The Night Circus

The book jumps back in forth in time to tell the story of before and during and then and while it should be confusing with a jumble of different characters it's not. You yearn to know how everyone is intertwined - because you know they must be - and you revel in each little step taken through their journey.

Sometimes when I'm reading a book where there is an ensemble of characters I get frustrated when the focus shifts from one character to the next. Inevitably there is always at least one character I don't care where their story take them. That is not so with The Night Circus.

I'm enthralled by Bailey, Poppet & Widget and their mysterious adventures. What Bailey's future holds for him and Poppet & Widget's easy acceptance and friendship. Isobel is at times seemingly bitter and cunning, but then maybe that's just what I expect her to be and not what she really is. Of course, Celia and Marco. Tsukiko, Chandresh, Tante, Lainie & Tara, Mr. Barris, Herr Thiessen....they're all incredibly fascinating and add bits and bits of revelation to the mystery at hand.

I found Hector/Prospero to be completely horrid. Alexander showed more love for Marco than Hector ever did for Celia. Everything Hector ever did was done to Celia, not for her. The affection he showed her was merely a fake face. Alexander was the genuine one. Though that doesn't make him exempt from his choices it does make him more human.

I did get a little confused during October 21-November 1, 1901 & 1902. Because it was switching back and forth so quickly I would have to double back and see what year I was in. There were questions and mysteries I felt were never answered, but for some reason I wasn't disappointed. Some mysterious are better left as mysteries.