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(Reccomendations) The Night Circus -- Erin Morgenstern

63 replies

cassiatwenty · 08/04/2024 09:10

Hiya

Has anyone read The Night Circus? It was such a brilliant and magical experience.

Can anyone recommend something like it please?

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OneFrenchEgg · 08/04/2024 22:25

OneFrenchEgg · 08/04/2024 21:56

Isn't Caryl Churchill magic realism? I feel my English Lit degree stirring somewhere

Nope I'm thinking of Angela Carter who wrote Nights at the Circus and the magic toy shop etc

Hedjwitch · 08/04/2024 22:13

Oooh,I enjoyed The Binding. Clever concept. Think I'm in the minority in disliking Piranesi.

Georgesbar24 · 08/04/2024 22:08

The Binding and the Night Circus are similar to me because they’re the only books I’ve ever visualised. I’d highly recommend the Binding - it’s a similar level of almost, but not, realism.

EssaysOfElia · 08/04/2024 22:04

I love the Night circus - it’s one of my favourite books of all time.

I’ve read quite a few books mentioned on this thread but none have ever come close to the magic of this book.
The only book that comes slightly close to the magical feel is The museum of extraordinary things by Alice Hoffman.

OneFrenchEgg · 08/04/2024 21:56

Isn't Caryl Churchill magic realism? I feel my English Lit degree stirring somewhere

FoodAnxiety · 08/04/2024 21:22

I loved the Night Circus too! How about The Little Paris Toyshop by Lauren Westwood? Or The Once and Future Witches by Alix E Harrow?

Blueuggboots · 08/04/2024 21:02

I loved the 10,000 doors of January by Alix E harrow....

NoLostCause · 08/04/2024 20:57

City of Circles by Jess Richards has a similar vibe. I also liked The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E Harrow.

Bbq1 · 08/04/2024 20:52

KStockHERO · 08/04/2024 20:25

I absolutely hated "The Night Circus". Sorry, OP.

But "Gingerbread" by Helen Oyeyemi (also magic realism) gave me similar vibes but was much much better - higher quality writing and rounded characters.

I agree that "Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell" also has similar vibes to "The Night Circus". I enjoyed most of it but the chunky sections set in Venice was boring as fuck.
Susanna Clarke's other book "Piranesi" is absolutely fabulous - very other-worldly, strange and eerie. Again, gives that sense of being someone's dream.

Not magic realism but "The Doll Factory" by Elizabeth Macneal felt quite similar too but I'm not quite sure why!

I absolutely loved The Doll Factory and The Night Circus . The Doll Factory is not magical realism but there is something other worldly about it with incredible twists and turns.

LittleBitHeiressLittleBitIris · 08/04/2024 20:37

The Magicians (and 2 subsequent follow on books) by Lev Grossman did the same thing for me. They're a sort of contemporary, adult, sweary hogwarts.
There's also a channel 5 adaptation of them but don't let that put you off!

givebeesachance · 08/04/2024 20:27

I second the recommendation for Gingerbread - it’s fab. Though The Night Circus is better 😉

KStockHERO · 08/04/2024 20:25

I absolutely hated "The Night Circus". Sorry, OP.

But "Gingerbread" by Helen Oyeyemi (also magic realism) gave me similar vibes but was much much better - higher quality writing and rounded characters.

I agree that "Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell" also has similar vibes to "The Night Circus". I enjoyed most of it but the chunky sections set in Venice was boring as fuck.
Susanna Clarke's other book "Piranesi" is absolutely fabulous - very other-worldly, strange and eerie. Again, gives that sense of being someone's dream.

Not magic realism but "The Doll Factory" by Elizabeth Macneal felt quite similar too but I'm not quite sure why!

SilverBranchGoldenPears · 08/04/2024 20:18

I second Neil Gaiman‘s Stardust but also Neverwhere - which I loved. Especially the audiobook.
Piranesi is fantastic as is Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell.
My addition to the list would be Wizard Knight by Gene Wolfe. It isn’t what you expect. And it’s one of my all time favourite books.
I have just got the ebook of Night Circus now so many thanks! Off to read!

Songlines · 08/04/2024 20:14

Another one to recommend Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. Give yourself long enough to get into though, it's long!
I loved the Night Circus. If you want a classic introduction to magical realism, try 100 Years of Solitude. This would be my desert island book

Beamur · 08/04/2024 20:14

I enjoyed the Starless Sea but may be a minority.
Piranesi by Susannah Clarke is excellent and also quite dreamy and other worldly.

spriots · 08/04/2024 20:09

Have a look at Frances Hardinge - esp the Lie Tree, I think her books have a similar style

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cassiatwenty · 08/04/2024 20:07

Hedjwitch · 08/04/2024 17:06

Watchmaker of Filigree Street is good. I enjoyed it

Now I really want to read it!

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cassiatwenty · 08/04/2024 18:50

ColinFuckingRobinson · 08/04/2024 18:46

Jim Dale of Carry On fame! He's actually perfect for it

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Oh interesting, I never knew that Smile

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ColinFuckingRobinson · 08/04/2024 18:46

cassiatwenty · 08/04/2024 18:43

Do you recall who was the narrator?

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Jim Dale of Carry On fame! He's actually perfect for it

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cassiatwenty · 08/04/2024 18:43

greezelouise · 08/04/2024 17:12

It's a remarkable and beautiful book. I've heard it as an audiobook as well. Just magical

Do you recall who was the narrator?

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greezelouise · 08/04/2024 17:12

It's a remarkable and beautiful book. I've heard it as an audiobook as well. Just magical

Hedjwitch · 08/04/2024 17:06

Watchmaker of Filigree Street is good. I enjoyed it

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cassiatwenty · 08/04/2024 10:31

TeabySea · 08/04/2024 09:34

I found The Starless Sea harder to get started and stuck into but loved it just as much.
Similar feels for me were from Orfeia (might have spelled wrong) by Joanne Harris, Stardust by Neil Gaiman and Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield.

I've just finished The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley. Not really Steampunk, not exactly historical fiction- it really grew on me.

Oh I really want to read "The Watchmaker of Filgree Street", Stardust is fantastic! I assume you read the "13th Tale" by Setterfield? I'm glad you loved The Starless Sea and managed to get into it.

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cassiatwenty · 08/04/2024 10:29

Sandysandwich · 08/04/2024 09:34

The Bone Season had a similar feel to me
And some parts of the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series- underlayer of magic in a normal world type thing

Thank you!!

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cassiatwenty · 08/04/2024 10:28

Phineyj · 08/04/2024 09:51

I enjoyed The Night Circus but was gradually driven mad by the comma splicing!

I think if you Google magical realist fiction you will find more in a similar vein though.

Magical realist fiction, got it, thankyou

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