The Night Circus Review – Buddy Read with Shi at BookwormInk

About: The Night Circus is a fiction novel written by Erin Morgenstern. It was published on 9/13/11 by Doubleday, 400 pages. The genres are fantasy, fiction, romance, and historical fiction. This book seems to be the author’s only published book.

BUDDY READ QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Questions from Shi @ Bookworm Ink:

1) If you were a part of the circus, what would your part be?

 Shi: I would be apart of the design. I loved the whole concept of black and white and I do specialize in black and white tattoos so I would love to do that.
Jasmine: I want to be the fortune teller. I don’t have any skills in that area but I thought that would be neat to see other people’s future.

2) What would be something you would change about this book if anything?

Shi: The pace, the ending, some of the characters.
Jasmine: I would change the ending. Add an epilogue to tell what each character is up to 2-5 years later.

3) Did this book meet the expectations you had?

Shi: No
Jasmine: No. I was expecting a really good read because I see many 5 stars ratings.

My Questions:

1) How do you feel about the ending?

Jasmine: I feel unsatisfied. Why Bailey and what makes him unique? What is Widget’s intention with the man in the grey suit’s story? I feel like the ending is left open for book two.
Shi: I personally wasn’t a fan of the ending.

2) Do you know anything about this book before you decide to read it?

Jasmine: I have seen reviews of this book by other bloggers and the ratings were good. I also love the cover too.
Shi: I heard that it was good a book I had seen many people talking about and loving it.

3) Who is your favorite character?

Jasmine: I like Celia. Her magic show is awesome. Even when she was 5 and the magic she does with the tea cup. I was drawn immediately to her and curious to find out more about her. I also like that she loves to read a lot of books and her room is filled up with books everywhere. We can all relate to that.
Shi: I liked Poppet. I’m not sure why I didn’t relate to her anything I was just very drawn to her

My Experience: I started reading The Night Circus on 1/10/17 and finished it on 1/16/17. I am happy to have the opportunity to buddy read this book with a fellow blogger Shi @ BookwormInkk. Please click on her blog name to read her review of this book. I like reading this book. The circus sounds so magical and I am desperate to visit one soon. The author writes very well and I really like her descriptions and world building. The characters are all very likable and unique. I like the magic and illusions in this book.

This book is organized into 5 parts. I love part 3 and 4 the most. The first two parts were slow and I couldn’t connect any of the characters and what is really going on. Us readers will feel as lost as the two main characters, Celia and Marco, where they know that they need to study and practice to prepare for a game but they don’t know who their opponent is or what the rules composed of. The suspense drives me crazy but not to the point of putting down the book. The author’s way of writing is good in this case where she makes you ache to know what’s going on that all you can do is turn to the next page and read on. My attention was on this book all the time. It makes me curious about the man in the grey suit.

“Sharing secrets, real secrets, important ones, with even one other person, will change them. Writing them down is worse, because who can tell how many eyes might see them inscribed on paper, no matter how careful you might be with it. So it’s really best to keep your secrets when you have them, for their own good, as well as yours.” 44%

I made the mistake of not paying attention to the date at the beginning of each chapter and I got confused for a bit. Once I start to get the hang of the date, I understand the story more. I really like Celia in this book. She does awesome magic. I also like Poppy and Widget, especially Widget’s bottles and stories. Too bad the story didn’t expand Poppy’s feelings for Bailey. I like Bailey too, even though I don’t quite know how he can be involved in the circus and if he will be immortal like the others. I guess the author leave that up to us readers to our own interpretation. The plot is good. I’m not sure if I like the ending much, part 5 seems to leave readers contemplating. I guess I’m unsatisfied because I don’t know what will become of the people in the circus and the circus. I need an epilogue chapter for this book.

Pro: awesome cover, beautifully narrated, unique characters, magic,

Con: slow start and world building, unsatisfied ending

I rate it 4 stars!

Grab yourself a copy here: Book Depository

***Disclaimer: I borrowed this ebook from my library on Overdrive and my opinions are honest.

xoxo,
Jasmine