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Erin Morgenstern: The Night Circus (Hardcover, 2011, Doubleday) 4 stars

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday …

Review of 'The Night Circus' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

The atmosphere and imagery for this dream like novel is spectacular. The Night Circus reminds me of that TV show Carnivàle; full of unimaginable wonder, mystery and a circus of wonder. At times this book also reminds me of a Neil Gaiman book playful with some dramatic surrealism thrown in for good measure. While everything from the illusions, circus exhibitions and even the clocks seem so unreal and unimaginable, Erin Morgenstern skilfully describes everything so well that you can picture it; even if you can’t make sense of it.

The Night Circus is a fairy tale of a circus in Victorian London that is full of magic when the sun sets till the sun rises in the morning. It has magic, romance, mystery and constant excitement. Morgenstern times the scene changes so well that while you want to know more, you are eager to find out what will happen next. It’s a skilful tactic that makes this book simply brilliant in every aspect. Even though this is a book the imagery makes this story amazingly visual you almost want to use the word ‘cinematography’ while writing a review of it. I’m not going to talk about the story line; you just have to find out that for yourself. There are a few flaws they are so easily forgotten in this book that is so close to perfection.