Carnival Man

by Cristie Coffing

Carnival Man attempts to answer the question - if you can see the future, can you change it? Set in a logging town in the Northwest, a river town in the post Vietnam era, it is the story of Emma, a young girl coming of age, who has the ability to read nature. Emma finds the river her sanctuary while struggling in her love/hate relationship with her mother Rosalene, a tarot card reader and seer. Rosalene lives her life with complete acceptance of impermanence and abandonment, until she is forced to confront the burning question, when does a gift become a curse? Emma’s best friend Kimmy, has the ability to raise the dead with the melodies of her flute and is a captivating siren for the men surrounding her. She is driven by the desire for physical touch and affection. Three women bound in their relationship to one another, drawn together in their search for love and their struggle for survival. Each forever touched by the magic of the traveling carnival and its underlying grittiness...

238 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2016

Reviews

[Taralei Griffin]

I struggled reading this book. The narrative was very well done & clearly coming from a passionate place - but that was all there was. No real plot or major conflict in the story to be solved. I was reading these women’s stories but there didn’t appear to be any real resolution of anything in the end. I felt like I was running breathlessly towards some crescendo as I read the book, and then just left hanging & confused at the end when there was nothing.

Also, as a survivor of multiple instances of sexual assault, the way in which those issues were dealt with in this book was very difficult for me & even slightly disturbing. I can see where it might be relatable to other survivors, but for some, including myself, the tone & way in which it is discussed is extremely triggering. Just keep that in mind if you are a survivor reading this book.

[David Widlan]

The best compliment I can give a piece of artistry is that it has moved me. Carnival Man moved me. The richly developed characters are woven into an evocative landscape. The narration rotates across multiple perspectives creating a tapestry of genuine emotions.