Imaginary Adventures discussion

Sorry this is late going up (pneumonia sucks!), but it's time to nominate a book for January!

Go hog wild this month and nominate ANYTHING YOU WANT!

I'll take the first three nominations on December 22nd and put them to vote.

Thanks!

I'll nominate The Night Circus. Been meaning to read it and I keep getting distracted.

Also, news! I can buy books again!! Thank you all got your patience these last couple of months.

http://www.amazon.com/Night-Circus-Er...

Anna wrote: "I'll nominate The Night Circus. Been meaning to read it and I keep getting distracted.

Also, news! I can buy books again!! Thank you all got your patience these last couple of months.

http://www..."

That's a GREAT book and suggestion. Thanks for nominating!

Because of the holidays, my illness (and me being late), and the lack of nominations... The Night Circus will be January's BOTM.

:-)

Everyone must be too stuffed from the holidays to nominate. Hope you're feeling better, Eliza!

Anna wrote: "Everyone must be too stuffed from the holidays to nominate. Hope you're feeling better, Eliza!"

Yes, that's it! Too many food babies to nominate. ;-)

I'm on the mend, still sick and suffering, but after a month, life must just hurry up and go on. Thanks for asking!

I am so excited for this discussion! Who read Night Circus and wants to start us off?

The narrative follows a non-linear sequence—shifting at times from present to past. What did you all think about that, did it help or hurt the story? Did it confuse you or intrigue you?

Ok, so parts of this book I lived and parts I really disliked. I loved the imagery especially the tents. FYI, there are spoilers. I didn't like the time jumps at first but the way it all comes together at the end makes it wonderful. I did not like the way the Masters get away with everything.

I would love to wander through this circus. I could stay in the snow garden, cloud maze, and library forever. The Bottle Room of Memories intrigues me but also scares me for the very really awful memories that could be there. More than anything I want to satch the clock change. I want to browse all the sketches of new clocks and see the ones he had planned!

I fully admit that the time jumping really threw me
In the first half of the book. I actually had to go back and check the dates to make sure I wasn't insane. After I figured out where it was going it was much easier to follow the two stories at once. By the time Bailey was going to the Circus to meet the twins, it all made sense. I was happy woth the two stories meeting up "in the present".

Spoilers ahead:
The ending made me sad. Yes, I cried. I cried for the loss of their childhood. All of them. I am sad the Circus ends in a way. Bailey supports it but there won't be any new tents. I am sad they didn't get to be with each other. And I am mad that the Masters got away with everything. Grey Suit gets to go on his merry way and torture other kids. Invisible Man can haunt him but he still gets to live! I am really sad about the clock maker. there seemed so much left undone for him and his followers. To me, there didn't seem to be justice for anyone in this book. Everyone suffered and everyone lost. It was very Tolstoy-esque in that way and perhaps that is why I was not totally thrilled with the book.

I am cery glad I read it and I will probably read it again for what I missed the first time through but overall the book makes me sad. I loved it but it breaks my heart too.

Oy, the typos. Sorry!

Jamie wrote: "Ok, so parts of this book I lived and parts I really disliked. I loved the imagery especially the tents. FYI, there are spoilers. I didn't like the time jumps at first but the way it all comes toge..."

Thanks for your lengthy response Jamie!

YES! To all of it!
The imagery in NC is AMAZING. I swear I can smell the treats as I read and feel the snow garden giving my goose bumps. I always wanted to know more about Celia's tent, watch her show, sit next to Marco and bask in their love. When he would sit in on her act and watch her in awe and with love, I choke on the emotion it had.

*clears throat*

Okay, I'm back, sorry about that. The time jumps, yeah... if anyone has read Alice in Wonderland, NC gives me the same vibe. I had to read both a few times to catch it all (or as much as I could) and even after reading some passages a few times I think there are still a few secrets hidden. Bailey's character always tricks me into thinking he's a throw away, a device to give the twins more "face time," folly, you are correct, the time shifts, became clear around that time for me as well.

Oh man, that ending. I fully warn my husband that upon finishing the book I will be a wreck for at least a week. I cry, I mop, and I love it. It's interesting to me that you think the Masters "won," did them loosing their best pupils (daughter) and even their life, not feel like a loss to you? Celia and Marco did not die for me, they live one, together, in the circus as shadows and energy, but they are together. That to me makes it a win. What's a better outcome than eternity with the one you love in a place you call home?

I'm glad you enjoyed it, and that you're willing to give it a second read. I found more tid-bits my second time through, perhaps you'll love it more? :-)