Some things that definitely stood out to me are:
1. The novel actually starts off with one of the most climatic moments of the novel. Seeing as you don’t know the backstory or who these people are, you don’t understand what the significance of this moment is until much later. It’s an intriguing way to start the novel.
2. Sara Gruen does an amazing job with giving descriptive details. You can actually imagine being in the story.
3. Gruen has also incorporated old photos of the circus during the Depression to give even more of a visual for her readers.
4. Jacob doesn’t seem like just a fictional character. With the way Gruen writes her novel and the details she presents, she has turned Jacob into a real person for me. I know him. I know the struggles he faces, I know the love he has for people. His character adds depth to the novel.
5. You don’t realize you’ve met the antagonist until after he’s already worked his way into the novel. You think he is one kind of person and then suddenly you realize…he’s the bad guy! You will really hate him by the end.
6. Please be warned, this novel does have some brutal scenes where the animals are abused. The author is describing things that actually did happen during that particular time. She is making it historically accurate. It’s not pleasant, but it’s realistic.
7. You will absolutely love how this novel ends. Remember that this novel shifts from the present elderly Jacob to the young “working the circus” Jacob. He struggles to cope with his current situation and makes a drastic decision at the end that I just LOVE. Such rebellion! I don’t want to ruin it for you but I seriously think the ending is what made me love this protagonist and the novel even more.
I sincerely hope you enjoy this novel as much as I did. Even after all the years that have passed since I first read it, I still love this book. It captures your attention and pulls you into a universe that most people have never experienced. Highly recommended.
Editor's Note: Check out Katie's
Personal Blog here!