This book was amazing. I haven't read a book I've liked so much in so long. One thing I love in a book is when you start with part of the ending. You know when you start with the end of a story and then have to go into reflection to catch-up. It makes for one heck of a hook. And this book has a killer hook; quite literally. And the best part is that it isn't really how you saw it in the first place; even though all the words were right there in front of you. It's just that the brain thinks in a certain perspective and until more information comes to light, that perspective doesn't change. Also, your moral compass kicks in and you start to think how can he be OK with what she did and never mention it again? As the story unfolds you start to understand how one might be OK with it. Then you find yourself questioning your own morals and what would you do in that situation. Then all is sort of lifted once you get to the end when you find that the author and your brain deceived your by a slight in perception.
I like how this book alternates between the past and the present time. It makes so the story doesn't get stagnant. Plus the present time part of the story fills in the life of the narrator after the circus life and you begin to piece this persons life together. You get a better sense of the character; from who he was in the past and who he is in the present. You get to see how this innocent boy develops into the confident man he is. And all the time you are wondering if the woman who committed the unspeakable act in the very beginning of the book is the yet to be named wife he talks about while in the present frame of mind.
The relationships forged in this book were great; between woman and man, friendship between human and animal, and friendships between the "classes" of the circus. The classes based both on the function of that person to the circus and their ethnicity. These relationships are made because of the presence, personality, and convictions the narrator possess. This book pulls on your heart strings in a variety of ways as well. There is cruelty to animals and people. There is the sadness of nursing homes and those forgotten in them.
What I find really interesting are the details to the circus. Pictures from various circus' are included in the book for some visual titillation. You get the sense of what it was really like for those working in the circus. The circus was so glamorous for those in the crowd, if what happened behind the scenes would have been common knowledge maybe people wouldn't have all run away to the circus. The information about the circus alone make for a good story. Everything else wrapped up in it make it a great story. And the icing on the cake...the polish elephant; who knew?
This book is a must read. Enjoy!
No comments:
Post a Comment