The story begins in a nursing home, narrated by a ninety-three year old retired veterinarian recalling his first experience working in a Depression era circus. Rich with historical detail and possessed of a lively, complicated plot, the book captivated me enough to be a twenty-four hour read. That’s a book I pick up and only set down in order to eat or sleep until it’s finished. I always feel guilty when I do it; guzzling literature and blowing off whatever else I’m supposed to be doing, but it’s also the sign of a great escape. How charming to run off with the circus! Actually, I was just as hooked by the dark violence as the sequined show. The workmen live in fear of being ‘redlighted’ or thrown off the moving train for slights against the ringmaster, or merely accumulating to much back pay. The star of the show is a psychotic wife beater, and the cats are better left in their cages. The tension builds with minor incidents and unfortunate performances: the circus is financially fragile, and some undefined ruin is always waiting in the wings. Still, the ending is better than happy- it’s thoughtful. Reason enough, I reckon, to blow off your responsibilities and run away with the circus; at least for a day.
While I passed Water for Elephants at the bookstore several times, I was finally hooked on the idea after viewing this short film set in a Depression era circus. The costumes and sets are wonderful. I’m always impressed when someone stretches to make inspirational art without a specific religious message.
The story begins in a nursing home, narrated by a ninety-three year old retired veterinarian recalling his first experience working in a Depression era circus. [...]
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Augusten Burroghs is a talented writer with a tormented past. His memoirs have made best-seller lists; he is riding the cutting edge of literary trendiness. [...]
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William Gibson’s novel Neuromancer features a character, Molly Millions, that he developed for the story Johnny Mnemonic. It was made into a movie starring Keannu [...]
This absurd and compelling animated trailer reminds me of Mike Whiteside’s stories, which all began, ” I was sitting in this bar in Hollywood..” I [...]
Jonathan Safran Foer, the novelist best known for Everything is Illuminated has written a new book about meat. Here in the trailer he discusses his [...]
