finished reading Susan Branch’s ‘Fairy Tale Girl’, and can’t wait for the second book to arrive in the mail, and Thale’s Folly by Dorothy Gilman, also very good. I’m currently reading This Victorian Life by Sarah A. Chrisman, Miss Buncle’s Book by D. E. Stevenson, and The Year of Less by Cait Flanders.
Oh, I will definitely check these books out! I imagine we have similar taste—have you read North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell?
no, but I loved the miniseries! I need to read it! I’ve been on a reading binge lately and i’m loving it, it’s so peaceful! I just finished “Saving CeCe Honeycutt” by Beth Hoffman (so, so good, especially if you love the south – I did the audio book and the narrator is perfect!) and this weekend I started Winter Solstice by Rosamund Pilcher, very cozy so far.