Cirque

Dear Whoever You Might Be,

      I have never gone to the circus. A lot of people haven't and I am one of those people. But that does not mean that I don't want to, because I do. At least once in my Pre-40 lifetime I would like to go to the circus. I've got twenty years of opportunities ahead of me and hopefully I will take one of them.

      My fascination with the circus doesn't originate from the short and stout days of young childhood. I never had any real interest in sitting in a large striped tent, watching weird looking twizzlers acrobats fly at eachother on ropes. Nor watching a large, mustached man poke at a lion with a chair. Nor having nightmares from the plastered faces of clowns. Nor throwing-up from too much popcorn/cottoncandy/soda on an otherwise empty stomach.

      Clearly I never thought too fondly of the circus...

      Two years ago, I read Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. Though published in 2006, I didn't get my hands on it until 2011 when the movie version was coming out. I admit that I wanted to see the movie because Robet Pattinson...yes, Mr. Edward Cullen himself. I had NOT read the book up until then because I heard it was really strange and violent. And it is a little strange and a little violent. But let me just say, I loved this book. My mom mailed it to me when I was in school and I got in on a Friday. It was perfect because I had a little cold so all I wanted to do was stay in bed anyways. And stay in bed I did. For the next 24-36 hours, I basically didn't get out of bed. Only for the bathroom and only a few times for the microwave (a girl's gotta eat). I devoured the book page by page and at the end, I was sad because it was over. I lived in the circus with Jacob. I felt Rosie's every beating. I cringed over the Benzini Brother's treatment of their workers. This may put me higher on the certifiably insane list, but this shouldn't surprise anyone.  Interest in the circus? Definitely piqued.

      Over this past Christmas Break, I read another *fantastic* book. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. I came across this book one afternoon in May when I was strollling through the New Fiction section of Barnes&Noble, obviously. The cover and title drew my attention and I picked it up for further investigation. The front-cover-flap plot summary and reviews deemed promising. The price? Not so much. Hardcover books are so much more expensive and it was too early for my summer job to really bring in the cash flow. So I put it back and found I, Iago instead (More about that another time, I'm sure).

      Since I already said I read it, the logical conclusion would be that at some point between May and December, I bought it.  I bought it in August. But with the new semester starting and school and the internship, I didn't have time until I came home. I'll start by saying this, the reviews on Goodreads.com far from favor this book. My opinion resides on the complete opposite end of the spectrum from these reviews. The Night Circus is probably one of the best books I've read, and I have read A LOT. It was dark and mysterious and magical and I had no idea what would come next. When I put it down, which I had to to go to work, I spent my brain-time thinking about it and picturing the words in my head. I know, just another reason why I should be locked up. But literally. A book starting with Oscar Wilde's quote has to be good: "A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishement is that he sees dawn before the rest of the world." I don't want to say too much about it or give it away at all, but just read it if you get the chance.

      I think I've strayed pretty far from my overall point about the circus. Basically, the long and short of it is this: Since reading these two books, I have a very keen interest in one day going to the circus. I think I'd prefer Cirque du Soleil or Barnum & Bailey or something popular along those lines. I want to push my way througn the striped tent and sit on a hard seat and fix my gaze on the ringmaster. Even if I hate it, even if I throwup the popcorn/cottoncandy/soda, even if the clowns give me nightmares, I want to go. I think with my imagination, I could feel the magic of the circus.

                                                                      Sincerely,
                                                                               Me

P.S. Even though I wasn't a big circus fan when I was little, I ate my weight in Animal Crackers. Not the ones you can buy in a tub from Walmart. No. I liked the ones you could find in Safeway in the little rectangle boxes with Barnum &Bailey circus animals on them. So I guess I supported the circus in my own little way. Heck, I guess I still do.