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I've heard so many wonderful things about this book in the past 2 years that I'm glad I finally read it. I didn't find it nearly as good as my friends did but I did enjoy it. An elderly man in a home reminisces about his early years working at a circus. The characters are well flushed out and the ending is touching but I just never got fully absorbed in the book.
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This book was recommended by several people, so I've had it on my "to read" list for ages. It was worth the wait! I'm glad I didn't read it at the height of its popularity, as I might have had a different view of the book. The story goes between the past and the present, told through the eyes of Jacob. Jacob stumbles into the life of a circus worker after accidentally jumping onto a circus train. The reader learns about circus life and the author pulls together a number of real events to tell th
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Beautifully written story about circus trains in the early 1930s. Somewhat vulgar, though, and a little gruesome. Great narrative and also about to be made into a movie.
I expected a lot more from this book. With all the hype around it, I thought it would be amazing. It was just ok. I did like the story, but I think that there could have (and should have) been more contact between Marlena and Jacob, so it was a little hard to swallow that they were SO in love. It was a good, quick read, but not fantastic.
I started this book in the morning and then stayed up half the night to finish. I just had to find out what happened next. The descriptions were amazing. The time frame was established without belaboring. The only thing I didn't like was the stereotype of Walter's character as the mistreated intellectual. Yes, the plot is a little predictable, but getting there is definitely interesting. It's a book I would read again.
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I watched this movie before reading the book. It isn't very often that I say this but I liked the movie more than the book. The book was good but it was different than the movie. Mostly, with the addition of a character that wasn't in the movie--Uncle Al. A lot of the parts that were Uncle Al in the book were August in the movie. It is sad how animals were and maybe still are treated that are part of the circus.
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I really enjoyed this book. The story was engaging, particularly reading about the life of the train-circus during the Great Depression. I also thought the author did a great job with the description of the main character as an old man in a nursing home -poignant, funny and read very true. The plot was fast-paced, making this a very quick read as well. Great summer book!
I didn't get it.
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Feb 15, 2010
Sara
added it
