The Map of Time

I once read a craft theory book (doesn’t that sound riveting?) that discussed the shape of stories –square, spiral, and, of course, circular. The Map of Time by Felix Palma is definitely circular. The storylines and plots run circles around one another, over one another, and beside one another, which is a great metaphor for the time travel premise of the novel. But like anything that runs around in circles, the whole thing soon becomes tired and dizzy, and feels a little lost.

The Night Circus

Considering the recent disappointment I experienced after buying into the mega-hype of a new book (see first review), I was reluctant to take a chance on another.  But Erin Morgenstern’s debut novel, The Night Circus, is a lovely book, and more than lived up to expectations.  While totally original, the tale does recall the mood and imagery of some pretty heavy hitters, namely Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes; Angela Carter’s The Bloody Chamber, The Magic Toyshop, and Nights at the Circus (ahem); and lastly, perhaps my favorite book of all-time, Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. 

There are even shades of The Hunger Games, for those of you who like your popular fiction really popular.  Here, two children, Marco and Celia, are pitted against one another in a magical battle to the death, the outcome of which will settle an ages old argument regarding magical theories between Celia’s father, Hector, and the eccentric AH__.