I know January has long been over, but I've been a busy bee, so this post is better late than never.
The Night Circus was published in 2011 and was on the list for my last book club but was never chosen. I am so glad it was picked this time around and it was as I had hoped; it was the first book that we've done that everyone has liked! Yay us!
The story kind of has three plot lines that move together, but they are not always linear, at least not up until the end of the book. One follows the 'challenge' between Marco and Celia, the other follows a young boy named Bailey and the last is interspersed throughout the novel and is a second-person view that really makes no sense until they very end of the book (and it is so worth it). Actually all the plot lines are very worth it in the end! Most of the plot centers around Le Cirque des Rêves, its performers and the happenings around it. Basically, the Night Circus from the title.
We all rated the book at a 7 out of 10 or higher (see I said we all liked it!). Carmen said that she listened to the audio book and that it was good too, so that is worth noting as some audio books can ruin a novel. I personally LOVED this book and gave it an 8/10, but I think I was being conservative and actually like it more than that, especially now that I have had more time to process.
One of the key parts of the book is the competition/challenge that takes place between Marco and Celia. No this is not a spoiler, because even as you read the book it is as unclear to the reader, as it is to the characters, up until the end of the book. You're kind of figuring it out along with them in a way. Jane wanted to discuss the idea of balance that is present throughout the book in regards to the challenge as it ends up being more collaborative than competitive at points, which makes for a really interesting dynamic. Unfortunately though, the balance - order versus chaos - ended up not being as developed enough as it could have been to make it more intriguing as a underlying theme.
The secondary characters in the book also made for some interesting discussion. We all agreed that Bailey's character could have been utilized better, and I thought he came into the story too early on and that half way through would have been better and made more sense. Then there is Isobel, the fortune teller, and her story is quite sad. We all felt sorry for her character in the end and that she was almost forced into the circus as she had no where else to go... and then there is all the ignorance Marco paid her... The twins, Poppet and Widget, were very fun and their story is intertwined with everyone's in the book. The way their characters were used to bridge some of the arcs and draw attention to other mysteries was ingenious and well done by the author. I feel like they held much of the story together through all the timelines. We also talked about Tsukiko, but I won't say much more because she is wrapped in all sorts of spoilers for this book.
We spent a good portion talking about one part, one theme of the book that really kind of touch us all, and that was the Rêvers. They are circus goers that have a tradition, a dress code (from pg. 183):
"decked in black or white or grey with a single shock of red: a scarf or hat, or, if the weather is warm, a red rose tucked into a lapel or behind an ear . . . a simple signal for those in the know."
There are those who chase the circus around the globe and those who systematically visit when it is close by; they always know where it is going to be. Fredrick Thiessen is kind of their founder and keeper, as he corresponds with many of the Rêvers. They interact with the circus in an intimate way without being a performer, but they appear as such to those not in the know. They add an element to the circus, and the story, that keeps you hopeful.
The chapter on the Rêvers occurs just before the middle of the book and is short - only seven pages - but there is so much packed into it. I've never had a book express so well to me about what it means to be a fan-girl; a nerd; as obsessed with a fandom, as The Night Circus did. Everything about what the author wrote regarding who and what the Rêvers were made so much sense to me: they are the epitome of their fandom, they are like family, and they keep the spirit of the circus alive. They are part of the magic of the circus to those outside of it and the fandom, but also a symbol of love and dedication to those who live within the circus. A nice touch for both sides.
I really did love this book. I would recommend this novel to fantasy lovers for sure. There is a little mystery and a little romance as well, but it really is all about the magic. It has been optioned for a movie, in which I hope they do the novel justice because I'll be so disappointed if its crap. The world, even though it is mostly in black, white and grey, is really vivid and makes the imagination work to envision the magic that is displayed in the circus. I can see why it would possibly make a good movie as there is tons of character development and fantastical imagery to work with.
