This was a tough but amazing read. The author masterfully conveyed both the noble and despicable sides of humanity. There was friendship, community, sacrifice, grit, and love. There was also abuse, prejudice, murder, betrayal, and bitterness.

This book will stick with me. I finished it about a week ago, and I still find myself thinking about it often. If you're into book clubs, this would be a great pick. There's a lot to unpack in this story.

This might be the strangest book I've read. I think I just don't have any of the cultural context that would make it meaningful. Reading it was enjoyable enough, but I solidly missed the point. Now that I'm finished, I feel vaguely as though I've just awakened from an oddly pleasant and relaxing fever dream.

This book is beautiful, rich, imaginative, and enchanting. Magic is used for the sheer wonder it creates. The circus begins to feel alive as the story unfolds. And the way the competitors‘ lives circle each other, drawing ever closer, drew me in as well.

I *loved* this book. It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a book as much as this one. It wasn't at all what I was expecting, and I couldn't be happier. I couldn't possibly do this book justice, so I will simply say that the writing is beautiful, the story well-crafted, and big themes are handled with finesse. I can't stop thinking about the ideas she explores, and I already want to read this book again.

What are your previous/current/next reads?

Here's mine:

Previous - The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E Harrow
This book was incredible!

Current - The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
This book is so unique. It took me a bit to get the rythm, but now I'm super into it.

Next - The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa
This book has such an intriguing premise. I need to read it for book club and I think it's going to be a great one for discussion.

I can't believe what a gorgeous day it is! Just a couple days ago we were buried in snow, and today I got to sit outside with this enchanting book for a while after work.

The book is The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. I'm nearly finished, and I'm really crossing my fingers for a happy ending.

This was a sweet story. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Mayor and Maribel. I also appreciated the way the author handled difficult topics. She didn't sidestep the realities of grief and guilt and the way our own minds can become our enemies.

I listened to the audiobook, and appreciated that the characters were voiced by different narrators. It felt immersive as each person told their own story. Reading it myself couldn't compare.

A fun, easy read. I enjoyed the voice and the realistic portrayals of teenagers. The main character wasn't very likable, but I appreciated that the author didn't gloss over her faults.

This is a good choice when you need something quick and light to cleanse the pallet after some tougher reads. Fortunately, that's the position I was in when I read this. I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much otherwise. As it was, I enjoyed it quite a bit.

This is a beautiful, touching story about best friends turned lovers - a young girl haunted by her past, and a trans boy discovering his identity. It's a story of family, love, honesty, and loyalty. The ending was unexpected and wondrous.

The author draws significantly on her own experiences, which adds a depth and rawness to the book. I fell in love with the characters, and now I'm sad to let them go.

I can't believe my husband got me all four of the illustrated Harry Potter books. They are stunningly gorgeous. How did I just learn about these a month ago??

I just couldn't do it. I made it about 1/3 of the way through. I do think the book is important, but he follows so many different people and switches between them with no context, so I couldn't keep up with what was happening.

I've had this book in my library holds for a while, and I didn't expect to get it any time soon. But I was in tonight, and they happened to have it on the Most Wanted table. So I got to skip the queue.

Now I'm sitting in the library cafe with a veggie sandwich and a chai, ready to dive in. "Excitement" isn't the right word. Perhaps, "anticipation"? I'm expecting this to be a hard read, but an important one.

See the comments for what it's about.

This book follows a gay man in Catholic Ireland from birth through the end of life. You experience his struggles and triumphs as he figures out who he is and what it means to be true to himself and those he loves. You see all sides of his humanity - the noble, and the deplorable.

It's a poignant exploration of society, religious power, family, friendship, and individuality. The ending is beautiful. Both happy and sad, and in many ways, perfect.

Since discovering the bookish internet, I've been acquiring books faster than I can read them. Which one should I start next?

I think I'm leaving towards When the Moon Was Ours. I've heard that it's a sweet story, and after a couple of long reads, I'm ready for something a bit shorter.

I can't sleep this morning, so it seems like the perfect time to get started on this book for work. I've been putting it off since I'm not a fan of business books, but the dev group at the startup where I work is getting ready to split into teams. As this book is influencing the structure and method of the reorganization, we've all been encouraged to read it. So it's time for me to dive in.

Sitting on the floor with a fire and a good book. ❤️

Is there any better place to start a new book than the tub? I think not! I'm ready to dive into this month's book club pick with a warm bath, scented candle, and a beverage.

I feel very meh about this book. I enjoyed the writing immensely. I'm not sure I've ever felt so much like I was in a character's head, and that was entirely down to the style of the writing.

The plot, however, was lacking. Basically nothing happened. On the rare occasions something did, the decisions were drastic and seemed entirely unmotivated. The ending didn't make any sense at all, and you were left to infer what had happened.

I made a trip to a lovely bookstore yesterday and came back with a new book and bookmark. I'm already enjoying them both. Amor Towels has a unique writing style. I'm excited to see where this book is headed.

This book started slow, but picked up about a quarter of the way through. It's a touching story of friendship and perseverance. And you can't beat the backdrop of a packhorse library.

The end was a bit disjointed from the rest of the book. It felt like she ran out of space and had to wrap everything up in just a few pages. That part was a bit jarring after the slower pace of the rest of the book, but I still enjoyed the read.

I love this quote. Those are the best evenings, and they're so easy to take for granted in a long-term relationship. I'm feeling grateful for my partner.

"Time flew, and each ended the night full and happy, with the rare glow that comes from knowing your very being has been understood by somebody else, and that there just might be someone out there who will only ever see the best in you."