Rashmi bookmarks “The Night Circus”

The circus arrives without warning.

I almost don’t feel like telling you anything about this story other than “please read it” for fear that I will ruin that magical experience I’ve had reading every line and every chapter of this fantastical fairy tale by first time author Erin Morgenstern.

It is difficult to describe - or, quite honestly, ‘rate and review’ - a book that caters purely to the senses. This was a powerful tale of pure magic presented in a rich physical and metaphorical creation. Right from the prologue, “Anticipation”, the tone was set, and I knew I had stumbled on to something unique. The Night Circus is the story of Le Cirque des Rêves (the Circus of Dreams) the circus that is open only from sunset to sunrise. At the core of this circus is a deadly contest between two rivals (who, interestingly enough, do not even know of each other’s identities till much later in the game) - their real magic being showcased as the tricks and illusions that create this impossible circus.

The inception and birth of the circus, the fantastic clock where each hour creates a whole new drama in and around the clock, the magical cauldron of fire lit on opening night by 12 archers, the labyrinth in the sky, the bedtime stories in jars, the pool of tears … every chapter brought countless magical moments and surprising events.

Creating this circus, where (barring one mysterious exception) no one is born, no one ages and no one dies, are such memorable characters as Chandresh Christophe Lefevre, Herr Friedrick Thiessen, the Murray twins Poppet and Widget, and - the greatest fan of all - Bailey.

Amid all the enchanting mists we are never allowed to forget the main plot: the challenge - what is it? who is it between? who will decide the winner? based on what points? … The underlying mystery, started by the man who “has no shadow” is something that we, along with the chosen contestants, must slowly discover with time. For when that realization dawns, and the Circus begins to disintegrate, we truly see the powerful darkness that abounds all around.

Of course the crowning glory of this magical experience is the narrative structure of The Night Circus: it is not written in a linear timeline, rather the tale is woven through flashbacks to the beginnings of the circus, current experiences, and - almost a ‘flash-forward’ - as we follow the adventures of Bailey.

“The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.”