Okay “frogers”, I’ll recommend the same books plus that I recommended to “stylegoesstrong” a few days ago…”I agree with phizzy54…”Jane Eyre”, absolutely any Jane Austen!; definitely ATLAS SHRUGGED by Ayn Rand (or THE FOUNTAINHEAD); THE INVISIBLE BRIDGE by Julie Orringer; THE LAST LIFE by Claire Messud (an incredible coming-of-age story!); GENEROSITY: AN ENHANCEMENT by Richard Powers (such a wonderful novel); these books work well for summer reading and will raise your IQ by at least 25 points…especially ATLAS SHRUGGED or THE FOUNTAINHEAD.” I also highly recommend 2 books by Kevin Brockmeier, THE ILLUMINATION: A NOVEL and his other book, THE BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DEAD. Also, any book by Shirley Hazzard is just wonderful and smart and intelligent. Books by Anita Brookner are also superb. You did ask! Hope you give them a try.
I loved this book. I was hesitant at first as it was a book club choice and the prior selections were not my cup of tea at all! I enjoy Sara Gruen’s writing style and character development. I finished her latest Ape House and have her earlier works on order. So my advice read and enjoy!
Absolutely! I loved the circus history in this book! Pictures from actuall archives
And a love story that will move you! Interesting twists and turns and the heart breaking reality of aging ..the good the bad and the ugly! And an ending you will cheer about and shed a few years too!
I read this book for a book group…really really disliked this book intensely. The story was impossibly contrived, the dialogue cliched and amateurish, the characters shallow and cartoonish. Even the animals were mired in hackneyed anthropomorphism, like something out of a bad Disney 70’s era TV show. Not once while reading this book was I emotionally hooked — unless you count my anger at the author. For all Gruen’s indepth research into circus life of the 1930s, the atmosphere of the narrative felt wrong. The dialogue sounded far too contemporary and the stage directions were intrusive. The characters are from central casting: the good-hearted whore, the tyrannical boss, the crazy husband and his sweet but long-suffering wife. And the noble hero (but not really). Young and bereft of family, Jacob stumbles into circus life and is hired as a vet. He is painted as the champion of the small and weak, regardless of sex or species, always wanting to do good and right. And yet, at the moment when his friends need him most, he’s gone, taking their only means of protection, a knife, with him. And the elephant for whom he professes deep affection he leaves to the hands of a crazed maniac, to be beaten not once but twice, and our hero does nothing about it. How can we possibly cheer for him? My biggest annoyance with this book is the quality of writing, and I always wonder how books like this make the best seller’s list. I found the dialogue was not only thin, but so obviously written by a woman (yes!!! there really is writing that can be identified as female!), that it was impossible to believe in the male narration. This was my book club’s choice and even though it wouldn’t have been my choice, I often read books that I wouldn’t have chosen and loved them. I really had to stop reading after too many pages read.
Perhaps if the author spent less time on graphic sex and more time on character development, this book would have been more tolerable. In fact, I’ve often found in novels that if the author spends a great deal of time on sex in whatever form he/she writes, it’s a general rule that the book is all bs and lousy. This book was praised for its meticulous research, but while reading it I found myself thinking that it had been written by somebody who had never been to a circus, and I was unsurprised to find out that I was correct. Gruen read a newspaper article about the circus and decided to write a novel about it without researching or even attending circuses at all. Also, her knowledge of Jews is appalling. I really and truly believe she stuck Jewish characters in the book because it’s now become “chi chi” to do so in most awful and mediocre literature, and it doesn’t even matter if Gruen even knows anyone who is Jewish, it doesn’t ring true at all. And then there’s this from a fellow on Amazon: “…’If Sara Gruen can be a published writer, then I can be a published writer’. It’s so easy you don’t even have to develope characters to any great extent, as long as you have a skeletal outline of your story; just scribble it down and then decorate with some tacky sex so it doesn’t fall into the children’s market. Make sure the story is narrated too, but make sure it’s just about as pretentious a narration as you can dream up. Then populate the text with various freaky deaky characters and situations….like animal torture and alcoholism. Then let the ‘big boys’ market it for you and wait for the film, that will hopefully have an all-female cast. I mean, who cares?” And THAT just about sums it all up!
A simple No I didn’t enjoy it would have been more appropriate then a tyrannical rant. The pleasures of book reading are unique to each individual sorry that this author and her writing disturbed you so much.
