The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern

 

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern got onto my list after talking with my niece who pointed out that I might like other books by this author.

Started: 6/7/2021
Completed: 6/11/2021
Recommendation: Recommended
Recommended By: My niece

Words for Which I Sought Help:

exsanguinate -- drain (a person, animal, or organ) of blood

Review:

I do not think it is revealing too much to say that my opinion is that this is the story of Poppet and Bailey.  The story is mostly a series of descriptions.  Using a circus with endless tents each featuring endlessly interesting exhibits, Morgenstern writes almost lyrical descriptions.  These cascading collection of descriptions are threaded on a thin necklace of plot that is ostensibly the heart of the novel.  The reality, however, is that this threaded necklace stippled with remarkable scenery is ostensibly THE heart of the story, but I find Poppet and Bailey much more compelling.  Some might argue that the real story is that of the circus itself, but, like others in the story, I find the circus to be a venue and not a story.  Widget is an interesting character as well and it seems like Widget develops as a child develops--half formed early in the book and developing character and pushing around the edges towards the end.  Well worth the time.

The Starless Sea, Erin Morgenstern

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern was recommended to me by one of my nieces.

Started: 2/5/2020
Completed: 2/10/2020
Recommendation: Recommended
Recommended By: A niece

Review:

This book had a disorienting start, but I'm beginning to think that if the protagonist is confused, like I am, then it is easier for me to deal with the disorientation.

The author provides some insight into the nature of the book by saying, "[c]hange is what a story is, after all."  Picking up on that clue early, helps one navigate the whole of the book--this one will be about change and inflection points are caught around change.

This book features stories within the story and some have multiple endings.  This is the second book that I have read recently that features that kind of story and it is something to which several other books have alluded in my memory.  I have gradually found the concept understandable.

When I think of fantasy, this is not what I usually conceive--this seems more like literature to me.  I enjoyed the references to other books, wrapped in the book and I'm sure I missed some.  There is something to the bunny that I'm sure I missed and I imagine that the frequent references to cats (and, particularly not feeding them) that must tie into other books or story lines that I just missed.

I get the idea that dying and being reborn sort of comes from video games, although it seems clear that it is not a straight reference.  It seems like that to me because the reborn sort of have a similar context (though not the same context as you would get from a video game).  It is different from a spiritual rebirth because there is no sense of progress (for better or worse) along with the rebirth rather a sort of blip in continuity.

I like the idea of living outside of time and never thought of the impact of that on a story.  It is a well explored concept here.