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From the Midway: Unfolding Stories of Redemption and Belonging
This inventive book has at its core a collection of linked short stories depicting the lives of sideshow oddities in an early twentieth-century carnival traveling through the rural south. While the fiction opens a door to another world, ultimately it invites readers to think differently about the world we inhabit and the universal need to belong, to experience redemption, to reclaim our imperfections as part of what makes us whole.
An introductory essay frames the collection, inviting readers to consider more deeply how the socio-historical context and characters create metaphors for our own experience. The book concludes with a series of creative prompts to engage readers with the text so that the stories continue to unfold.
An introductory essay frames the collection, inviting readers to consider more deeply how the socio-historical context and characters create metaphors for our own experience. The book concludes with a series of creative prompts to engage readers with the text so that the stories continue to unfold.
224 pages, Paperback
Published September 5, 2019
704 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
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May 22, 2023I didn't read it but brought it back from the Little Free Library to put in the facility library.
August 16, 2019
I received this uncorrected proof from Bauhan Publishing and Librarything Early Reviewers giveaways in exchange for an honest review.
It's hard to review an uncorrected copy, not knowing how much will be corrected at the final printing, but here it goes.
From the Midway is a series of short stories, each focusing on a different character involved with Beasleys' Traveling Amusements, set during the first half of the 20th century. We have the usual "oddities" including the bearded lady, the shortest and tallest, Lizard Man, Flipper Boy, as well as stories about one of the dancing girls and a couple of the workers.
I found some of the stories pretty intriguing and well written. Some, however, didn't seem to be complete and were almost like an afterthought or filler in order to plump up the book.
About a third of the way in, I also realized I was reading essentially an adult Sunday School sermon, which may work well for some readers but it was not what I was expecting.
Overall, not bad, I was just expecting more story and less sermon.
Original review posted on Librarything, 8/15/2019
It's hard to review an uncorrected copy, not knowing how much will be corrected at the final printing, but here it goes.
From the Midway is a series of short stories, each focusing on a different character involved with Beasleys' Traveling Amusements, set during the first half of the 20th century. We have the usual "oddities" including the bearded lady, the shortest and tallest, Lizard Man, Flipper Boy, as well as stories about one of the dancing girls and a couple of the workers.
I found some of the stories pretty intriguing and well written. Some, however, didn't seem to be complete and were almost like an afterthought or filler in order to plump up the book.
About a third of the way in, I also realized I was reading essentially an adult Sunday School sermon, which may work well for some readers but it was not what I was expecting.
Overall, not bad, I was just expecting more story and less sermon.
Original review posted on Librarything, 8/15/2019
August 30, 2019
Thank you to Bauhan Publishing for an uncorrected proof of From the Midway: Unfolding Stories of Redemption and Belongings.
From the Midway is a collection of linked stories about the members of a traveling carnival. Many of the stories involve the "freaks" who populate the the side show. For the most part, the stories are sad and show the many ways people can be cruel to others who are different from themselves. All the characters ache to be seen as a fellow human and belong to a group or family.
This book is well written and interesting. The characters are tragic and compelling. It is a tough read, in terms of difficult content and several upsetting events, but I'm glad that I won a copy because I probably would not have come in contact with this book otherwise.
From the Midway is a collection of linked stories about the members of a traveling carnival. Many of the stories involve the "freaks" who populate the the side show. For the most part, the stories are sad and show the many ways people can be cruel to others who are different from themselves. All the characters ache to be seen as a fellow human and belong to a group or family.
This book is well written and interesting. The characters are tragic and compelling. It is a tough read, in terms of difficult content and several upsetting events, but I'm glad that I won a copy because I probably would not have come in contact with this book otherwise.
September 3, 2019
I requested this book because I am really interested in the topic of traveling carnivals in the time when the performers were made up largely of “freaks” (I love the 1932 film “Freaks”) – people born different, with deformities unnamed and misunderstood.
From the Midway is made up of a series of short stories – all connected – each one focusing on a different character from Beasleys’ Traveling Amusements, whether it be one of the Beasleys, one of the performers, or one of the workers. And each story gives us the background of the character – how they got to be in the show (or in the Beasleys’ case, why the carnival was started), and how they interact with others.
