Book review: The Night Circus

Once in a blue moon, there comes along a novel that sets the world on fire.

Not because it has a gimmick like vampires, sex, or zombies, but because it is genuinely dazzling.

Recently, that book has been The Night Circus.

The novel, by Erin Morgenstern, revolves around Le Cirque des Rêves, an enchanting and spectacular circus that is only open at night. Front and center are Celia and Marco, two star-struck lovers entangled in a complex, mystical game. Surrounding them are colorful and lovable quirky characters whose fate rest in their hands.

I'm hesitant to say anything more about the plot. I feel like trying to describe the inner workings of a book that already paints it so perfectly would be an injustice.

It is one of those books you simply need to read. Allow the words, characters, and plot to envelope you with the turn of each page.

What astounds me the most is that The Night Circus is the debut novel for Erin Morgenstern, a Massachusetts-based artist. The book is so beautifully written, with such vivid details and descriptions, it seems like the work of someone who has been publishing novels for a long time.

When you read this book, you truly see, with stunning clarity, every color splashed before your eyes. You can practically smell the waft of caramel apples in the air and taste the mouth-watering chocolates on your tongue.

This isn't a book you can breeze through easily. Time goes back and forth. The plot is complex. Things are not what they seem. But those elements are what makes this book refreshing. It bends and twists and turns and flips your mind.

After researching the author, I was shocked to learn that this novel, which was written in 2005, was turned down by 30 literary agents before getting a bite. It proves that no matter how talented and brilliant you are as a writer, getting a book published really just comes down to pure luck. It was a reality that actually kind of depressed me. I mean, if this work of art received 30 rejections in five years, I guess that means the flimsy piece of crap I'm working on must be doomed. Sigh.

Anyway, I highly recommend this novel. Especially if you love Harry Potter and Jane Austen novels (magic and romance).

Have you read The Night Circus? Do you want to read it?