Upon some reflection, I didn't actually like the Night Circus all that much.

Submitted by ThuliumNice t3_yfcq1s in books

I admit it has been a minute since I read the book.

I really wanted to like it. I thought the setting was unique, and the concept of people locked in a duel that turned into artistic collaborators and lovers was really neat.

The magic system was kind of arbitrary, I didn't really understand what really stopped the characters from just making wonderful things forever, or why making magical creations constituted combat.

I also didn't really understand the motivations of the magician masters. Whatever their beef, sacrificing apprentices seems like a really expensive way to settle their beef.

And one of the masters at the end seemed oddly wise and insightful for somebody who just sentenced a lifelong protege to single-combat with someone lasting years.

And I know this is vague, but the ending of the book was just wrapped up way too neatly at the end. I like happy endings (generally), but it felt forced.

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skybluepink77 t1_iu3jhoj wrote

Read it in my bookclub recently, and we all disliked it [I really disliked it, had to force myself to read it.]

I don't like books with circuses, clowns etc in anyway, so I started with a prejudice...

Like wading through a sticky sea of sugary, sickly frosting. Too much description, too elaborate, 1-dimensional boring characters, insta-love, anti-climatic ending, I could go on but you get the idea. A lot of people like it though, so that's fine. Just don't ask me to read it again, I'd rather stick pins in my eyeballs.

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jefrye t1_iu39aqx wrote

Morgenstern has a really atmospheric and visually beautiful writing style, which I loved. The novel just felt magical.

Her big weakness, imo, is characterization. I didn't care that much about the lack of explanation about the framework of the plot and the "magic system," but the characters felt just slightly off, almost like watching bad acting. They're one-note, lack complexity, and alternate between being too straightforward and too mercurial to be believable.

I really like the novel, but I'm not sure I'll reread it again.

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Hammunition t1_iu7f8yx wrote

Agreed. This is why I enjoyed the Starless Sea much more. Like she is aware of her strengths and weaknesses and just went all in on descriptions and exploration and had only enough characterization and plot to keep thing moving. Like just building the skeleton because there needs to be some reason to be here and then to go somewhere else, and so on. It is a novel after all. But one with very clear priorities, which I appreciated.

Also really liked your description of the Night Circus feeling like you were watching bad acting. I had a very similar reaction. I think it might have just been the dialogue, but it's been a while since I read it, and unfortunately I can't really expand on why I have that feeling. Or maybe that I'm used to more internal monologue and motivation, and that was pretty absent in the book. Like the characters do horrible things to each other and then are forgiven without much of an explanation or conversation. Sometimes no explanation at all, just a time jump. I really didn't like that approach.

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along_withywindle t1_iu4aix3 wrote

I didn't really care about the plot or characters, but that book was amazing for my imagination. It was quite challenging to imagine everything, and it was a very fulfilling exercise. I feel like after reading that book my imagination leveled-up.

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moose_tassels t1_iu4n0a8 wrote

Agreed. I don't think the point of the book was the plot, it was the...atmosphere? I found it incredibly immersive and inventive. Like I just sank into the world she created.

It's probably not a book to read if you approach books analytically because yes, it's lacking in certain areas. Sometimes I read simply for escapism and it fit the bill perfectly.

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adamfirth146 t1_iu2xvsf wrote

I felt the same as you in a lot of ways.

I thought the book was well written, which has to count for something with so many rubbish books about nowadays but I agree with you about the ending. It seemed like the author had an idea for the main part of the story but didn't know how to end it so they came up with a very contrived way to finish the book.

I didn't mind the magic part although I agree with you on the idea of a benevolent master even though he'd possibly sentenced his protégé to death being a bit daft.

On the whole though I quite liked the book, it's just a shame they couldn't come up with a better ending.

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ThuliumNice OP t1_iu2zs8i wrote

Do you think the book would have made more sense if the magician masters weren't there? It was just too rival magicians who competed to make the most wondrous things they could to prove they were better and the other was a hack, but the conclusion is that they come to some begrudging sense of respect for each other, with maybe a hint or two of strong mutual attraction?

Imo it would give the main characters a lot more agency, and make the book a good bit less arbitrary.

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adamfirth146 t1_iu30iem wrote

That might be better. No need for anyone to take it over, sounds like a plus to me.

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cokakatta t1_iu4t202 wrote

I think the 2 main characters being manipulated by their respective adults is their character. They are almost abandoned but wanting to please or not please their father figure. They basically have nothing then find eachother. Anyone who would have enough self agency to become a rival wouldn't be able to become so helplessly attached to their rival. They are basically nothing except what they were made to be, or they can be something else together.

I liked the descriptions more than the characters but I still liked it. I don't know if I really got it because I guess I was rushing at the end. I wish it was a movie though not sure if it would be as pretty as it was in my head.

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skybluepink77 t1_iu5xwcj wrote

They wouldn't need to have an attraction - that might complicate it too much - but it would be good if they had some sort of relationship...there didn't seem to be any reason, apart from a mix of ego and boredom, as to why they were 'duelling' anyway.

Morgenstern can't 'do' character, the only character who had a slight bit of personality was Friedrich, and she killed him off!

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Catsandscotch t1_iu5bt0v wrote

I liked that book, mostly for the writing style. It just felt...pleasant. I don't really have a better way to say it. I agree with you that the plot was weak and the characters were not well developed. It reads almost like allegory. But I did still enjoy the read. So I find myself confused by the number of people who rate this book as one of their all time faves. But here's the thing, I recently read The Starless Sea (by the same author) and I freakin LOVED it. I recommend it to everyone. But I have noticed that there is an insane number of reviews by people who said they loved The Night Circus and couldn't stand The Starless Sea. So now I want all of you don't care for Night Circus to give Starless Sea a try.

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PashasMom t1_iu6jz82 wrote

I thought it was mostly a book about a color scheme.

The characters were like paper cut-outs and the plot was boring (to me). I do not understand the love for this book.

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hodgemo2 t1_iubbglo wrote

It's been a while since I've read it, but I 100% agree with you. It was a beautiful immerse landscape of language, but it still left me not fulfilled. I think it was the characterization.

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dibawlif t1_iu4abk1 wrote

I wanted to read it, but now i'm having second thoughts. Should I ditch it already?

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shauniedarko t1_iu4cwvm wrote

Nah. Read it. It’s a wonderful book. If you don’t like it, you’ve really not lost anything.

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ThuliumNice OP t1_iu4s8ll wrote

I guess it depends on what's important to you.

The book is strong in imagery/atmosphere, but doesn't have the most sensible plot.

A lot of people liked the book, and that's valid.

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skybluepink77 t1_iu5y81k wrote

No! Do read it - or at least, try a few chapters. I didn't like it but I don't regret reading it, and lots of people do like it. It's all a matter of taste and preference.

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3rd-eye-blind t1_iu53sal wrote

OMG SAME! I wanted to much to love it! I read it with my book club, and everyone loved it except for me. I was so frustrated!

I will say that some of the writing was absolutely incredible. The author really paints such intricate, beautiful pictures of the characters, the magic, and even the scenery.

But, yeah, no thanks. There were too many unanswered questions, characters making choices that didn't make sense, and I really felt the ending was anticlimactic.

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Nonaaa323 t1_iu5xw3b wrote

Yeah I see where you are coming from,I don’t even remember it all so well since I read it when I started reading more frequently back in 2018. I do remember taking forever to finish it since it didn’t catch my attention as I was hoping it would.

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