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Lumos (380 KP) rated Caraval in Books

Jan 7, 2018  
Caraval
Caraval
Stephanie Garber | 2017 | Young Adult (YA)
8
8.1 (97 Ratings)
Book Rating
A dark and quirky cross between The Hunger Games and The Night Circus. (0 more)
I couldn't put it down!
  
The Green Mile (1999)
The Green Mile (1999)
1999 | Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Such rich and shining characters to find in the dark. (0 more)
Long runtime. (0 more)
Take Me To The Mouse Circus
  
Richard leaves on a biz trip and Mary Anne whines a lot. Oh, and there's some crap about a circus camp.
  
The Orphan's Tale
The Orphan's Tale
Pam Jenoff | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
10
8.8 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
Read this following a recommendation and it was really worth the time. Follows a circus and Jews during the war. An amazing story.
  
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Anna Sui recommended Lola Montès (1955) in Movies (curated)

 
Lola Montès (1955)
Lola Montès (1955)
1955 | Drama
(0 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

"My favorite Max Ophuls film. I love the swirling camera that mirrors the circus ring, and the ring of life. The story of Lola Montès (Martine Carol) and her many conquests, reenacted as a circus performance, narrated by ringmaster Peter Ustinov. It concludes with a death-defying plunge into a tub of water to symbolize her ultimate fall from grace."

Source
  
The Greatest Showman (2017)
The Greatest Showman (2017)
2017 | Drama, Musical
Great story (1 more)
Great songs
Great musical
Inspiring story and catchy songs. Worth a watch if you enjoy musicals, the circus, PT Barnum or all of the above.
  
Water for Elephants
Water for Elephants
Sara Gruen | 2007 | Fiction & Poetry
10
8.5 (27 Ratings)
Book Rating
So I never thought that I would really fall in love with a book about the circus. I found it very difficult to put this book down, unfortunately I had to so I could take care of my family. I can't imagine would life would be like if I ran away with the circus, that's not something I have ever desired.

Jacob Jankowski loses everything in one day. His family, his home and his education. So he runs away with the circus(for real!). There he meets all kinds of interesting people and learns the ways of the circus. He also meets Marlena, the star of the show. He befriends her and her husband August, who is quite abusive to the animals, the roustabouts, and, at times, to Marlena. Shortly after Jacbo joins the Benzini Brothers Circus, they acquire an elephant, Rosie. Together Rosie and Marlena are bringing in the big money for Benzini Brothers. Of course there are a lot of ups and downs to get to that point.
The story is told through Jacob as an old man in a nursing home, waiting for his family to take him to the circus. He remineces about those days in anticipation for the event.
I want to tell so much more about this book, but I don't want to give it away. Please read this book, it will touch your heart and surprise you.

In the ebook version there is a conversation with the author, and she admits to never have gone to a circus before thinking about writing this book. I found that to be an interesting fact.
  
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Natalie (23 KP) created a poll

Nov 15, 2017  
Poll
 Anonymous
These two novels are always being compared to each other, so I'm curious which people who have read both prefer?

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

0 votes

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

2 votes

Vote
     
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Kaz (232 KP) rated The Night Circus in Books

May 16, 2019  
The Night Circus
The Night Circus
Erin Morgenstern | 2015 | Fiction & Poetry
9
8.1 (106 Ratings)
Book Rating
Beautiful Descriptions (0 more)
A Slightly Rushed Ending (0 more)
When I started reading -The Night Circus-, Erin Morgenstein's writing got my attention, from the very first paragraph:

'The Circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it, no paper notices on downtown posts and billboards, no mentions or advertisements in local newspapers. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not.'

This sense of mystery and intrigue is the thing I liked the most about 'The Night Circus', along with the vivid and beautiful descriptions throughout the book.

I'm not usually the type of reader who enjoys a lot of descriptive prose, but the way in which Morgenstein describes the circus and its inhabitants was sensual, magical and totally swept me away with the story.

I'm also not a fan of romance in novels. Most of the romantic writing I have ever read, has either been slushy, boarding on nauseating, or devoid of any chemistry whatsoever. However, the romantic elements within this novel were passionate and believable.

The characters within this novel were believable too, even though most of them were rather quirky. The atmosphere within this novel reminds me of those mysterious classics such as 'Around the World in 80 days' or 'The Invisible Man', not so much in the way of plot, but in essence. There is a old fashioned quality to 'The Night Circus' which I thought was endearing and also, a refreshing change from more modern stories.

The only observation I could make about this novel, is that I felt that the conclusion to the novel was slightly rushed. Although, maybe I felt this because I didn't want to 'The Night Circus' to end.

If you enjoy a story with magic, beautiful description and a plot which unfolds slowly, then this is the novel for you.

I already can't wait to re-read 'The Night Circus'.

My Rating: *****
  
The Life She Was Given
The Life She Was Given
Ellen Marie Wiseman | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
9
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I very much enjoy Ellen Marie wiseman’s writing. The characters are well built. I just love the setting of the 1930s circus. (0 more)
Not the happy ending you would expect. (0 more)
A talented author