Question 3. Rating

[Ashley]

Well, we've got to have this question! Rating? And WHY?

[Carol]

Thanks Ashley for chiming in. Been waiting for Diana to do her next questions, but she hasn't yet. Feel free anyone if you have any input.

I gave this book 3 stars. Not my favorite book nor the worst book I've ever read. Just ok.

Lauren, been thinking of you. I'm currently reading a book by Robert Fulghum called "What On Earth Have I Done?: Stories, Observations, and Affirmations." Found out he is a Seattle boy! Very interesting.

[Diana S]

Well, I was waiting to put these questions up tomorrow. But Thanks Ashley for putting them up for me. Just have one more question to ask.

[Diana S]

I gave it 3 stars. But did anyone read some of the reviews on this book? They were a lot of 4 stars and 5 stars. Did I miss something about this book? Nah!

[Carol]

If you noted, Diana, I too gave it 3 stars. I spend a lot of time reading reviews. That is one of my favorite things to do on this site. I also noted the 4's and 5's. Just couldn't in good conscience give it more.

[Diana S]

I agree. Between the flow and wanting more details on Circus life I couldn't give this book 4 stars.

[Lauren]

Three stars for me too. I don't think Ms. Day fully took advantage of the circus concept. But the book also missed anything to make it feel specific to Indiana.

I lived in Indiana for a few years, and there's something very distinct about that state. It's not something I could easily put into words, but I do know it was missing here. Lima could have really been in any small Midwestern town in any number of states, which would be fine if the book hadn't been so much about the town and giving character to the town over a series of short stories.

To that end, I would have loved a short story about someone who was living in the town when the circus initially set up its winter headquarters. I have a hard time believing all of the townsfolk were A-OK with the circus moving in. Indiana is slow to change (see how long it took the state to adopt Daylight Savings Time as an example) and holds fast to its Christian and all-American values. People often mistake that for ignorance or backwardness, but it's much more complicated than that. While a story about those godless circus folk corrupting the Christian and all-American values of rural Indiana would have been too much, something more subtle would have been lovely. It would have been interesting to have - as a thread through the stories - the town's slow acceptance and embracing of the circus as a key part of its identity.

But more to the point, it wasn't until the last story, where the narrator talks about two types of people - those who leave (or want to leave but cannot) and those who stay - that I realized the entire book was about people who wanted to leave. In a book that's about a moving circus settling into a home and staying, I was disappointed not to see any individuals who truly wanted to stay.

[Carol]

Wow, good comment. My husband was born and raised in Indiana. I have not been there myself, but he is one of the types that could hardly wait to get out of there, and it would be cold day in "Indiana" before he would go back. We've talked some about the culture, but he wasn't quite as specific as you were. I have not asked him about the circus, think I better. And I don't know how far Lima was from is part of the state. Very interesting thoughts there. Really like your take on this.

[Ashley]

It looks like I jumped the gun in posting this question. Sorry! I actually DID give it a 4. I thought the writing was extremely good, though I wish the circus element hadn't been handled quite so indirectly. That said, the "in Winter" aspect of the title DOES imply an off-season and sets us up for a more indirect take on circus life. In short, I sort of feel like the author can legitimately get away with it.

And I too liked your comment about Indiana, Lauren. I don't have the knowledge base about Indiana that you have, but I think I get where you're coming from. Very, very interesting, friend!

Anyhoo, I posted my review here: http://sharingtheshelf.blogspot.com/2...