Five Things about The Night Circus

Catherine Oseas Champion | Department of Archives and Manuscripts, Central Library

Five things about The Night Circus:

1. This novel is not what it says it is. Back page copy is always a weird thing anyway, as it’s not written by the author. It is not a lie, but it isn’t really what the novel looks like when you finally sit down to read it. To that end, the back page copy and the novel itself do not align. That is to say, don't rely on the back page, but trust the novel itself.

2. This novel is about a thing. There are people, of course, but the main focus is the circus. It’s told in third person omniscient, which means it sounds like it is being narrated by an unseen being and that being really likes Tim Burton aesthetic. People are narrated as well, but mainly as to how they service the circus and make the circus' magic more interesting.

3. This is not a romance. While there is a love story, which is great, it starts before the lovers even hit puberty. Needless to say, the love story is a slow burn, but captivating. If you are looking for a romance novel that turns the page quickly, look elsewhere. But if you like the slow blossoming of love, this is the one for you.

4. The circus is not really a circus. There are no mistreated animals or weird and disconcerting smells—the things that make a normal circus less than appealing to me. This circus is called a circus for the fact it has tents and acrobats and, of course, the circus snacks. The reason, in my mind, to really attend a circus. And it has magic, passed off as illusion to assuage the more cynical of attendees.

5. This is not a thriller. It's not an adventure. It's a story about the thing. There are twists, and a few turns, but it is mainly a story, told in beautiful prose and stunning imagery. I have tried to find comparisons to this novel, but have failed to find its equal. All I can say is enjoy. I did.