I have not read it personally (I mainly stick to thrillers and mysteries), but several friends have read it and were extremely upset at the treatment of animals in the book. If you are tender-hearted regarding animals, perhaps this is not the book for you.
if this person is upset by the treatment of circus animals she probably doesnt go to regular circuses either, and do you? because if you diid you would know of the horrendous treatment of animals there as well, not just in a fictitious book…
No I haven’t been to a circus since my kids were little. I am sure the animal’s life is not great in circus troups as they weren’t made to travel on trucks & live in pens.
Yikes! I was just relaying what had been expressed to me in the hope that it would spare someone’s feelings. There are many, many awful things in the world, including, I guess, treatment of circus animals. While I did attend a circus a time or two in my very distant childhood, they are not something that I enjoy at this point in my life. So, no, I do not go to regular circuses.
Probably better than the movie -you can cast the characters yourself if you read the book. It is a good story and will keep you entertained – a romance as well as a growing up type story.
Great story. Great read. While reading it I thought this has to made into a film. I’m planning on seeing the movie soon – and I hope they did the book justice.
0 Answers
pattib wrote on :
Excellent read! Have not seen the movie but plan to do so. And I hope they capture the book as I read it.
Cathy Buckwalter wrote on :
Okay “frogers”, I’ll recommend the same books plus that I recommended to “stylegoesstrong” a few days ago…”I agree with phizzy54…”Jane Eyre”, absolutely any Jane Austen!; definitely ATLAS SHRUGGED by Ayn Rand (or THE FOUNTAINHEAD); THE INVISIBLE BRIDGE by Julie Orringer; THE LAST LIFE by Claire Messud (an incredible coming-of-age story!); GENEROSITY: AN ENHANCEMENT by Richard Powers (such a wonderful novel); these books work well for summer reading and will raise your IQ by at least 25 points…especially ATLAS SHRUGGED or THE FOUNTAINHEAD.” I also highly recommend 2 books by Kevin Brockmeier, THE ILLUMINATION: A NOVEL and his other book, THE BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DEAD. Also, any book by Shirley Hazzard is just wonderful and smart and intelligent. Books by Anita Brookner are also superb. You did ask! Hope you give them a try.
Marcia Reed wrote on :
Great read! I read it when it was first published and absolutely loved it!
Paula Peterson wrote on :
The book is preferred, as the film had many slow scenes.
victoria dorney wrote on :
I loved this book. I was hesitant at first as it was a book club choice and the prior selections were not my cup of tea at all! I enjoy Sara Gruen’s writing style and character development. I finished her latest Ape House and have her earlier works on order. So my advice read and enjoy!
Colleen Tannenbaum wrote on :
Very good! Took a little bit to really get in to it, but ended up really enjoying it.
Annamarie Dodge wrote on :
the book and movie were both very well done, the casting in the movie was wonderful. You wont be sorry if you pick up and read this book.
Faith Rogers wrote on :
Thank you all.
Jane Robbins wrote on :
Yes – wonderful read! Skip the movie though, it falls flat compared to the book.
Barb Puhala wrote on :
Absolutely! I loved the circus history in this book! Pictures from actuall archives
And a love story that will move you! Interesting twists and turns and the heart breaking reality of aging ..the good the bad and the ugly! And an ending you will cheer about and shed a few years too!
Sharon Murner wrote on :
Absolutely fabulous read. I went to Palm Desert with 5 other FOFs and everyone of them had enjoyed it. I want to see the movie!
Cathy Buckwalter wrote on :
I read this book for a book group…really really disliked this book intensely. The story was impossibly contrived, the dialogue cliched and amateurish, the characters shallow and cartoonish. Even the animals were mired in hackneyed anthropomorphism, like something out of a bad Disney 70’s era TV show. Not once while reading this book was I emotionally hooked — unless you count my anger at the author. For all Gruen’s indepth research into circus life of the 1930s, the atmosphere of the narrative felt wrong. The dialogue sounded far too contemporary and the stage directions were intrusive. The characters are from central casting: the good-hearted whore, the tyrannical boss, the crazy husband and his sweet but long-suffering wife. And the noble hero (but not really). Young and bereft of family, Jacob stumbles into circus life and is hired as a vet. He is painted as the champion of the small and weak, regardless of sex or species, always wanting to do good and right. And yet, at the moment when his friends need him most, he’s gone, taking their only means of protection, a knife, with him. And the elephant for whom he professes deep affection he leaves to the hands of a crazed maniac, to be beaten not once but twice, and our hero does nothing about it. How can we possibly cheer for him? My biggest annoyance with this book is the quality of writing, and I always wonder how books like this make the best seller’s list. I found the dialogue was not only thin, but so obviously written by a woman (yes!!! there really is writing that can be identified as female!), that it was impossible to believe in the male narration. This was my book club’s choice and even though it wouldn’t have been my choice, I often read books that I wouldn’t have chosen and loved them. I really had to stop reading after too many pages read.
