The Night Circus
Written by: Erin Morgenstern
Narrated by: Jim Dale
Length: 13 Hours and 39 Minutes
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date: September 13, 2011
Publisher: Random House Audio
Do you absolutely adore fantasy novels? There are a handful of excellent fantasy fairy tales out there, but some of them are easily forgettable. This is not the case with Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus is a 2011 novel, which perfectly fits in the Fantasy genre. The book has already established itself as a masterpiece, which needs to be experienced by anyone, who loves these whimsical tales. The book has been mentioned along the likes of Harry Potter and Twilight. At the same time, it has been compared to amazing novels, such as Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell! If you’re a fan of these books, it is imperative that you check out the Night Circus in one way or another.
The good news for audiophiles is that The Night Circus is now available in an audiobook version. Jim Dale, who has an extensive amount of experience and an impeccable reputation, narrates it. Does his performance add substantially to the tale? You will be able to find out below!
The Narration
The narration is done by no other than Jim Dale, who has a reputable history of bringing fairytales to life. He has reviewed more than 650 audiobooks, which is an absolutely astonishing record, by all means. Jim has won innumerable awards including two Grammy Awards and was eventually inducted into the Audio Publisher Association’s Hall of Fame. What could one expect from such an accomplished narrator?
The magic of the circus is enough to pull the reader into the novel, but it takes a special talent to maintain their attention throughout. Jim Dale possesses the strong ability to do just that, but much more. Of course, the reader must be brave enough to take the adventure with the mysterious, but loving characters.
Many individuals have always been fond of magic, since it possesses a mystical trait that could potentially take one on an amazing expedition. One cannot deny the fact that magic is mystical, but can one admit that it is romantic and passionate, as well? To each his own, but one thing is for certain Dale does not miss a beat, when he is entertaining his huge audiences.
The tale of the circus and the game that is hidden from the fantasy audience plays along, without their knowledge. Dale works his own magic, by creating a fantastically imaginative setting and his ability to make each character real will blow one’s mind away. Once you enter the circus life, it will not take very long before you actually can envision yourself eating popcorn, alongside the onlookers.
The plots in the story line are played out rather slowly, but this will not to deter the listener from staying engaged throughout. These delays are actually the author bringing new characters into the story, which is acceptable and to be expected. This gives the listener enough time to familiarize him or herself with the character and make their own judgment.
Jim Dale does an exceptional job bringing the mystical, but loving characters to life. Hold on to your seats, because this is going to be a ride of a lifetime.
A Look At The Compelling Novel
In order for an audiobook to be successful and worthwhile, the backstory must be compelling and captivating. The Night Circus definitely fits into this category and the phantasmagorical tale makes the transition to audiobook format flawlessly. Jim Dale’s vocal performance is ultimately a lifting point, but the tale itself is fantastic, as well. The book will take ahold of the listener and transport them to Victorian London. From there, it’ll submerge the listener into a world of mysticism and fantasy. Once the reader or listener is introduced to the Le Crique des Reves, or the Circus of Dreams, they’ll be completely hooked and will not be able to look away.
From this point forward, the tale grows increasingly mystical, bizarre and wonderful! The circus is filled with all types of amazing abnormalities, which will surprise and excite the listener. Fearless acrobats soar through the sky, without a safety net and defy fate. Of course, getting into this amazing event is difficult and requires one to become a “reveur”, or dreamer. Initially, The Circus of Dreams seems like a wonderful and amazing place, but the listener will soon be terrified, by its true purpose.
The circus takes on a Hunger Games type of competition, which pits competitors against one another. Several of these competitors become leading characters. You have Celia the illusionist and Prospero, who wishes for his daughter to become a magical genius. Marco is the assistant of the circus and actually controls the competition and on goings from the outside. Unfortunately for the competitors, no clear rules have been set to help determine the winner.
Instead, the competition appears as though it’ll continue on for an endless eternity. Greed, desire and lust will overtake them and things will slowly spiral out of control. Who will be the clear winner? Or will the competition consume them all? Despite being a true fantasy tale, The Night Circus manages to explore human psyche in a unique way. By looking beneath the surface, the listener will be able to see themselves and those around them within each of the characters. This makes the tale even more fantastic and delivers a life lesson, which will better the listener and force them to think about the things that truly matter.
Overall Assessment
When it comes down to it, The Night Circus is a fantastic tale, which will engulf the listener in fantasy and magic. The characters are amazing, silly and a little ludicrous. Yet, they remain true to form and each could easily represent someone you know. This adds more credence to the tale and makes it more than just a whimsical tale. Whether you listen to The Night Circus or read the novel, you will definitely enjoy yourself.
However, it is undeniable that Jim Dale’s performance helps to take The Night Circus to a whole new level. For that very reason, the audiobook is likely the best version to date! Be sure to check it out for yourself now!
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