Meghan (redwingsgal) reviewed on
Helpful Score: 1
You know those books you either love or hate? This is one of them.
My book club was divided, with a few people who loved it, a few who hated it, and a majority who were glad they read it but wouldn't be willing to read it again. Personally, I didn't care for it and barely managed to finish.
The book has an interesting premise and scenes are often well-written and imaginative. Descriptions of the unique circus attractions were absolutely fantastic! They felt fresh and appealing.
However, for me, those details were overwhelmed by irritants. The biggest one is a timeline that bounces back and forth among many decades. Keeping the events in order can be challenging. Motivations for several of the characters are also murky. It seems like the author wanted to create complex characters, but managed instead to create some characters who lacked in internal logic and consistency. Also, details matter. The sheer number of details and the drawn out plot progression can make for a LOOOOONG read.
The bottom line is if you tend to get lost in the details, it would probably be fine. If you prefer books where you can see characters progressing, this may prove annoying. Fair warning!
My book club was divided, with a few people who loved it, a few who hated it, and a majority who were glad they read it but wouldn't be willing to read it again. Personally, I didn't care for it and barely managed to finish.
The book has an interesting premise and scenes are often well-written and imaginative. Descriptions of the unique circus attractions were absolutely fantastic! They felt fresh and appealing.
However, for me, those details were overwhelmed by irritants. The biggest one is a timeline that bounces back and forth among many decades. Keeping the events in order can be challenging. Motivations for several of the characters are also murky. It seems like the author wanted to create complex characters, but managed instead to create some characters who lacked in internal logic and consistency. Also, details matter. The sheer number of details and the drawn out plot progression can make for a LOOOOONG read.
The bottom line is if you tend to get lost in the details, it would probably be fine. If you prefer books where you can see characters progressing, this may prove annoying. Fair warning!
