My top 5 circus and magic books
I wrote The Circus Train because I love magic, circuses and extravagant, over-the-top performances.
Although this book changed many times over the years I spent writing it, the core of the novel always featured Theo (an illusionist), his young daughter Lena and their life on a circus. I still think there’s something completely magical about entering a big top as a child and being swept away by all the magic that that world has to offer. It’s no surprise then, that when it comes to choosing books to read, I am hugely biased towards anything that features a circus or magic of any kind.
Although it’s tough to pick favourites, here are my top 5 favourite circus and magic inspired books:
The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern
I had to start with this one. The Night Circus is one of the most popular circus-themed books from the last decade. It’s the story of two young duelling magicians, Celia Bowen and Marco Alasdair. Caught up in a deadly competition where only one can survive, the two magicians make the cardinal mistake of falling in love. All of this takes place against the backdrop of the magical Cirque des Rêves, a traveling night circus that pops up without warning and disappears just as quickly.
Morgenstern’s prose and world-building are utterly spell-binding. I found it very hard to put this book down when I was reading it and it’s still one of my favourites today.
The Immortalists - Chloe Benjamin
If you knew the date of your death, how would you live your life?
This is the premise behind Benjamin’s brilliant novel, a tale of the Gold children (Simon, Klara, Daniel and Varya). It’s 1969 in New York’s Lower East Side and the four kids have just had their fortunes told by a traveling psychic. As their lives play out over the next five decades, the children wrestle with the twin flames of choice and destiny: Simon looks for love in ‘80s San Francisco; Klara decamps to Vegas to become a magician; Daniel ventures into the world of medicine as an army doctor; and Varya becomes a researcher, probing the boundary between science and immortality.
Benjamin’s writing is stunning and intelligent and she possesses this rare ability to weave in so many seemingly disparate elements into a complex and beautiful novel. I was completely swept away by her work in The Immortalists, at one point even missing my subway stop because I was so engrossed in reading it.
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay - Michael Chabon
This is my favourite contemporary novel and possibly my favourite novel, ever. It’s up there jostling with The Brothers Karamazov for top spot. I’ve re-read this book so many times I’ve lost count. Like Morgenstern and Benjamin, Chabon is an incredible writer and weaves a tale so fantastical, imaginative and gosh-darn funny that I sometimes had to pause while I was reading, just to marvel at his skill.
The story takes place in 1939 in New York City, where Joe Kavalier (escape artist and budding magician) arrives at the home of Sammy Clay, his cousin. As the war escalates in Europe, America is gripped by the Golden Age of comics and Sammy is looking for a way to cash in. His enterprising nature coupled with Joe’s artistic ability are the perfect match and together they spin otherworldly comic book tales. Spanning decades and featuring a cast of pitch-perfect characters that truly wouldn’t be out of place in a real comic, this book is chef’s kiss perfect.
Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
Who can’t fall for this story of an elderly man reminiscing about his life as the vet on a travelling circus?
Gruen’s novel is told from two time points, featuring the protagonist, Jacob Jankowski, at different stages of his life. We start off by seeing him living in a nursing home, bored with his mundane life. When a circus sets up in the parking lot outside the home, it sparks memories in Jacob and the journey really begins. Through Jacob, Gruen switches between the past and present, weaving an endearing story of hope, sadness and love.
Jacob takes us back to the height of the Great Depression. He is sitting his final exams at veterinary school at Cornell when he receives word that his parents have died in an accident. Orphaned, broke and heartbroken, he flees and, on a whim, jumps on a passing train. Unbeknownst to him, it’s part of the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth, a traveling circus.
Jacob finds work at the circus looking after the animals, including a purportedly difficult elephant named Rosie. He also gets to know the circus cast, including the beautiful performer Marlena, wife of the temperamental animal trainer August. Forbidden love blooms and the circus takes a bit of a dark turn.
I won’t say too much more but it’s a really good book. I also watched the film based on the novel and loved it.
Caraval - Stephanie Garber
I love me a good trilogy and Caraval is the first in a spell-binding series about magic, love, betrayal and sisterhood.
Caraval tells the story of two sisters, Scarlett and Tella, who live on a small island with their cruel father. Scarlett dreams of attending Caraval, a once a year performance-meets-game where the audience participates in the show. But when her father tells her he’s arranged for her to be married, she thinks she’ll never get the chance.
Miraculously, Tella manages to whisk Scarlett away to the show. But when they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by the organizer, Legend. Scarlett soon finds out that this years’ Caraval revolves around her beloved sister and that whoever finds her first will be declared the winner.
At first, Scarlett thinks that it’s just a game and that nothing that happens during Caraval is truly real. But as the hours tick, she soon realizes that all is not what it seems, that actions can have serious consequences and that she must find Tella before she disappears forever.
Garber’s world-building is so on point, it was hard for me to bring myself back to reality each time I had to stop reading this book. If you loved Caraval, I also recommend the other books in this series, Legendary and Finale.