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ROUSTABOUT.
A gritty, realistic, disturbing portrayal of the circus every child dreamed of joining. This is a hardcover published in 1996.
- GenresFiction
Hardcover
First published April 1, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 5, 2024
Riding the carnival high after finishing Geek Love, I thought I'd pull this one down off my shelf. I've owned it for a while but haven't felt the urge to read it until now.
While I read it in one day, I wasn't super blown away by it. We meet Matty, a young girl who was abandoned at the age of 5 by her mother when she leaves her traveling circus husband. Pa begins to look after her, showing her how to do odd jobs around the tents, but he also sexually abuses her for years. That is, until she gets a little older and another circus worker named Jay takes her under his protection, and basically does the same. Matty doesn't understand that what's happening to her is wrong, and believes she is in love with Jay, and that what they have is a normal relationship.
Over the years, she watches as her circus family abandon wives and children on the roadside, hook up and break up, and countless other horrors without batting an eye. But Jay's territorial behaviors slowly begin to wear her down and she starts to realize what's good for the goose is not good for the gander, and she finally begins to show some backbone.
It's a solid read if you are looking for a book about mental and physical abuse and toxic relationships. Me personally, I was hoping to get more of a peek into circus life. I know the author spent some time working as a roustabout herself, so maybe that's really all there is to it? Nasty gross men taking advantage of innocent naive women every chance they get, "claiming" them, and everyone else just turning a blind eye?
Dark, bleak, cruel and upsetting on multiple levels, but also a sort of stirring and emotionally tender read.
Are there any themes or plot devices that bother you when you're reading? For me it's cheating/infidelity, sexual abuse, and animal cruelty/unnecessary animal deaths.
While I read it in one day, I wasn't super blown away by it. We meet Matty, a young girl who was abandoned at the age of 5 by her mother when she leaves her traveling circus husband. Pa begins to look after her, showing her how to do odd jobs around the tents, but he also sexually abuses her for years. That is, until she gets a little older and another circus worker named Jay takes her under his protection, and basically does the same. Matty doesn't understand that what's happening to her is wrong, and believes she is in love with Jay, and that what they have is a normal relationship.
Over the years, she watches as her circus family abandon wives and children on the roadside, hook up and break up, and countless other horrors without batting an eye. But Jay's territorial behaviors slowly begin to wear her down and she starts to realize what's good for the goose is not good for the gander, and she finally begins to show some backbone.
It's a solid read if you are looking for a book about mental and physical abuse and toxic relationships. Me personally, I was hoping to get more of a peek into circus life. I know the author spent some time working as a roustabout herself, so maybe that's really all there is to it? Nasty gross men taking advantage of innocent naive women every chance they get, "claiming" them, and everyone else just turning a blind eye?
Dark, bleak, cruel and upsetting on multiple levels, but also a sort of stirring and emotionally tender read.
Are there any themes or plot devices that bother you when you're reading? For me it's cheating/infidelity, sexual abuse, and animal cruelty/unnecessary animal deaths.
February 21, 2020
An interesting look inside the life of circus people. Interesting writing. “A little old lady titters and pats her hair as if she just discovered a poodle sitting on her head.”
November 22, 2023
Read it and then immediately reread it again. It had me on the edge nearly every chaprer. Very sad but very intruiging
Read
January 24, 2017Roustabout is a novel by Michelle Chalfoun, which takes readers on a journey of what life is really like being a roustabout amongst the travelling circus. This is an emotionally powerful tale of Mat, a young confused girl who was abandoned by her mother at the circus only to stay with her abusive stepfather. It is a book of obscure people who take large doses of drugs and clip clothespins on nostrils and nipples just to stay awake while driving trucks to their next strange show.
Chalfoun writing is captivating and almost too realistic in it’s cruelty. She manages to explain the details of the circus life to such a fine details, readers feel as if they have been a roustabout themselves. Readers come to know Mat so personally, they turn the pages in hope they can console her through. The plot devices are at times unpredictable yet realistic which Chalfoun uses to benefit the mood of tragic reality. Although, the variety of characters she uses provides multiple dynamics, it unfortunately too often draws the focus away from the main characters. The mood is a constant environment of dirty, sleazy and doom with the occasional perk of righteous humanity. Even though, the characters tend to be nothing more than pitiful lost beasts; however Chalfoun makes the reader love them nonetheless. This book finds it strength within its realistic tragedies, reminding the readers that not every story is a fairytale.
Chalfoun has wrote a novel which provides a bitter taste of reality that is surely worth reading. As a result of the subjects having such great depth, it takes an intelligent reader is grasp it’s meaning to its full potential. It is a book meant for those who have the ability to accept tragedy. Roustabout is a painstakingly incredible novel Chalfoun has wrote.
Chalfoun writing is captivating and almost too realistic in it’s cruelty. She manages to explain the details of the circus life to such a fine details, readers feel as if they have been a roustabout themselves. Readers come to know Mat so personally, they turn the pages in hope they can console her through. The plot devices are at times unpredictable yet realistic which Chalfoun uses to benefit the mood of tragic reality. Although, the variety of characters she uses provides multiple dynamics, it unfortunately too often draws the focus away from the main characters. The mood is a constant environment of dirty, sleazy and doom with the occasional perk of righteous humanity. Even though, the characters tend to be nothing more than pitiful lost beasts; however Chalfoun makes the reader love them nonetheless. This book finds it strength within its realistic tragedies, reminding the readers that not every story is a fairytale.
Chalfoun has wrote a novel which provides a bitter taste of reality that is surely worth reading. As a result of the subjects having such great depth, it takes an intelligent reader is grasp it’s meaning to its full potential. It is a book meant for those who have the ability to accept tragedy. Roustabout is a painstakingly incredible novel Chalfoun has wrote.
