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3.5/5
Non-Fiction
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Re-read for the second time since maybe seventh grade. It was one of Gillian’s favorite books and so I decided to give it another go, except I was also in the middle of awful covid brain fog so it didn’t have quite the impact it might have.
Rating: 4/5
Pages: 387
Started: 22 July 2022
Finished: 24 July 2022
Summary:
Tied into a contest of power and skill by unforgiving teachers, Celia and Marco are made enemies on a grand battlefield: the Night Circus. They must each work to outdo the other in displays of magic within the circus itself, but like many games, Celia and Marco’s competition is more complex than it seems. With so many working parts, it’s hard for something not to go awry.
Thoughts:
This was a truly gorgeous book. Likely because I was sick, I never got invested in any of the characters, but the writing and settings and scenes and clever uses of magic and fate were all brilliant. This book had so much presence—it was such a texturally rich story that reading it was a uniquely immersive experience. I wish I had been in better health to more thoroughly enjoy the experience, but hopefully in another five years I can read The Night Circus again and enjoy the full depth of the experience.
Some Quotes:
“but wishes on sheep appear to work no better than wishes on stars”
Words:
Pontificating (v) express one's opinions in a way considered annoyingly pompous and dogmatic
Conflagration (n) an extensive fire which destroys a great deal of land or property
Querents (n) one who consults an astrologer
Courtesan (n) a prostitute, especially one with wealthy or upper-class clients
Courtier (n) a person who attends a royal court as a companion or adviser to the king or queen
Courier (n) a company or employee of a company that transports commercial packages and documents; a messenger for an underground or espionage organization
Lascivious (adj) feeling or revealing an overt and often offensive sexual desire
Diaphanous (adj) (especially of fabric) light, delicate, and translucent
Insipid (adj) lacking flavor; lacking vigor or interest