This was very sad, but lovely. Really well written and very interesting. I hope circuses have moved on a lot since then!!

This was one of the most enjoyable books I have read in a long time. It’s fun, paced well, and a great read. The story is really interesting, very well done with great research behind it, and the ending is a delightful surprise.

I loved this book. Its incredibly well written, imaginative, and has great character development. I really like how Gruen uses the framework of the main character in the last stage of his life to ground the story of his younger days in the circus. I really liked reading about circus life. For me, it was long enough ago that the animal (and human) brutality seemed more like fiction. Totally recommend it! I couldn’t put it down!

I couldn’t put it down. What a fantastic read!

I thought the tale itself was well written, but the subject was just too sad—both the state of the old man, and the horrors of the circus. I didn’t find it worthwhile reading material, and I’m surprised it has been so well received by critics.