October 5, 2008
Matty (Matilda) is a roustabout in the circus. This is the story of her life, set in the traveling company, and it is not a pretty picture. As a child Matty is abandoned by her mother to the abusive circus worker Enis, who wastes no time making her his sex toy. At 15, she is taken over by Jayson, a boss in the troupe. That relationship continues for several years, during which Matty takes her place as a capable roustabout. Jay is never able to convince her to live with him, though. That is a good thing, as a Florida fling comes back to haunt him in the form of the pregnant Kelli.
This is a sad tale in which the main character is victimized over and over by ill-meaning or damaged men. She learns nothing, believing the same lies repeatedly, until in a dramatic climax she suddenly finds it in her to express her rage by announcing to the hostile townies that one of their wives is with one of the circus men. Pitchforks, torches and mayhem ensue, ended only when the elephants are brought to bear against the locals. Prior to this, Matty had shown no real inclination towards such violence or revenge.
It was an unsatisfying book. There was no particular beauty to the language, which was competent in that regard. At least the beauty of form might have given it more heft. The tale was one of unrelenting negativity, self-indulgence, corruption and repetitive stupidity. Not recommended.
This is a sad tale in which the main character is victimized over and over by ill-meaning or damaged men. She learns nothing, believing the same lies repeatedly, until in a dramatic climax she suddenly finds it in her to express her rage by announcing to the hostile townies that one of their wives is with one of the circus men. Pitchforks, torches and mayhem ensue, ended only when the elephants are brought to bear against the locals. Prior to this, Matty had shown no real inclination towards such violence or revenge.
It was an unsatisfying book. There was no particular beauty to the language, which was competent in that regard. At least the beauty of form might have given it more heft. The tale was one of unrelenting negativity, self-indulgence, corruption and repetitive stupidity. Not recommended.
August 13, 2011
Here is a book that turns the child's dream of running away with the circus
upside down, giving an account of the harsh life awaiting those who to live the
dream which is, in reality, from the author's perspective, closer to a nightmare.
The narrator, Matty, a roustabout in a traveling circus, has been subjected to
sexual abuse by her stepfather, and has witnessed countless other unkind
acts, such as the deserting on the road of employees, and sometimes wives
and children. This is a compelling account of the real world of the traveling
circus, bared clean of all its apparent glamour and glitter. The book is filled
with colorful characters whose hard exteriors match their hard lives, but who
are not all so tough underneath. Written by Michelle Chalfoun, who worked
as a circus roustabout for three years, this is a novel you won't soon forget.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
upside down, giving an account of the harsh life awaiting those who to live the
dream which is, in reality, from the author's perspective, closer to a nightmare.
The narrator, Matty, a roustabout in a traveling circus, has been subjected to
sexual abuse by her stepfather, and has witnessed countless other unkind
acts, such as the deserting on the road of employees, and sometimes wives
and children. This is a compelling account of the real world of the traveling
circus, bared clean of all its apparent glamour and glitter. The book is filled
with colorful characters whose hard exteriors match their hard lives, but who
are not all so tough underneath. Written by Michelle Chalfoun, who worked
as a circus roustabout for three years, this is a novel you won't soon forget.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
January 17, 2015
This was a book suggestion from a friend who at one time wanted to join the circus. I read it with an open mind and open heart, but if the circus life is really like that I would never want to join it! The "big tent" looks so glamorous and maybe the life of a roustabout is exciting on some levels, but all the other layers and life stuff that affects the crew, performers, etc.. - I would be in fear of being redlighted or worse. The writing is very good. It is a solid story with very real emotions and strong voice. Give it a try!
March 16, 2008
I read this book while living in Denver. I even went to hear the author read sections of it at the Tattered Cover.
This book meant a lot to me. In particular, I remember a scene in a motel room, where she's just slept with someone awful & she's trying to keep as close to the edge of the bed and away from him as possible. That brought back memories.
This book meant a lot to me. In particular, I remember a scene in a motel room, where she's just slept with someone awful & she's trying to keep as close to the edge of the bed and away from him as possible. That brought back memories.
May 25, 2009
Strong and moody with evocative language. The author worked as a roustabout in the circus for three years so you get an insider look at the behind the scenes workings. This story is at times bleak and takes you deep into a point form where you see no salvation. You do finally emerge but to a somewhat weak ending.
March 23, 2013
Lots of people dream about running away to join the circus, but Michelle Chalfoun actually did, and this novel is the result. (She also ran away to sea, resulting in The Width of the Sea.) Winona Ryder optioned the movie rights to Roustabout, with good reason.
April 7, 2009
Maybe its because she is my first cousin and I know she did spend a good amout of time with the Big apple circus but I realy enjoyed this book. Some may find it a bit disturbing but I think that what what make it a good story.
June 24, 2011
This book was horrid. It was painful to get through, andoverly descriptive on unnecessary parts. Jumping around to the point of multiple rereading because you thought you missed something when it was randomly thrown in. Zero fun!
Want to read
June 2, 2007I am trying to find a copy of this book...anyone?
Want to read
December 14, 2007I can't get into this book, which is unfortunate because the cover is so cool.
January 20, 2008
I loved this book and heard Winona Ryder bought the rights to make and star in a movie version. It hasn't happened yet though
January 29, 2008
Underwhelming.
July 29, 2011
Depressing book about being a chick in the circus. I would like to think circus life has a few more upsides than what is in this book.
November 9, 2012
A story about uncertainty, courage and choice.
January 29, 2014
Strange.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews