Circus of Wonders

Title:  Circus of Wonders

Author:  Elizabeth Macneal

Publication Information:  Atria/Emily Bestler Books. 2022. 368 pages.

ISBN:  1982106794 / 978-1982106799

Book Source:  I received this book through NetGalley free of cost in exchange for an honest review.

Opening Sentence:  "It begins with an advertisement, nailed to an oak tree."

Favorite Quote:  "Circus has always made him believe that anything is possible. But he knows, too, that it is illusion, that life does not share its boldness, its neat stories."

The Circus of Wonders is at the same time hopeful as someone "different" finds acceptance and grows into an independent woman and incredibly dark and depressing with memories of war, a father's choice, and unbridled greed for fame and fortune.

The hopeful part first. Nell's story begins in tragedy. She has unusual birthmarks which cause her to be ostracized in her little village. Her father sells her to a travelling circus that comes through. The event is devastating. However, the circus provides a home for Nell. "You control it. How they see you." The circus is not only performers but also human "wonders" or "curiosities", each distinct in what sets them apart. In that uniqueness, Nell finds herself not so "different." Interestingly, the book has some descriptions. However, I cannot actually envision what Nell looks like or what markings would deem her so unacceptable to society and a circus "wonder". Nevertheless, Nell's journey of finding growth, independence, and friendship is a positive one.

Now the dark and depressing part. Although a circus can be envisioned as colorful, vibrant, and full of life, the feel of this circus is dark, somber, and almost oppressive. That is primarily due to the other main characters of the book - brothers Jasper and Toby. "Toby was a spectator who was content to observe life from the fringes, rarely to involve himself. Jasper was curious, preoccupied with finding the trick behind every object, dismantling illusion to see the real bones of the world." Their relationship is incredibly close and bonded but reads as though in not a positive way. It is, in fact, somewhat disturbing. Jasper is the visible leader. Toby follows, out of love, out of guilt, out of some other emotion. Throughout the book, the story of the circus is accompanied by memories of war - killing, looting, and documenting it all in photographs.

That past is ultimately connected to the present in a reveal, but, by that point, it is no longer a huge reveal. The bigger issue with that story line is that it does not connect directly to Nell's story. It impacts the relationships, but the two continue almost in parallel. As such, the story of the war means having to repeatedly step away from Nell's story. It makes it challenging to stay engaged.

As with The Doll Factory, this book is dark and a very slow read. The parallels between the two books continue with closely bonded siblings, birth anomalies, collectors of oddities, and the dark Victorian gothic setup. This book is very much character driven. However, other than Nell, is there growth in the characters? Is there enough to keep a reader engaged and invested in their story. Unfortunately, this reader does not find that.

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The Doll Factory

Title:  The Doll Factory

Author:  Elizabeth Macneal

Publication Information:  Atria/Emily Bestler Books. 2019. 368 pages.

ISBN:  198210676X / 978-1982106768

Book Source:  I received this book through NetGalley free of cost in exchange for an honest review.

Opening Sentence:  "Silas is sitting at his desk, a stuffed turtle dove in his palm."

Favorite Quote:  "She has always been taught to button her passions, not to shout, to respect the opinions of men. Her emotions have always simmered more than they should, and now they boil over. She could suffocate in her anger."

The Doll Factory is a book about obsession. It is about the 1850s London exhibition. It is about twins. One is born beautiful, but, to her mind, finds her beauty destroyed by illness. The other is born with a birth anomaly but learns to see the beauty in herself. It is about an artists who helps a woman recognize her beauty. It is about a collector of oddities who creates an obsession from a chance meeting.

The book is atmospheric and dark. Unfortunately, aspects of it are just sad and unpleasant - a young child killed in an accident, mice killed and stuffed, a two-headed dog, a child whose business is collecting dead things and who is saving for a set of teeth, another child briefly mentioned who is a prostitute, and murder. For some of these reasons, I am not the reader for this book. I appreciate the history. I can even appreciate the Gothic darkness. Graphic depictions of violence, however, are just not for me.

Beyond a point, the book is also a very slow read. Iris is finding her independence. Iris's sister is wallowing is self-pity and resentment. Louis the artist is falling in love but dealing with baggage of his own. The obsession of Silas the collector is growing day by day. These facts are established early on. The characters and the plot line seem to repeat throughout the book until close to the end when Silas's obsession finally translates into action. Even the "action" beyond that point seems to repeat onto the ultimate ending.

Interestingly, the "action" when it comes is reminiscent of a typically abduction and escape thriller. With the 1850s setting, with the connection to the art world, and with the dark setup of an obsessive evil villain who likes to kill and stuff his prizes, I expect something a little more unusual. I appreciate the fact of a woman finding her voice and finding her courage. However, given the buildup, I expect a  more unexpected twist and definitely one more macabre and suited to the atmosphere of the book. What set ups as a Victorian, Gothic thriller ends up in a much more modern ending.

Perhaps, the most interesting aspect of the book for me was learning about the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (PRB), a group of English artists who considered themselves as rebels to and reformers of what was considered "good" art. That is not the focus of the book, but there are enough glimmers to send me on the search for the history. In that the book accomplishes its goal as historical fiction.

Please share your thoughts and leave a comment. I would love to "talk" to you.