review: the night circus

There's very little to say about Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus that can't be summed up in one word. Perfection. Without a doubt, this is one of the best books I have read in ages and I'm a little wistful that my fiction never turns out this beautifully.

Morgenstern has the most luxuriously writing style, seeping her work in atmosphere and location. Where most writers focus on the character, or the plot, this book is driven entirely by the atmosphere of the circus and the depth of her world. With the focus so clearly on the setting and the feel of the story, any concerns I would have raised in other books about character development all fall to the wayside. You can just sink into this book, it feels so real, and it's easy to imagine myself walking around the Night Circus itself after reading.

I want her to write a million more things, because even if I read a new book by her every day of my life it might not ever be enough. She reminds me a little bit of Italo Calvino, particularly Invisible Cities. From me that's a big compliment as that's perhaps my favourite piece of literature (but who can ever choose?)

Pure magic.