Kepler's: The Book Flap: Book of the Week: The Night Circus

We are jumping on the bandwagon today to tell you about one of the most talked-about and breathlessly anticipated debut novels of the season. Today is the day that Erin Morgenstern's first novel, The Night Circus, appears on bookshelves across the country, setting the hearts of booksellers (who are somehow never jaded by the joy of sharing a book they are terribly excited about) aflutter.

Get the book HERE.

The Night Circus is a lush, atmospheric, beautifully written fantasy about two magicians who duel each other as part of a mysterious circus that appears with the night. It has already received the stamp of approval from luminaries of that particular stripe of fantastical, intelligent, and slightly (or very) odd literature that I, personally, find most appealing: Audrey Niffenegger, Aimee Bender, and Katherine Dunn have already contributed enthusiastic praise. Almost every bookseller I know who has read this book is endearingly overexcited about how much they love it.

I haven't read it yet. But, I am definitely picking up a copy today. Read Penelope B.'s review below and I'm sure you'll be joining me.

When the Night Circus arrives, it does so on tides of slumber. You never hear the train shudder to a stop or the tents that toss you from a dream as they billow in the wind. When you awake, the circus is simply there, sumptuous tents that flow in endless streams. The scents of embers, rose, and caramel stun the senses as an ornate carousel clock reminds you to make haste and find a seat.

This tale is centered around two young illusionists who have been trained since childhood to duel one another within the confines of their chosen arena, the Night Circus. But a venue crafted from such mastery has its own history of secrets. In this book, Erin Morgenstern has created a world, grandiose and rich with lyricism, that I found very hard to leave.

--Penelope B.