Assignment 25 - Hannah Pulley

Nearly all of this year, assignments and weekend after hectic weekend have been keeping me from the growing stack on my bookshelf and list on my phone of books to read. I figured to start easing into the summer with one of my favorite books that I've discovered in the past few years: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. Bouncing between various narratives set in cities all over the world at the turn of the twentieth century, the book tells the story of an agreement between two gifted magicians (masquerading as illusionists) to dedicate their respective apprentices to a series of challenges and to determine who is the stronger teacher and performer. Overall, the most spectacular aspect of the book is the setting of these challenges: a circus unlike any person has seen; open only by night (hence the title) and decorated with the stark and elegant contrasts of black and white, fire and ice.