When I was seven our family lived in the little town of Holt, Michigan. Across the street from our house were several acres of flat land. One hot summer day I noticed a lot of activity happening on that empty land. Colorful tents were being raised, a Ferris Wheel and other rides were being erected. A circus! I was beside myself with excitement. I simply had to go. Our family attended the circus the next evening. It was everything I could have imagined. I couldn’t get enough of it. The next evening I begged my father to go, just once more. My mother and older sister had no desire to see it again, so my father and I went, just the two of us.
This time, we looked at things differently, trying to see how they did it. We watched the contortionist, twice. We marveled at the acrobats and concluded it was real, but that it would take a lifetime of practice. I don’t remember an illusionist, but maybe she was so good we didn’t realize what was happening. I was in awe of the exotic circus animals. We rode the only “ride” that appealed to us, the Ferris Wheel. From the top we could see for miles. We watched the knife thrower, sure that there must be a trick to his uncanny aim. From a red-striped paper bag we shared a bag of caramelized popcorn. I’ll never forget that evening with my father. Over the years we often talked about that magical night at the circus.
Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern brought back those memories in exploding color. The story takes place in the late 1800s and early 1900s when life was supposedly simpler. But the Le Cirque des Reves is far from simple. It was created for the purpose of providing a backdrop for a fierce competition between Celia and Marco, two young people who don’t even know each other. But when they meet, it isn’t how their instructors had planned.
Erin Morgenstern has painted a vivid picture of unbelievable imagination. An illusion of depth is created before your eyes when you find yourself in the center tent. But more than that, you’re in the minds of those who create the spell.
Night Circus is magical. Morgenstern is an extraordinary, enchanting storyteller.