Book Review: The Night Circus

The Night Circus -- by Erin Morgenstern

I stumbled across this book when I was in that awkward limbo stage for readers. You know that brief period of time where you're in between books and unsure what to read next, or waiting for your next book to arrive in the mail? I was in the first predicament near the end of summer, and my friend decided to let me borrow The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern because it's one of her all-time favorites. I admit that it's taken me this long to finally finish it (thanks to school), but it was definitely worth it.

The Night Circus starts of a little slow, due to quite a bit of backstory. The entire situation is intriguing and different: two men waging in some sort of game that involves two of their students. The reader doesn't know what this game is, how it's played, or how someone wins. It was a little frustrating not knowing what the game was until close to the end, but that's what builds most of the suspense and mystery about this story. What part does the circus play? Why doesn't Marco perform? Exactly how are the competitors bound together?

Then there's Poppet, Widget, and Bailey. All of the separate stories throughout the novel that end up entwining together, which is something I always really like in novels. In the end, everything makes sense and you have an even better understanding about how people and events work together and how everything came to be. All of these characters and side stories share a fate together in the end, which is slightly unexpected and definitely satisfying.

Morgenstern creates beautiful scenes and situations when describing the circus and the various tents within it. Her creativity and imagination shine through the short blurbs told through second-person narration, helping the reader imagine experiencing the circus first-hand. Morgenstern describes the circus using every sensory detail possible, to give her audience the full effect as if they were actually walking through the circus and visiting the separate tents.

The Night Circus is filled with imagination, magic, and mystery. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy and suspense novels. The characters grow before your eyes, and the story unfolds with more clarity through every chapter. You'll be rooting for Celia and Marco to beat the game, and save the circus from its ultimate collapse. I'm excited that Summit Entertainment has recently gained the rights for this novel, for the imagination and creativity of this piece would be wonderful seen on the big screen.

What I'm reading next: Beautiful Days by Anna Godberson

It's a Lifestyle

I played basketball A LOT when I was younger, so I decided to write a poem about what it's like to be in a game and on a team. Enjoy!

Whistles screech.

Shoes squeak.

Nets swish.

Crowds scream.

This is where I belong.

I’m engulfed in the game,

from tightening my laces,

to sprinting down the court,

to the the final buzzer.

This is my life.

I focus and visualize

all of my hard work.

Endless days of

sprints, drills, plays.

Grueling practices at

the crack of dawn.

Reviewing with my dad

to improve.

It all comes down to this.

As I step on the court,

my gaze draws to the ball

like a magnet.

Mine.

The referee throws it

up in the air.

I leap like the ball

is my last breath.

It all starts now.

Sprinting.

Screaming.

Cutting.

Driving.

Shooting.

Fighting for our lives.

My team works as one.

Without each other,

we fail.

Together, success.

Nothing else matters.

Muscles on fire

by the final quarter.

Breath, water, audacity:

all needed to live.

To win.

Sweat drips down my face

like salty tears,

symbolizing my toil.

Coach’s last words.

It’s time to end this.

Every ounce of effort,

Every pound of will,

Every ton of energy,

is left on the floor.

Nothing is held back.

My fire isn’t extinguished

until the final buzzer.

This is my goal.

This is my life.

To shoot,

To score,

To win.

It’s a lifestyle.

30 Day Writing Challenge

Beings that I have no inspiration for my own writing topics at the moment, I feel like doing one of these will help spark that desire to start writing again (after all, that’s what this blog is for, right?)

I probably won't end up doing these every single day, especially with finals coming up next week. But I'm definitely going to try and do them during my winter break before my big move to Florida :)

Day 1: Re-write a classic fairy tale.
Day 2: Write a fanfiction.
Day 3: A story that takes place pre-1950.
Day 4: A poem using the words: blue, mistrust, half, twang.
Day 5: A story revolving around an object in your room.
Day 6: Start your story with: “He glanced at his watch impatiently…”
Day 7: Create a superhero. Have he/she save the day.
Day 8: Write a prequel to that Superhero. Pre-Superhero life. Maybe their childhood.
Day 9: A story in 250 words or less about your favorite city.
Day 10: Start story with: “She touched the little box in her pocket and smiled…”
Day 11: A story where the characters go without power for a day.
Day 12: Find 10 random words and create your own definitions.
Day 13: Begin with “I thought I saw…”
Day 14: Randomly find someone in your yearbook. Create a story about their life today.
Day 15: Write about a stranger you see. Either their back-story or what they are thinking in the moment you see them.
Day 16: Go to iTunes, put your music on random. Write a story about the first song that comes up. (250 words or less)
Day 17: Use time travel in a story.
Day 18: A story set in a ghost town.
Day 19: Write an obituary for a historical figure.
Day 20: Use these words in a story: grandfather, photo album, post office, and folder.
Day 21: He or she sees their crush in a library. Describe the incident.
Day 22: Write a story based on a dream you had.
Day 23: Describe/fictionalize a childhood memory.
Day 24: Write a story that takes place 100 years in the future.
Day 25: Write a story about a mythical creature.
Day 26: Write about the 30th picture on your phone or computer. Write about the story behind it, or make up the story behind it.
Day 27: Story taking place during a sporting event (any sport).
Day 28: Story on a ship. Past, present, or future.
Day 29: Story about space.
Day 30: Story or poem about ice.