I’m thrilled to announce that the generous folks over at Doubleday have allowed me to give away two copies of Erin Morgenstern‘s The Night Circus. You’ve probably heard about this novel for months since it arrived with a caravan-load of buzz, being compared to the Harry Potter and Twilight books. Helping that comparison along is the fact that Summit Entertainment, the production company behind the Twilight movies, have snapped up rights for a movie adaptation that David Heyman, who produced the Potter movies, might produce.
I’ll post a review later but wanted to give you the chance to win these two copies now. If that gorgeous cover alone doesn’t entice you, here’s the description from the publisher’s website:
The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.
But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.
True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.
Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.
Intrigued? Enter by leaving a comment about the coolest magic trick or circus act you’ve ever seen. Giveaway ends next Tuesday, October 25 at 5 p.m. PST. US/Canada only, per publisher’s request. Two winners will be randomly selected and have 48 hours to claim the prize before alternate names are chosen.
Let’s hear your magical stories!
14 Comments
Mark Henry
October 18, 2011 at 8:01 amI guess I should preface this by saying, I’m terrified of clowns. I incorrectly assumed that I’d be less effected by the french-speaking, sophisticated variety of clown found at Cirque de Soleil’s “O” at the Bellagio in Vegas. Boy was I wrong. The clowns were ghoulish, parading about the stage with horsedrawn hearses and coffins, solidifying my fear. Lucky for me, reading about clowns doesn’t have the same effect. I’m definitely looking forward to The Night Circus.
Kevin Holtsberry
October 18, 2011 at 8:36 amIn college a magician visited our school while we were eating dinner. My friends and I thought it was silly so we were laughing and mocking. He came over and had us place our hands over a coin and hold them there. A couple of us did so, putting as much pressure as we could on the coin.
After having said a few distracting magical phrases or banter, I don’t remember at this point, he suddenly showed us the coin in his hand. We lifted our hands in disbelief. How could he have transferred that coin to his hand while it was under ours? Needless to say, we all shut up.
That moment has always stuck with me.
Christina G
October 18, 2011 at 9:31 amSo I can’t remember ever having seen a magician in person, but I definitely enjoy watching entertainers like David Blaine and Criss Angel mess with people on tv. Sleight of hand manipulations are one thing, but when they do those levitating tricks, my mind is blown.
Kat C
October 18, 2011 at 9:56 amI am so excited for this book. Plus, Erin will be in my area soon and I need to get my hands on a copy, so I can have it signed !
EIREGO
October 18, 2011 at 12:15 pmNot that I even have a chance of winning this, but here’s my WOW moment….
I was at one of those Cirque du Soleil nights at the Santa Monica Pier years ago. A very muscular guy with long black hair, white tights and no shirt walked out to the center of the ring. Two long white silk strands of cloth hung down from the rafters and he held one end in each of this hands. He wrapped his ends around his wrists, took 4 or 5 swift and powerful bounds straight toward the audience and leapt into the air. The people in the rafters pulled up on the their end of the cloth and the guy flew right over our heads! It was simultaneously beautiful and mesmerizing. During his act, he wrapped the cloth around his legs and arms at different angles and it was really like watching someone fly. And it was silent. Just audible gasps from the onlookers. I had never seen anything like it.
Nicki
October 18, 2011 at 1:22 pmI’m fascinated by watching people performing aerial dance. I’ve never seen it in person, only on youtube, but it’s AMAZING! The strength and dexterity to do that and look so graceful is just mindblowing.
Kat NH
October 18, 2011 at 4:15 pmWhen I was little, I LOVED those David Copperfield specials. Cheesy? Perhaps. But YOU try and make the Statue of Liberty disappear!
Linda Rodriguez
October 18, 2011 at 6:02 pmWhen I was in high school, I watched my best friend move a teacup several inches along the top of a desk. She did this from clear across the room. Did it on more than one day. I suspect it was that adolescent poltergeist energy.
Nancy H
October 18, 2011 at 6:16 pmIn the town I used to live in, the Ringling Circus used to bring their big animals into town by train. They would then walk the animals thru the streets to the arena. I remember the elephants walking along, holding onto the tail of the one in front of them. They were so big and so gentle looking.
Linda Kish
October 18, 2011 at 7:28 pmI am in awe of all magic tricks. My son tells me how they are done but they still fascinate me. Levitation is one thing that I find amazing. I went to the Magic Castle once years ago and loved it. I even dated a magician and never learned a thing.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Michael
October 19, 2011 at 6:53 amI was in a bar once where an internet video show was taping a segment on how to win drinks from your friend with magic tricks. the trick was a card prediction type of trick (where you guess the card the person picked) but with a twist where the answer on the piece of paper is actually incorrect, but then is waved over a flame and changes to the right answer. Part of the show is them revealing the trick so you can win drinks from your friends. It turns out the twist with the card change is done with special ink that disappears when places over a flame written on top of regular ink. The rest of the trick is just forcing the person to pick the card you want them to. I was really amazed and entertained especially because I could see that the magic didn’t involve any video tricks to the broadcast.
I’d love a copy of the book (my two boys will read it too – so it’ll go to a home that will use it)
Amanda
October 19, 2011 at 12:42 pmI think the coolest magic was when my brother and I were little and he learned a bunch of simple magic tricks and I was blown away. I was his assistant as we’d put on shows for our family. Still a very cool memory.
Thanks!
Amanda
Cassandra Ruiz
October 23, 2011 at 3:45 pmThe coolest trick I’ve seen of a circus is when I saw a man throw daggers over someone’s head. It was on t.v. though because that’s as close I have come to a circus.
Thanks so much for the giveaway. It’s really nice.
E-mail: hernandezcassandra50 (at) yahoo (dot) com
Sean Penrose
October 24, 2011 at 8:39 pmWhile n our honeymoon in Hawaii, my wife and I saw a magician get a twenty dollar bill from an audience member. He recited the serial number and wrote it on a whiteboard so we could remember it. He then proceeded to light in on fire completely burning it to ash. He then gave a sealed package to another audience member who opened it and it contained the original $20. Amazing!