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urikastov's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
rocketiza's review against another edition
4.0
Wonderful and imaginative, masterful use of language.
halcyon_nights's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Why is this still in print? I'd debate the 'fantasy masterwork' label but it supposedly inspired a lot of works and authors. Should it be considered a masterwork when it's trite? I tried to be generous in my thoughts as I was reading this by keeping in mind the limited scope of fantasy in the 30s that would make a book like this so wondrous, but I think the book even fails to stand as a coherent story from its story structure to its characters.
I was willing to ignore the outdates/racist language because of the time it was written in but it was not just in the language.
I was willing to ignore the outdates/racist language because of the time it was written in but it was not just in the language.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs
Moderate: Racism
books_and_keys's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
esotericorder's review against another edition
4.0
Weird, bizarre, surreal... Do yourself a favour and read the circus of Dr Lao. The story is really simple, a circus visits a small town in Arizona, the things people will see there are beyond amazing, everyone has something to gain, something to learn, the old widow, the School teacher, the plumber... Some will be taught from the experience and some will leave non the wiser, same as the readers...
This book influenced Bradbury to write "something wicked this way comes" but where something wicked is charming and sweet this one isn't...
The book has only one chapter but manages to flow nicely and not get chaotic, in the end there is also an appendix of all the characters appearing in the story, next to each one there is a comment or even a full paragraph of Dr Lao's observations...
I can only imagine how people felt when they read this one back in 1935...
This book influenced Bradbury to write "something wicked this way comes" but where something wicked is charming and sweet this one isn't...
The book has only one chapter but manages to flow nicely and not get chaotic, in the end there is also an appendix of all the characters appearing in the story, next to each one there is a comment or even a full paragraph of Dr Lao's observations...
I can only imagine how people felt when they read this one back in 1935...
futuriana's review against another edition
4.0
One of the most interesting things about this book is that with the exception of some of the outdated racial language (not the ones in the dialogue, but some of the narration) the prose and language is shockingly modern. If I had picked the book up blind I could have believed it was from the Sixties, or Nineties, or even from a new slipstream/modern fantasy type author.
If you come to this book after watching the movie, be aware it is more cynical, and a bit darked. It is also less plot driven. Not unlike some Bradbury of the same era, also reminiscent of Beagle in spots.
If you come to this book after watching the movie, be aware it is more cynical, and a bit darked. It is also less plot driven. Not unlike some Bradbury of the same era, also reminiscent of Beagle in spots.
jessrock's review against another edition
3.0
A strange little story for sure, about a circus that arrives in a sleepy Arizona town only to turn out to be packed full of real mythological creatures - a chimera, a satyr, a werewolf, a mermaid, etc. - though what makes the story strange is not the circus itself but the townspeople's disinterest in these impossibilities. They come expecting a "real" circus, are disappointed when it doesn't meet their expectations, and most leave complaining.
The novel is very short, just over 100 pages (with illustrations), but is followed by a 20-page catalogue of everything mentioned in the book (characters, places, animals, people only alluded to in the text, etc.). While the catalogue makes for somewhat awkward reading, the author saved his wittiest writing for this section, and it ends up being not a straight glossary but a mix of definitions, further illuminations, and outright jokes. If you read this book, definitely stick it out for the catalogue as well.
The novel is very short, just over 100 pages (with illustrations), but is followed by a 20-page catalogue of everything mentioned in the book (characters, places, animals, people only alluded to in the text, etc.). While the catalogue makes for somewhat awkward reading, the author saved his wittiest writing for this section, and it ends up being not a straight glossary but a mix of definitions, further illuminations, and outright jokes. If you read this book, definitely stick it out for the catalogue as well.