Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.75
This was an incredibly strange, dark little book. It’s a bit plotless, but I found myself getting lost in this weird family’s antics and hardships. The book is mostly the reader following the major life events and changes at the carnival for this family as they grow up, and coming to understand their relationships with each other, with ‘norms’, and with themselves. It discusses the way people with physical deformities are treated while subverting the expectations we have of them in the most extreme of ways.
There’s some specific plot points that I feel like I didn’t understand by the end of this that I’m not sure if I just missed or if they weren’t explained. (Miss Lick’s desire to remove Miranda’s tail for instance? Normally she causes deformities in people without them, so I didn’t understand this one. And also what caused the fire/explosion at the carnival?). I think the writing style is maybe partially why? Sometimes it’s so overwritten that I was just lost in the sauce, but I got used to to it and started to enjoy the style - there’s definitely some beautiful lines in here. Though that didn’t necessarily make it easier to follow at all times.
Solid read, I don’t think I can recommend this to the average reader, but if you’re down for a weird twisted book then definitely give it a go.
This was an incredibly strange, dark little book. It’s a bit plotless, but I found myself getting lost in this weird family’s antics and hardships. The book is mostly the reader following the major life events and changes at the carnival for this family as they grow up, and coming to understand their relationships with each other, with ‘norms’, and with themselves. It discusses the way people with physical deformities are treated while subverting the expectations we have of them in the most extreme of ways.
There’s some specific plot points that I feel like I didn’t understand by the end of this that I’m not sure if I just missed or if they weren’t explained.
Solid read, I don’t think I can recommend this to the average reader, but if you’re down for a weird twisted book then definitely give it a go.
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Would be an absolute 5 star read but I think the ending was very abrupt, and I would have liked more of the modern timeline.
I mistook this for a romance about computer coders. Boy was I wrong! It raises current issues about identity and how we think about ourselves and our bodies, about acceptance and belonging. And biohacking and engineering, in a prescient view. It’s an incredibly well written page-turner that deserves way more attention. Fantastic.
Very disturbing but strangely engrossing story about a circus couple who purposely cause birth defects in their children in order to place them in the circus sideshow. Each child has his own unique and lovable personality which evokes the readers sympathy and affection.
challenging
dark
slow-paced
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was sufficiently disturbing and sad for my taste. 4 stars.