*Some spoilers*
Honestly, I expected to like this book. I love reading books that are adapted into films, so I figured I’d get a head start on this one — anything about a circus, I figured, would at least be interesting. I wasn’t disappointed. The protagonist is likeable, which is a must for me, the plot is well developed, and I like the continual transition from present-day Jacob to twenty-three year old Jacob. That said, I really wish the book were longer. I finished it in a single afternoon and I really thought the ending had been sewn up too quickly: So Rosie the elephant conveniently dispenses with August and our couple are left to live happily ever after…eh… I was expecting something more dramatic, more violent: a Jacob/August showdown, if you will. But the book seems to move too fast to accomodate a scene like this. Really, that’s my only complaint, though.
I snuck a peek at the other reviews before buying the book, and I was slightly put off about references to graphic sexual material and animal cruelty. And I have to say, I don’t get it. The animal cruelty is there, sure, but there isn’t much talk about blood and gore — it’s more about how Jacob responds to the cruelty, in my view. It doesn’t make it any less disturbing, but it’s not really horror movie material either. As for the sex stuff, I don’t get what the fuss is about. You can pick up almost any generic romance novel and read stuff that is far more graphic than what is found here. And I think it’s marketed as an adult novel, so no problems there…
In conclusion, it’s a good book. I’ll probably read it again and I think it’s worth the price I paid for it.