(Reccomendations) The Night Circus -- Erin Morgenstern

[cassiatwenty]

Hiya

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

Can anyone recommend something like it please?

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!

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

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!

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.

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

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

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?

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

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.

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.

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

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

Alix E Harrow, all her books but particularly Ten Thousand Doors of January.

I didn’t enjoy it as much but The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab has a similar feel too.

I didn't like Piranesi at all, loved Jonathan Strange though.

I loved Stardust. Thought the Binding was so-so, great concept but the plot needed some serious editing to be sharper.

Just placemarking. Back later ..

Welcome People have been so kind and helpful on this thread! I hope everyone finds a book or two they like whilst reading comments.

@Mothership4two I was very excited to read The Binding, but I agree with you, sadly I couldn't finish it

@Songlines People keep talking about the 100 Years of Solitude but I still never tried reading it, thankyou for reminding me

@SilverBranchGoldenPears Glas you got the book now, and I hope you enjoy reading it. I wish I could go back and read it all over again for the first time

Just coming on to suggest Piranesi.

I really loved The Night Circus and The Watchmaker of Filigree Street. Last year I read The House of Sorrowing Stars by Beth Cartright which has a similar vibe and the same magical realism.

Ooooh that sounds interesting cheers!

If you like a bit more spooky but not exactly horror, then Laura Purcell's The Corset is a really good read too.