Perhaps if the author spent less time on graphic sex and more time on character development, this book would have been more tolerable. In fact, I’ve often found in novels that if the author spends a great deal of time on sex in whatever form he/she writes, it’s a general rule that the book is all bs and lousy. This book was praised for its meticulous research, but while reading it I found myself thinking that it had been written by somebody who had never been to a circus, and I was unsurprised to find out that I was correct. Gruen read a newspaper article about the circus and decided to write a novel about it without researching or even attending circuses at all. Also, her knowledge of Jews is appalling. I really and truly believe she stuck Jewish characters in the book because it’s now become “chi chi” to do so in most awful and mediocre literature, and it doesn’t even matter if Gruen even knows anyone who is Jewish, it doesn’t ring true at all. And then there’s this from a fellow on Amazon: “…’If Sara Gruen can be a published writer, then I can be a published writer’. It’s so easy you don’t even have to develope characters to any great extent, as long as you have a skeletal outline of your story; just scribble it down and then decorate with some tacky sex so it doesn’t fall into the children’s market. Make sure the story is narrated too, but make sure it’s just about as pretentious a narration as you can dream up. Then populate the text with various freaky deaky characters and situations….like animal torture and alcoholism. Then let the ‘big boys’ market it for you and wait for the film, that will hopefully have an all-female cast. I mean, who cares?” And THAT just about sums it all up!
marilyn scher wrote on :
Honey, lighten up!
Annamarie Dodge wrote on :
methinks this person woke up on the wrong side of the circus tent this morning to post something that off the wall
Faith Rogers wrote on :
OK. What book would you recommend?
victoria dorney wrote on :
A simple No I didn’t enjoy it would have been more appropriate then a tyrannical rant. The pleasures of book reading are unique to each individual sorry that this author and her writing disturbed you so much.
sandi anderson wrote on :
My gosh, take a chill pill!!!!!
Renee Murphy wrote on :
It is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time.
Janet Smith wrote on :
I have not read it personally (I mainly stick to thrillers and mysteries), but several friends have read it and were extremely upset at the treatment of animals in the book. If you are tender-hearted regarding animals, perhaps this is not the book for you.
Annamarie Dodge wrote on :
if this person is upset by the treatment of circus animals she probably doesnt go to regular circuses either, and do you? because if you diid you would know of the horrendous treatment of animals there as well, not just in a fictitious book…
Faith Rogers wrote on :
No I haven’t been to a circus since my kids were little. I am sure the animal’s life is not great in circus troups as they weren’t made to travel on trucks & live in pens.
Janet Smith wrote on :
Yikes! I was just relaying what had been expressed to me in the hope that it would spare someone’s feelings. There are many, many awful things in the world, including, I guess, treatment of circus animals. While I did attend a circus a time or two in my very distant childhood, they are not something that I enjoy at this point in my life. So, no, I do not go to regular circuses.
Kathleen Pearlman wrote on :
Probably better than the movie -you can cast the characters yourself if you read the book. It is a good story and will keep you entertained – a romance as well as a growing up type story.
Tannis Kobrinsky wrote on :
Great story. Great read. While reading it I thought this has to made into a film. I’m planning on seeing the movie soon – and I hope they did the book justice.
Sarah Noebels wrote on :
very good, much better than the movie…also The Help by Katherine Sockett is fantastic!
Faith Rogers wrote on :
Oh yes. I have The Help. My husband even read it!
victoria dorney wrote on :
The Help was another excellent read!
Loraine Alcorn wrote on :
I have heard a lot of good things about it but I read mysteries and this one seems more of a drama or romance
Mary Ellen Davison wrote on :
Haven’t read yet, but want to.
Ivy Pittman wrote on :
Yes, this was a GREAT book!!!! Made me want to visit the circus.
Carol Stark wrote on :
Great read and great movie! Would go see this one again!
Darla Martin wrote on :
The story, set in the Depression Era and wasn’t at all what I had expected but I enjoyed it very much.
Sharon Kidd wrote on :
Great Read! I thought the movie was very well done – I usually only like the book.