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ste_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
bookwyrmknits's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
I enjoyed reading this in print for a reread (though listening to Jim Dale narrate the book was a truly magical first experience with The Night Circus). I had forgotten a lot of the details, but not everything, so I was amused by which parts felt new to me.
This is not a book for someone who wants a decisive story with a plot that makes sense. This is not for readers looking for a straightforward story. But I knew going into it that this was a wandering tale where words were magic and nothing was what it seemed, and so I enjoyed it very much. Again.
This is not a book for someone who wants a decisive story with a plot that makes sense. This is not for readers looking for a straightforward story. But I knew going into it that this was a wandering tale where words were magic and nothing was what it seemed, and so I enjoyed it very much. Again.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood and Death
mayling23's review against another edition
2.0
When I don't like a book, I always try to find some good things about it, some highlights that soften my disappointment. But in this one, I really can't find any.
These day, I just feel like overhyped books always let me down. Actually, I didn't expect to love this book, I was simply curious to see what is this story about when so many people claim it's their favourite. (Thanks God, I borrowed this book from library and didn't buy it.)
I mean, sometimes you just don't like something and that's so okay. We can't like same things, it would be boring, right? But reading The Night Circus truly made me depressed and somehow put in a freaking reading slump. I had no desire to finish it and was thinking about DNF-ing it several times.
But then, I invested some time to reading it so I forced myself to read the whole novel.
And it sucked. I mean, it did and even though I hate saying it about any book because every book was written with love and care from the author, this book just sucked.
My main issue is that there was basically no plot, all we got was description of the circus, description of the food and all over again. There was no character development and honestly, protagonists had no personality at all.
Also what really annoyed me was the fact how the author mixed past and present tense together. It was totally strange and in my opinion in a bad way. She was describing for example some action and she has started with a present tense yet the next sentence was in a past tense with no logic whatsoever.
I admit that maybe it was a mistake to read it in slovak, because the translation was not good to be honest. It is possible that in a original form I would enjoy it more but still, I doubt. This one was not for me, unfortunately.
These day, I just feel like overhyped books always let me down. Actually, I didn't expect to love this book, I was simply curious to see what is this story about when so many people claim it's their favourite. (Thanks God, I borrowed this book from library and didn't buy it.)
I mean, sometimes you just don't like something and that's so okay. We can't like same things, it would be boring, right? But reading The Night Circus truly made me depressed and somehow put in a freaking reading slump. I had no desire to finish it and was thinking about DNF-ing it several times.
But then, I invested some time to reading it so I forced myself to read the whole novel.
And it sucked. I mean, it did and even though I hate saying it about any book because every book was written with love and care from the author, this book just sucked.
My main issue is that there was basically no plot, all we got was description of the circus, description of the food and all over again. There was no character development and honestly, protagonists had no personality at all.
Also what really annoyed me was the fact how the author mixed past and present tense together. It was totally strange and in my opinion in a bad way. She was describing for example some action and she has started with a present tense yet the next sentence was in a past tense with no logic whatsoever.
I admit that maybe it was a mistake to read it in slovak, because the translation was not good to be honest. It is possible that in a original form I would enjoy it more but still, I doubt. This one was not for me, unfortunately.
emilielovesbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
akiikomori's review against another edition
5.0
I'm so glad this held up!
This is my first reading since I first read the book years ago and it did not disappoint.
I still love it as much as I did the first time.
Still one of my favourite books ever <3
This is my first reading since I first read the book years ago and it did not disappoint.
I still love it as much as I did the first time.
Still one of my favourite books ever <3
kaiiiii's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
i really loved the plot and the whole idea of the circus. so magical i love it
kelseyjxck's review against another edition
4.0
Wavering between 4 stars and 5 stars so I suppose I lie somewhere in between.100% a slow burn, which personally I don’t mind but it can be agitating.
Super atmospheric, completely indulgent and undeniably an immersive experience. I think I enjoyed this as much as I did because I went into it open minded. I mean, I really wasn’t expecting this to be a masterpiece of literature by any means.
A lot of people hum and haw over the plot structure (lack thereof) but personally, I didn’t find it difficult to follow at all. There is definitely a lot of jumping back and forward between time lines, and a lot of different character POV (maybe like… 15?) that I can see WHY people struggle to keep up with it but I think you pick up the Night Circus mindful of this then it’ll make it a much more pleasant experience.
Super atmospheric, completely indulgent and undeniably an immersive experience. I think I enjoyed this as much as I did because I went into it open minded. I mean, I really wasn’t expecting this to be a masterpiece of literature by any means.
A lot of people hum and haw over the plot structure (lack thereof) but personally, I didn’t find it difficult to follow at all. There is definitely a lot of jumping back and forward between time lines, and a lot of different character POV (maybe like… 15?) that I can see WHY people struggle to keep up with it but I think you pick up the Night Circus mindful of this then it’ll make it a much more pleasant experience.