From the book jacket:As a young man, Jacob Jankowski was tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. It was the early part of the great Depression, and for Jacob, now ninety, the circus world he remembers was both his salvation and a living hell.
A veterinary student just shy of a degree, he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It was there that he met Marlena, the beautiful equestrian star married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. And he met Rosie, an untrainable elephant who was the great gray hope for this third-rate traveling show. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and, ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.
My review:
This book is narrated with great humor and insight by Jacob, many years after the events at the circus took place. I don't always love historical fiction, but Jacob's narration really pulled me in. It was the kind of book I carried with me throughout the day, hoping to cram in a few pages when I could. (Anyone got hints on driving while reading?)
The book appealed to me on so many levels. First, there's the romance between Jacob and Marlena. Then, you have Jacob's struggle as an old man to resign himself to life in a nursing home and the fact that the body which could once do anything is now having trouble making it to the bathroom. Finally, there's the larger historical examination of the Great Depression and its effect on daily life at the time. There are other characters and storylines, but these are the ones that interested me most. I felt the author did an excellent job of keeping me invested in the characters and interested in what was going on. The exotic setting of an old-fashioned circus heightens the sense of adventure and wonder of this story. I would recommend this to anyone, with the small warning that parts of this book are definitely crude and the unpleasantness of life in the Depression is not glossed over at all.
4 comments:
I never heard of this book, but it sounds really intriguing! I love the circus, and this era sounds fantastic - interesting that he's 90 looking back in time!
I love your header with all the books - and I spy Colin Firth *sigh* and then your Shelfari is reminding me that I need to read The Stepsister Scheme soon!
Thanks! I really like your blog, so I appreciate the compliment.
And Colin Firth... sigh. I could have used the cover with the painting of a constipated-looking woman, but why would I?
I've heard so many good things about this one I went out and bought it around the holidays. Now I just have to move it up on the TBR pile.
Found your site on Thursday Thunks. I LOVED "Water for Elephants" and have passed my copy onto several friends. I appreciate the amount of research Sara Gruen must have done to get the facts of the circus life straight. What an amazing book! I enjoyed your review.
Post a Comment