Cirkus

by Patti Frazee

Previously published as Cirkus (Alyson Books, 2006) the re-release in paperback as Illusions of Light comes at just the right time in our history. The immigrants of the Borsefsky Brothers Cirkus move through the American Midwest at the turn of the twentieth century.



Mariana, the fortune teller, makes herself invisible and drifts through the nighttime circus, listening in on conversations and watching over her beloved Shanghai, a fire-breathing dwarf who closely guards his secrets, even from Mariana's second sight. Conjoined twins Atasha and Anna cling to each other and weep for their home and for their mother and father who sold them to the circus. Jakub, the circus manager and husband to Mariana, fears his wife's gifts, grieves his own failures, and drinks to forget it all. The stories and closely guarded histories of the troupe of performers dance around each other until a love affair between Shanghai and Atasha destroys the delicate balance.

As secrets are revealed and old wounds are opened, the consequences are unbearable to some and liberating to others. Lyrically graceful and populated by vividly drawn characters, Illusions of Light is a haunting novel of devastating heartbreak and exquisite beauty.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Historical

275 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2006

Reviews

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books about old time (late 18 to early 1900's)circuses. With that said if you have read circus books of that time period you know it wasn't always roses & sunshine type situations.

This book didn't touch on as much circus lore as what I have gotten out of other circus books, BUT the STORY of this book was pretty amazing! It's a wonderful roller coaster of magic, secrets, love affairs, & intrigue, and just when you think you have it all figured out...ooops nnoooo youuuu don'ttt, ha ha.

Cirkus does a magic trick of its own in that in the beginning you feel unfriendly towards the gypsy & you fall in love with the dwarf. ONLY, towards the end of the book, to grow to love the gypsy after seeing her personal journey AND still feel something for the dwarf...But maybe in a different way than you first felt for him??

This book is not for those that like a nice straight forward story with neatly tied up ends for a conclusion. I do recommend this book to those looking for a story interwoven with wonderful fables (the story telling the characters do in this book is magical!), a little bit of star crossed lovers, LOTS of secrets, twists & turns, & an ending that will surprise you.

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

A story about the trials and tribulations of side show "freaks" and other nomadic circus personnel around 1900. Mostly of Czech origin, they travel around the midwestern US entertaining the "rubes" and trying to deal with each other. I was very disappointed with this book. The framework of the story seemed very promising and especially the lesbian aspect considering the cultural attitudes of this time period. But by and large it was just mired in melodramatic romance plots of unrequited love, frustrated passion and star crossed lovers. Change the characters from a dwarf, conjoined twins, an acrobat, a gypsy fortune teller, etc. to more conventional characters and this would be found on the cheap formulaic romance shelves. Especially problematic for me are the frequent symbolic, meaningful and vivid dreams that the characters experience. While I know I dream often, I rarely remember anything except maybe a few brief seconds. So when characters experience these long symbolic dreams, I just shut down.

[Kristal Stidham · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this up because I'm not adverse to weirdness -- and you have to expect some of that when the book is about circus sideshow acts, circa 1900. Unfortunately, the dose of darkness was a bit much for me, including too many subjects I don't enjoy finding in my pleasure reads: incest, pedophelia, rape, prostitution, exploitation, animal abuse, indentured servitude, loveless marriages... There's lesbianism too, which I'm perfectly okay with, but not in the in-delicate way it's handled here. On top of all that, I just wasn't personally invested in the characters at all, with the exception of a bit of pity for Anna. If I didn't have a stupid need to finish every book I start, I would have quit this one about 1/3 of the way in.

[Tara Chevrestt]

I made it to 30% and began to lose interest almost as soon as I became interested. It seems to be about the love interests of the "freaks". Everyone is in love with the dwarf for some reason. I don't really care.

I think, however, any book about "freaks" will seem utterly dull after one has watched American Horror Story's Freaks. And sadly I attempted to read this AFTER watching that dramatic, horrific, and grotesquely exciting show. So it's no wonder this isn't doing much for me.

[DAISY READS HORROR · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one started off interesting and I loved the setting of circus people in the 1900's. I just couldnt get into it much 30% into the book.

[Doreena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just going with 2 on this one.

[Shay Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's difficult to review or rate this book. It took me over two months (!) to slog through the first half, and two days to tear through the second half, which I could not put down. In the first half we meet a band of turn-of-the-20th-century circus performers, including a Gypsy, a fire-eating dwarf and a pair of conjoined twins. Despite their oddness, they never really grabbed me, except by very scattered turns, and even then not for long. None of the characters were sympathetic enough to make me care very much what happened to them, and therein lies the bigger problem--nothing much happened at all. I could not stick with reading for more than a few pages, and never felt drawn to go back to it, though I doggedly pushed on, however slowly. I almost quit several times, not because it was bad, but because it just wasn't good enough.

Then came the send half. Finally, things started moving, secrets are revealed, intrigues are played out, and most of all, the humanness of all these characters bursts forth in all their flawed desire, courage, and failings. If the whole book had been as excellent as the second half, I would have given it 5 stars, but getting through the first half was such a chore, I can't be quite that forgiving. Still, recommended with the warning that it takes foreverrrr to get going. If you can hang in, it pays off.

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Circus freaks are my thing. I LOVE them. So this sounded awesome to me. And in the beginning, it even had a hint of the magical realism I love so much. Unfortunately, it fell off in the end. I'm having a hard time discerning what the point was. There was no purpose here, at least not one that I could find. It was just a lot of drama and a bunch of people falling in love with a dwarf. It feels like it wasn't a complete book, like someone just took the dramatic highlights and naughty bits and left out all the substance.

[Todd Gade · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was well written, but I was hoping for more. I felt it dragged a little in the middle and had hoped for a little more character development. Not a bad book, but if you like circus life books from the early 1900s, start with Water For Elephants.

[Sandie]

Got through to Mariana's walk , May 3rd and I am just not into this book right now. I think I would enjoy it, but my mood is not letting me get into it so I will shelve it and possibly try again another time.

[Karly Drake · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nope. Tried. Couldn't get there. Abandoned

[R.K. Cowles · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This powerful story takes place in a traveling circus at the turn of the century (1900). The main characters are "freaks" in the sideshow and the circus owner's Romani wife. Shanghai, the fire throwing dwarf struggles to remember Milada, his lost love, but the gypsy woman, Mariana has cast a spell to take away the painful memories. He finds a second chance for love when the circus acquires Anna and Atasha a set of Siamese twins joined at the torso. He works with the girls to teach them how to juggle as part of their act. Shanghai and Atasha break all of the rules by becoming lovers ... Much to the chagrin of Anna.

As the story unfolds the reader is led on a journey where 1st impressions are thrown away and nothing is as it seems. If you are looking for another "Water for Elephants"' you have picked up the wrong book, but if you are looking for something different and refreshing, I highly recommend this book.

[Phillipa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cirkus is the absorbing story of a traveling circus, its sideshow performers and the tensions that exist between them. The story centres around teenaged cojoined twin girls, a firebreathing dwarf (Shanghai) and foretune teller Marianna. When one of the twins falls for Shanghai and the feelings are reciprocated the story spirals to its inevitable end.

I enjoyed this novel, however I found the ending unsatisfying and seemingly unfair to Marianna. Up to that point a pivotal character, in the last chapter she is effectively disappeared, shipped off to a fate which is hinted at only. The reader is left to guess what has actually happened. We have no idea of her true fate, nor her feelings or actions. If it weren't for this factor I would have rated this book even higher.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cirkus is impressive. I could not put it down. The time is 1900 America in the Boresfkey brothers circus. A small traveling circus from Czechoslovakia. Mariana a fortune teller and her husband, Jakub run it. The story centers around Shanghai, the dwarf fire juggler and his attraction to one of a pair of siamese twins. It's a beautiful story in the vein of Geek Love. The present tense narrative captures the timelessness of the world of the cirkis. This contributed to the vivid quality of the story. I received this book free as part of my
Kindle Subscription.

