Which brings me to the actual point of this post, which is to tell you about The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern. I started this book about two weeks ago, thanks to one of my very generous students who loaned me her copy (shout out to you, Kiersten Colligan!). I heard rave reviews about it but didn't want to spend the money to get it on my Kindle. When I mentioned this in class, Kiersten let me borrow her copy. I'm over a third of the way through (page 187 of 512), and I really do love it. Why, you ask? For multiple reasons:
1. The perspective changes frequently. Normally, I'm not a big fan of authors doing this because it tends to feel contrived, but this doesn't at all. Most of the time, it's told in third-person omniscient, so we as the readers know everything about everyone. It's fun to be all-knowing :). At times, however, Morgenstern uses second person. Typically we only see this p.o.v. in those "choose your own adventure" books we read during childhood, but she uses it just enough that you really do feel like you are a part of the circus. Here's an example of this method:
"In this tent, suspended high above you, there are people. Acrobats, trapeze artists, aerialists. Illuminated by dozens of round glowing lamps hanging from the top of the tent like planets or stars.
There are no nets.
You watch the performance from this precarious vantage point, directly below the performers with nothing in between." (Morgenstern 134).
Pretty cool, huh?
2. The chapters are short. I like this because I can read an entire chapter while I'm brushing my teeth at night (two full minutes, thanks to the Sonicare). When I read a whole chapter, I feel accomplished. Maybe it seems silly that I use this time to read, but sometimes it's the only two minutes in the whole day I can find!
3. The characters are odd, quirky, and unexpected (they are circus performers, after all). I am growing attached to multiple characters and their story lines.
If you want an actual detailed summary of the book, click here. There is also a quick "Q and A" with the author. Also, here is a video of Erin Morgenstern, discussing her book:
