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ellemnope 's review for:
Circus of Wonders
by Elizabeth Macneal
4.5 stars.
Circus of Wonders is a fascinating historical fiction novel that follows Nell, a young girl with a skin condition that marks her with several birthmarks. Set in the end of the 19th century, the fascination of crowds with human "wonders" is in full swing. Jasper Jupiter has created his own Circus of Wonders in the vein of Barnum and his path's collision with Nell's own results in a tale that is colorful, magnificent, intriguing, & gut-wrenching.
The attention paid to the history of "human oddities" is well-handled, with a good evaluation of the historical fact as well as the current sentiment toward the treatment of these individuals. The writing is flowing and beautiful, bringing forth an atmosphere that is at once brilliant and gritty. The allure of the circus comes through the pages, as does the dark side of this often disgraced endeavor.
Macneal creates characters who are wholly human, with imperfections and beautiful personalities, those who see their own worth and those who are struggling to discover it. The multi-POV approach was well executed, with the focus on Jasper's brother, Toby providing a deftly woven tale. The relationship between the ambitious, callous, and narcissistic Jasper and his quiet, talented, insecure younger brother is explored thoroughly in a way that brings both characters well beyond the page. Their individual relationships with Nell and the way their personal situations and characters cause them to view her are interesting and dynamic. The multifaceted character interactions are what really brings this novel out of the dark, making the full range of emotional experiences feel tangible and launching the plot with a full impact.
Though a bit of a slow starter, Circus of Wonders wrapped itself around my soul and really plunged me into the world of the Victorian circus. I was swept from emotional highs to lows with moments of wonder and moments of strong disgust in the handling of the vaudevillian enterprise. I was gripped for the majority of my read and devoured the story with my heart often in my throat. Macneal does a fabulous job with this obviously well-researched novel and I was enchanted by her talent in telling this amazing tale.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
Circus of Wonders is a fascinating historical fiction novel that follows Nell, a young girl with a skin condition that marks her with several birthmarks. Set in the end of the 19th century, the fascination of crowds with human "wonders" is in full swing. Jasper Jupiter has created his own Circus of Wonders in the vein of Barnum and his path's collision with Nell's own results in a tale that is colorful, magnificent, intriguing, & gut-wrenching.
The attention paid to the history of "human oddities" is well-handled, with a good evaluation of the historical fact as well as the current sentiment toward the treatment of these individuals. The writing is flowing and beautiful, bringing forth an atmosphere that is at once brilliant and gritty. The allure of the circus comes through the pages, as does the dark side of this often disgraced endeavor.
Macneal creates characters who are wholly human, with imperfections and beautiful personalities, those who see their own worth and those who are struggling to discover it. The multi-POV approach was well executed, with the focus on Jasper's brother, Toby providing a deftly woven tale. The relationship between the ambitious, callous, and narcissistic Jasper and his quiet, talented, insecure younger brother is explored thoroughly in a way that brings both characters well beyond the page. Their individual relationships with Nell and the way their personal situations and characters cause them to view her are interesting and dynamic. The multifaceted character interactions are what really brings this novel out of the dark, making the full range of emotional experiences feel tangible and launching the plot with a full impact.
Though a bit of a slow starter, Circus of Wonders wrapped itself around my soul and really plunged me into the world of the Victorian circus. I was swept from emotional highs to lows with moments of wonder and moments of strong disgust in the handling of the vaudevillian enterprise. I was gripped for the majority of my read and devoured the story with my heart often in my throat. Macneal does a fabulous job with this obviously well-researched novel and I was enchanted by her talent in telling this amazing tale.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *