The Night Circus

Magic, illusion, multiple people with unique and wondrous talents, and a love story as well all intertwine in the book The Night Circus written by Erin Morgenstern. The best way to describe this delectable read is to call it an adult fairy tale, or to classify it as fantasy. The people who populate this book for the most part have an extraordinary talent of one kind or another, and yet they remain believable, likable people. Morgenstern explores the fine line between reality and illusion; what is real and what may be possible if we suspend our belief systems.

The plot revolves around a competition between two young illusionists, neither of whom had any choice about whether or not they wanted to participate in this competition which has few rules, guidelines, or obvious end point. In fact, their mentors, two ageless wizards, bound the young people to this competition when they were children, and the binding ensures that the game must be played out to its conclusion, with the winner the contestant who proves he or she has the stronger magic. The night circus, a marvelous enchanting place, serves as the venue for this competition.

The story takes place over the course of two decades. We see the action unfold through the eyes of several different characters, and we like them all. The unbelievable seems believable and we take a remarkable tour through an impossible circus, altered reality, odd people, and yet we think that somehow maybe this is possible. As one of the characters notes in the book, “she claims there is a fire-breathing paper dragon somewhere in the tent, and though Bailey believes her, he has difficulty reconciling in his head the idea of paper that breathes fire.”

Call it a fairy tale or a fantasy tale, but read it if you like good writing and an interesting plot. I liked all the characters with the exception of the two ancient magicians, but even they were not totally evil and they had a few redeeming qualities as well. I rooted for both the competitors, who just happen to fall in love with each other and who had the courage to try to find a way out of an impossible situation without destroying themselves or each other.

This is an excellent book and offers a change of pace, a believable plot set in a completely unique environment, and peopled with extremely unusual characters. Morgenstern makes the point that very often, there is neither good nor bad, just shades of gray, and that we are all connected in one way or another. My actions affect all those around me, not only myself. As one of the ancient sorcerers remarks, “There are no more battles between good and evil, no monsters to slay, no maidens in need of rescue…There are no longer simple tales with quests and beasts and happy endings…Things keep going on, they overlap and blur, your story is part of your sister’s story is part of many other stories, and there is no telling where any of them may lead.”

Speaking of the unusual, the unbelievable, and the interconnections that exist, the wizard continues, “This is not magic. This is the way the world is only very few people take the time to stop and note it…When the battles are fought and won and lost, when the pirates find their treasures and the dragons eat their foes for breakfast with a nice cup of Lapsang souchong, someone needs to tell their overlapping narrative. There’s magic in that.”

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I will read any other book I happen to see written by Erin Morgenstern.