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book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
A compelling read. In 1944 the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus set up its tents in Hartford CT. The big top was waterproofed with a combination of paraffin and gasoline (a common practice at the time). However the fire started the result was sudden and devastating. I had a visceral response to the horror of this tragedy and its aftermath for the citizens of the community.
Note: I am guessing at the date read because I didn't enter this earlier. I know I read it at about the same time I read two other nonfiction books about devastating fires.
Note: I am guessing at the date read because I didn't enter this earlier. I know I read it at about the same time I read two other nonfiction books about devastating fires.
jdhobbes's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.75
I'm not sure what I was hoping for when I started this book, but it definitely wasn't this. It is well-written and well-researched, but the first half (or more) is a relentless string of injured animals and people, panicked, in pain, and fighting for their lives, described in vivid excruciating detail. If that is what you're looking for, then this book is for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Animal death, Medical trauma, and Body horror
Minor: Homophobia
ipanzica's review against another edition
3.0
There was no build up to the fire, so the beginning of the book is just multiple emotional punches to the gut. There was also a lot of focus on the victims of the fire and their experiences. This book also includes a lot of photos of the circus in general, from the day of the fire, and the aftermath of the fire.
duparker's review against another edition
3.0
There is a lot of detail in this book. At times it was very dry and almost confusing to follow along. I think there would be another way to organize the information within the book to tell the same basic story.
That said, the fire is a very interesting story and the impact it had on Hartford and Connecticut was fascinating. I enjoyed the book enough to keep going, but wished, midway, that it would have been presented in a clearer, more direct manner.
One reason I went with 3 over 2 stars is that the use of pictures to help tell the story is exceptional.
That said, the fire is a very interesting story and the impact it had on Hartford and Connecticut was fascinating. I enjoyed the book enough to keep going, but wished, midway, that it would have been presented in a clearer, more direct manner.
One reason I went with 3 over 2 stars is that the use of pictures to help tell the story is exceptional.
anniejaneb's review against another edition
4.0
This book dragged in the beginning and dragged at the end, but the middle half was pretty good. An interesting but sad story.
danzelmb's review against another edition
4.0
A very good book, but the story is so nightmarish that I regret reading it.
jessicafarmer80's review against another edition
2.0
I don’t like leaving less than stellar reviews - but gosh I struggled with this one. The beginning seemed a bit all over the place…but the hardest part for me was the number of people/names mentioned and flipping back and forth between them. I couldn’t remember who was who for the life of me. I’m sure the author knew them intimately with the amount of research that went into this book, but to the average reader I don’t know who could keep up (& I never have a problem with that). I learned a lot about this sad and horrible event, as I had never heard of it. It’s awful there are a lot of things left unanswered and there was no closure regarding who set the fire or how it started and the several unidentified bodies.
siobhanward's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
fast-paced
4.0
If you know anything about me, it's that I like my nonfiction to be light and fluffy. Oh, wait, never mind.
This was a solid read, although very heavy. O'Nan does a great job of telling a complex and under-told story. It's hard to believe that there weren't many comprehensive accounts of this tragedy before O'Nan's book. Having never read much more than a wikipedia article about this event, I was honestly shocked by how horrific it actually was - O'Nan doesn't shy away from the horrors of the event and I definitely found myself having to take breaks throughout.
If you're into obscure American tragedies, or fire accounts, this is a great read. Kind of a niche audience, but a solid read nonetheless.
This was a solid read, although very heavy. O'Nan does a great job of telling a complex and under-told story. It's hard to believe that there weren't many comprehensive accounts of this tragedy before O'Nan's book. Having never read much more than a wikipedia article about this event, I was honestly shocked by how horrific it actually was - O'Nan doesn't shy away from the horrors of the event and I definitely found myself having to take breaks throughout.
If you're into obscure American tragedies, or fire accounts, this is a great read. Kind of a niche audience, but a solid read nonetheless.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Death, Child death, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
taylorcali's review against another edition
2.0
Not engaging, too many named “characters,” editorial errors drove me insane. However, I had never heard of this event before. I am glad I know the story now, even though there appears to be little if any answers.