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I’ve heard so many good things about this book, not to mention I’ve read the author’s previous book, Riding Lessons, so I was curious about this one.

Her writing was fantastic in this book, a great improvement over her previous ones, though there was the odd word choice here and there that I raised my eyebrow to. I loved how we got to see the daily life of Jacob as a 90-year-old man, who looks back on his days of his youth, and then we see the true story evolve from his younger version’s eyes. I loved and felt quite a bit of sympathy for the main character when he was older, everything was done realistically; from the passage of time that wore down his body, his inability to do things that he once did, the loss of his ability to remember and keep track of things he should know, and the heartbreak he feels at being left behind by those he loved.

Pictures head the start of each chapter from the pov of the younger Jacob, with amazing insight to the circuses of old. I loved the amount of research she incorporated into the story and it brought a great sense of realism to the already fluid prose. Each of her characters had their flaws, quirks, and even the animals were fresh and had their own voice. Rosie especially was a neat one. I felt sorry for her a lot of times because I’m quite sure the way she was treated probably occurs with great frequency at a lot of circuses or performing acts.

I’m not sure about the ending though, it seemed too neatly wrapped up, and the rising tension to the climax of the book wasn’t as striking as I thought it could be. The prologue, in my opinion, could have been cut out because it sort of took the fun out of the ending.

But anywho, great book. I wasn’t disappointed.
Michel Design Works Tubby

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