Have you read The Night Circus? I’m about 35% through and pretty bored, does it get more suspenseful?
I’m about 35% through The Night Circus, and pretty bored. For those of you who’ve read it, does it get more suspenseful or should I give up now?
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Give up now. The people I’ve found who liked it, liked it immediately.
That exactly answers my question. Thanks!
I loved it.
You either love it or hate it, I think. It is one of my favorites, for sure!
That’s what I wondered. I loved it for like my first 30 minutes of reading and then nope.
I loved it!
I quit about 50%.
In a word, yes.
I’m the same, but I hear it’s amazing
Another book club read that I didn’t love. But others really did…story of my life with books!
me too!
I loved it! Another book club choice of mine. But not all books are for everyone. Our best discussions are when members disagree. Read a little further. If it still doesn’t grab you, there are thousands of amazing books waiting to be read!
I listened to audio. Had to re-listen. I found it had at times to stay interested but I find I prefer to listen to lighter stuff like scifi and read other types of books. So I have plans on reading this one.
I did consider trying that instead. Maybe this book lends itself better to the ear (for some of us).
Oh yes!
Loved the audiobook…with reader Jim Dale, who was also the reader for all the Harry Potter books.
I actually grew into liking it and now it is my favorite book. I found it difficult at first to get used to the back and forth with all of the character sections because it takes some time to figure out what everyone is about. After I got further in I started to get more attached to each character. But not everyone will like it of course.
I loved it..
and.. echoing what Jeri Wallitsch said !
I loved this book. Persist.
I liked it. Not great but not bad.
I know many people loved it, but I thought it was incredibly boring. It is one of those books I forced myself to finish because I kept thinking that surely something was going to happen. It never did. It ranks as one of my least favorite books of all times.
Likewise
Yes, for me the suspense is “maybe it’s about to get good.” I don’t want to put it down for fear of missing out. But the style really isn’t for me.
I really enjoyed it but it was years ago and it didn’t stay with me.
I loved it. Didn’t find it suspenceful. But liked the writing and imagery
Ah so it doesn’t suddenly turn suspenseful. Hmm I am leaning away a bit.
I gave up
This is filed in my ‘I know I read it, but it was dull as dishwater and I can’t remember a thing about it’ drawer. Which is all fairness, it way better than the ‘so dull I can’t remember reading it until I read it again and bits came back to me’ drawer; at least I know not to go back to Nigh Circus.
Loved it
I never really got into it. I gave up about halfway through.
I found it pretty boring.
If you are no longer enjoying the descriptive language, quit. The plot goes no where fast, and I quit at 2/3 through with nothing too exciting happening. I had to look up what actually happened to see if it was worth it and from the vague summary (the book had just come out when I read it). It wasn’t and I decided to stop wasting my time.
I loved it immediately. If you still don’t like it, I doubt you will.
I’m one of the people who loved it. For those who say “nothing happens”, I would ask what it is that you’re expecting to happen. If you’re looking for the literary equivalent of car chases and explosions, then yeah, nothing to see here. This book is definitely more of a psychological thriller. It’s deep, it’s dark, and kind of twisted. It’s subtle, and everything has another layer of meaning to it that you might not see right away. That’s the kind of writing that sucks me in and stays with me. ?
If someone had painted the most beautiful mural with my favorite colors right in front of me, I would enjoy the art of it—the mix of colors, the design, etc. But I’m not sitting there to watch the paint dry. That was what this book was like. There was subtlety but it repeatedly failed to follow through. This was a NANOWRIMO first effort, and a good first effort, but from the reactions here, plot means something, and plot means movement. I don’t need car chases but I do need a point and end goal. And I need to see progress to that. Didn’t really see it even at the 2/3 mark. Beautiful language, nothing more.
Cheli Nasr wow, that is well described. And it’s exactly how I feel. I like the colors and ideas, and while I don’t need action, I want some plot progression. It feels very much like waiting for the paint to dry.
I loved the imagery in it. I felt like the author painted a beautiful picture
I like the imagery too, but after awhile it gets too flowery for my taste. Cheli above exactly describes my sentiment. I think maybe this really is one of those books that people have strong opinions on one way or another.
I wasn’t able to finish it – I wanted to like it I was just board
I want to like it so much. The circus is one of my favorite themes. I even tried to do a field study on the circus when I studied Anthropology in college.
I wasn’t a fan. Time to move on…
Step away from the book now.
Yes, life is too valuable.
I really enjoyed the book, but if you’re finding the writing boring and you cannot get into it, don’t force it. Every book isn’t for everybody, and that’s completely okay. Maybe put it down for now and try it again another time? I find that there are lots of books that I have to be in a particular frame of mind/mood, or I do not enjoy them at all. I’ve laid down two or three “best sellers” in the past couple months that I just could not read. There’s way too many books out there to read to waste time on some that aren’t quite your cup of tea. Just my two cents. ?
Very good points. And maybe it is partly timing. I’ve definitely experienced that. I mentioned above that I’m attracted to the theme. Also I even like the style at times, but I’m just failing to get lost in this story. I keep thinking “that would never happen” or “ooh is it about to get good” but rarely do I feel engaged. I think I’ll set this one down for now. Try later. Maybe continue where I left off in the car with audio book next time I am on a road trip. ?
I think it gets better as you go. Very complex though.
Complex, yes. I sometimes forget who the characters are, maybe because I’m not that engaged. And I am reading a digital copy that doesn’t have x-ray so I just have to kinda go with it and try to remember who it is. Also the bouncing around in time and location is confusing me. The ebook format doesn’t let me easily check what year we are in because it cuts off in the Table of Contents.
Maybe I am not quite smart enough for this complexity! Self-deprecating jokes aside, if I do try it again when I’m more in the mood, I think I will use a different medium like a “real” paperback, or audio.
I loved this book. I thought it was magical. I agree, though, that it definitely is not a story full of suspense.
I couldn’t get into it. So many people loved it and recommended it so I was expecting to love it.
I absolutely loved this book ? but if it’s not doing it for you let it go
It doesn’t so..yeah give up its not worth it
Boring. I agree.
I abandoned it a,few years ago. Could have been the circumstances I found self in with my longtime pug friend in hospice at home. I may try it again some day.
It was a great audiobook
I read it for my book club and I liked it but it was not my favorite.
I thought it was so fun and recommended it to several people but if you haven’t yet caught the bug, it might just not be for you!