The Night Circus
by Erin Morgenstern · first published 2011
50% recommend25% neutral25% critical
The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. 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, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the sta
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Erin Morgenstern's "the Night Circus" and "the Starless Sea", and Jim Butcher's latest two Dresden Files books (Peace Talks and Battleground).
on “Ask HN: What is the best book you read in 2020?” ↗"The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea" by Axie Oh. My absolute favorite this year! So well written and such a beautiful story! The way the story comes to life through her storytelling is unreal! "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern. Beautiful, magical story about a circus that opens only at night. "The Leviathan" by Rosie Andrews. Dark and mysterious story set in 1643 England. I was so blown away that this…
on “Ask HN: Best books you read in 2023” ↗I really like magical realism, but mostly ones where everything isn't so depressing like the Night Circus and the Starless Sea books. One Hundred Years of Solitude is just too depressing. The closest I got was playing through Kentucky Route Zero, which is kind of like a theatrical play in video game form…
on “The cultural decline of literary fiction” ↗*I meant to say that Night Circus and Starless Sea are good examples of books that are not depressing.
on “The cultural decline of literary fiction” ↗…Elric Saga Part 1 by Michael Moorcock - Interesting protagonist. Currently enjoying and will finish by end of year: The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern - It's about stories so far. If you liked the Night Circus, then you will like this. Great atmosphere.
on “Ask HN: Books You Read in 2019?” ↗I have aphantasia. I love reading fiction, but books that rely on extensive visual imagery tend to fall flat for me (most recently The Night Circus, but there have been others).
on “Pupils Reveal ‘Aphantasia’ – The Absence of Visual Imagination” ↗