I have fond memories of the circus, from elephant rides at the small circus that visited the local baseball field year after year to taking my children to see the animals arrive by train in advance of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. It’s a magical, wonder-filled world with a fascinating history. Let’s take a trip to the circus!
Relevant Fiction Reviews: A Trip to the Circus Share on X
The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus by Jaime Jo WrightThe Haunting at Bonaventure Circus creates an appropriately spooky mood befitting the mysterious oddities of the circus. Told in split time, the story uncovers the truth about a series of killings attributed to The Watchman.
In the early 2oth century, Pippa, adopted by the prominent Ripley circus family, wants only to be seen, and as she begins to asserts her own will in the face of her domineering father and bossy fiancé, the secrets of her birth and the circus murders unravel.
In present day, Chandler, a chronically ill single mother set to renovate the abandoned circus buildings, must face her own struggle to see herself as capable and independent.
The last third of the book was my favorite as the threads of the plot begin to come together. The writing is solid, and the heroes are unconventional – a big plus! I’d have liked a bit more romance, but it’s the self-actualization of the heroines that drives this story. The circus setting, however, is the star in this book.
Against the backdrop of the hidden life of circus “freaks,” the novel also thoughtfully examines from where our value comes and in whose eyes our worth is best measured.
The Circus of Stolen Dreams by Lorelei SavarynThe Circus of Stolen Dreams is a well-written, imaginative tale of the perils of trying to escape suffering indefinitely rather than facing it head-on. It veers into the creepy with a one-night circus (“Reverie”), whose “one-night” descriptor is a misnomer, leaving kids trapped in both dreams and nightmares.
Twelve-year-old Andrea, whose parents have divorced and whose younger brother Francis has gone missing, must unravel the lies and secrets keeping kids trapped.
Beautiful prose enjoyable for any age so long as you’re okay with the creepy factor, which never delves into horror.
The Lady and the Lionheart by Joanne BischofI’d read so many fawning reviews of The Lady and the Lionheart, I feared it would not live up to the hype. I’m happy to say though, that it did. It’s a character driven story whose broken but courageous, virtuous, self-sacrificing leads gently, subtly tug on your heartstrings.
Like any good fiction, there are themes and layers that resonate with truth, calling the reader to go deeper, examining what truly defiles the body, and how we participate in Christ’s suffering and sacrifice. (“This is my body, which will be given up for you.”)
Charlie Lionheart is one of the best-developed, most interesting heroes I’ve read, but all of the characters are well drawn.
I bounced back and forth between the Kindle version and audiobook. The dual narration on the audiobook was new to me, but very well done!
The Bright Unknown by Elizabeth Byler YountsThe Bright Unknown is one of the most thought-provoking novels I’ve read. Elizabeth Byler Younts draws the reader deeply into the unconventional (to say the least) life of Brighton, raised entirely behind the walls of an early 2oth-century mental institution. Through beautiful and reflective prose and a steady story progression, she builds empathy for not only Brighton and her albino friend Angel, but for the patients and the sometimes-villainous staff as well.
But things go from bad to worse when Brighton and Angel gain their freedom, embarking on a journey into an unknown that’s more dimly lit than bright. But always, there is a spark of hope.
That’s the hallmark of the novel – a glimmer of hope, a glimmer of the light of Christ, however small, however unevenly it shines. It’s a glimmer here and there from a friend, an aide, a relative, or a stranger, that finally delivers Brighton to freedom.
The author also shines a light on real historical injustice that may be hard to reconcile, but which should nevertheless be faced.
A stellar read you should not miss.
The Ringmaster’s Wife by Kristy CambronI feared the timeline shifts from chapter to chapter would prevent me from enjoying this book, but a few chapters in, I had a good sense of where we were and where we were headed. I did a lot of flipping back and forth, checking dates, but I didn’t set the book aside, and I’m glad I didn’t.
The Ringmaster’s Wife blends historical circus characters you’ll recognize and fictional characters you’ll grow to love. It shows the behind-the-big top view of circus life from a circus manager and a bareback rider who’s left the life of an English noblewoman with her beloved Arabian horse.
Some intrigue threatening Rosamund, the noble bareback rider, keeps the story interesting, as does the obvious pull between her and her boss, Colin, the Irishman who recruited her. Interspersed with the story of the real-life wife of John Ringling, Mable, the reader learns the stories of two women who must persevere in the day-to-day living of their dreams, with all of the challenges and disappointments they entail. I’m not sure the theme resonated with me, but I enjoyed the story nonetheless and its marvelous depiction of circus life.
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