stubbytate reviewed on
Definitely one to keep for my own personal book collection (so I'm not swapping it out) :)
I didn't know what to expect. The book cover is actually what caught my eye as well as the name and the story brings the book title completely to life - a full circle from beginning to end. That was something I didn't really expect since most books I've read recently miss the point of their titles completely by the end of the book.
The circus during that era was harsh - more so than what the book reveals. I know this from the ancestry work I do and looking at vintage/antique newspaper articles a lot so I researched it. Terrible work conditions and sometimes horrifying.
I think what would have made this book an absolute contender for a book award would have been to make it "meatier" with more indepth insight into the minds and motivations of all the characters. It would have made a book with more pages, for sure, but I think a lot was missing that could have made the book even better than it was. More details. More plot twists. More drama. And much more humor.
But for an afternoon read, it's wonderful and, I dare say, fans are wanting a movie from it (if the Facebook group is anything to go by). I don't see a full-feature movie but maybe something for a TNT or USA original movie but certainly not for HBO unless more "meat" is added.
Great read for a weekend!
I didn't know what to expect. The book cover is actually what caught my eye as well as the name and the story brings the book title completely to life - a full circle from beginning to end. That was something I didn't really expect since most books I've read recently miss the point of their titles completely by the end of the book.
The circus during that era was harsh - more so than what the book reveals. I know this from the ancestry work I do and looking at vintage/antique newspaper articles a lot so I researched it. Terrible work conditions and sometimes horrifying.
I think what would have made this book an absolute contender for a book award would have been to make it "meatier" with more indepth insight into the minds and motivations of all the characters. It would have made a book with more pages, for sure, but I think a lot was missing that could have made the book even better than it was. More details. More plot twists. More drama. And much more humor.
But for an afternoon read, it's wonderful and, I dare say, fans are wanting a movie from it (if the Facebook group is anything to go by). I don't see a full-feature movie but maybe something for a TNT or USA original movie but certainly not for HBO unless more "meat" is added.
Great read for a weekend!