[Viki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am drawn to books about circuses even though these books often turn dark. Story takes place in the early 1900's as a small circus tries to make iit in heartland of America. Most of the circus people are foreigners and fight the stigma of being circus "folk". The plot follows the characters through mistaken gender identities, lesbian love affairs, and grave loss to those who thought they were truly loved. This was a Kindle freebie and it was worth every penny.

[Josefine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book in two days and it was good. I quite enjoyed the world it conjures up, despite the obvious downsides of 1900's circuses and freakshows. The characters were all quite fascinating, I just thought they could have been more three dimensional. As it is, I felt they were a bit flat and there's definitely potential to go deeper, so to say. Nonetheless I definitely don't regret buying and reading this one!

[Jukka]

Cirkus - Patty Frazee

I think this was great and highly innovative. This is an early work for Frazee, but she shows an innovative knack. This book really carries you along. The author thinks and creates cinematically (Note film producers!!) and so it's an adventure.

Because the author is so innovative this might not be for everyone.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started out totally wrapped up in the wonderful descriptions in this book. I was able to vividly picture the settings and the people. I loved it right up until the end and then felt a little dropped or let down. Still an amazing book and I would recommend it based on how I felt in the beginning of the story.

[Lavonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very good read with good characters, an interesting plot, and some surprising twists. However, it pales in comparison to "Water for Elephants", another novel about a circus in the early 1930's. Since I gave "Water for Elephants" 4 stars, I can only give this novel 3, but it's definately a 3.5.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

While Frazee can spin a decent yarn, some of the themes that flowed through this book were disturbing and strange. Her descriptions of sex between a female dwarf having sex with one of two conjoined twins were bizarre and unnecessary. This could have been a far greater and much more powerful novel without the shock value. Not highly recommended. 2.5 / 5

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Above and beyond my fondness for the Circus genre, I thought this book was excellent. I found it thoroughly engaging and character-driven, with a lot of great background and development to the players. There was mysticism, intrigue, and some really killer twists that I didn't see coming at all! This is one of the better Circus books I have enjoyed.

[Rachel Eads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was fantastic. A little slow at the beginning, but definitely worth the read. Throughout the book, you are made aware of the fact that the circus performers each have some sort of secret, but I never expected what they turned out to be. I've read other circus themed books, but I loved this one for the great story with a shocking twist...

[Summer · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story element is good, but the prose and the narrative lack style. It's difficult to read something like this and not compare it to Katherine Dunn's Geek Love, so I'll give into the temptation and say: it's not nearly as good as Geek Love.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ugh. Circus freaks. I don't like reading about 'em.

Still this is a well-written book, exploring some of the really big themes--difference, humanity, evil--and the symbolism is right on. Still, a bit glum for my taste.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting and entertaining, kind of fun in a morbidly fascinating sort of way. Good, solid characters and storyline. The main characters are side-show anomalies. The conjoined twins are in love with different men, one of whom is the dwarf who has had his own share of heartache.

[Michael Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author did a great job of setting the scene (turn of the century traveling circus) and painting the characters. The plot twists along the way kept you guessing and you don't know whether to like or hate the main character.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

idk. I love books about the circus, and liked the authors voice and style here. easy to read and pulled ya right along. something about it was just off for me I guess. some characters felt rushed, and love interests flipped too rapidly at one point for me to really believe it. close.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bizarre but great

So many twists and turns and the crushing oppression of the people who were in the sideshows in the traveling circus. Very good story, well written and rich in detail.

[Mandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing style seemed almost mechanical, plus I didn't like any of the characters. Meh.