I enjoyed From the Midway for each personal story, and the way Seligman touched my heart with these characters who are so humanly flawed. There wasn’t anything I found wrong with the book; every story felt complete, from the story of the man covered in scales, to one of the dancing girls, to a man who bites the heads off of live chickens (the latter made me a bit squeamish). The reader even gets a glimpse behind the scenes, learning that what you see isn’t always what you get.
But the book isn’t about “freaks” or even the carnival so much as it is about redemption – people who were born in a cruel world, treated unfairly, misunderstood, and only seeking to escape to a place where they can turn their downfalls into their own triumphs, perhaps a place where they belong. It doesn’t always work out that way, but that’s what makes these stories so good. They are genuine. An excellent study in human nature.
(Review appears on my blog, paperbackpropensity.wordpress.com)
From the Midway is made up of a series of short stories – all connected – each one focusing on a different character from Beasleys’ Traveling Amusements, whether it be one of the Beasleys, one of the performers, or one of the workers. And each story gives us the background of the character – how they got to be in the show (or in the Beasleys’ case, why the carnival was started), and how they interact with others.
I enjoyed From the Midway for each personal story, and the way Seligman touched my heart with these characters who are so humanly flawed. There wasn’t anything I found wrong with the book; every story felt complete, from the story of the man covered in scales, to one of the dancing girls, to a man who bites the heads off of live chickens (the latter made me a bit squeamish). The reader even gets a glimpse behind the scenes, learning that what you see isn’t always what you get.
But the book isn’t about “freaks” or even the carnival so much as it is about redemption – people who were born in a cruel world, treated unfairly, misunderstood, and only seeking to escape to a place where they can turn their downfalls into their own triumphs, perhaps a place where they belong. It doesn’t always work out that way, but that’s what makes these stories so good. They are genuine. An excellent study in human nature.
(Review appears on my blog, paperbackpropensity.wordpress.com)
January 10, 2020
This is a set of related stories about performers in a carnival, many of whom have physical diseases or defects to make them "freaks of nature". The stories are interesting, but the characters are shallow -- they all focus on wanting to be "normal" and returning home to those they miss. They don't appear to think beyond that. The author is a religious woman and a minister, and this comes through in her writing, in that many of the families of the deformed circus members are being "punished" for their sins by having to live with these "freaks". The author didn't seem to do much research in her writing; for example, her "fat lady" only weighs about 200 pounds, which is a fair amount during the depression, but certainly doesn't make her the "heaviest woman on earth" as claimed. All in all, what could be an interesting story gets bogged down by religious values. Not recommended.
July 15, 2020
" The notes fill him in a way both reassuring and terrifying, for he has never felt this way before- known"
This book defies my "usual" review, because it is as once so strange and so familiar to me that I can't really just review it, and I'm probably going to tangle my thoughts up while doing it. A chance encounter with another author connected me with Leaf Seligman, the author of these marvelous stories. From the cover photo (not this edition's cover) I was hooked. Seeing Carolyn Chute's [Beans of Egypt Maine] endorsement on the back cover sealed the deal.
When I finally picked it up yesterday and started reading about the individuals in Beasleys' Traveling Amusements I saw immediately that they all have a vision of belonging and these characters all come from a time and place quite foreign to most of the readers. This community comes together by happenstance, but they integrate themselves in the neediest ways into a family or at least a "pod" of sorts (to use the vernacular of "the time of Covid-19") that unfolds in the most spectacular way. It is both historical and sociological, theological and complex. It simply is a life raft to hold onto in a world flooded with change. Words simply fail me in how much I loved this book! Highly Recommended 5/5
[disclaimer: I received this book from the author and chose to read and review it]
This book defies my "usual" review, because it is as once so strange and so familiar to me that I can't really just review it, and I'm probably going to tangle my thoughts up while doing it. A chance encounter with another author connected me with Leaf Seligman, the author of these marvelous stories. From the cover photo (not this edition's cover) I was hooked. Seeing Carolyn Chute's [Beans of Egypt Maine] endorsement on the back cover sealed the deal.
When I finally picked it up yesterday and started reading about the individuals in Beasleys' Traveling Amusements I saw immediately that they all have a vision of belonging and these characters all come from a time and place quite foreign to most of the readers. This community comes together by happenstance, but they integrate themselves in the neediest ways into a family or at least a "pod" of sorts (to use the vernacular of "the time of Covid-19") that unfolds in the most spectacular way. It is both historical and sociological, theological and complex. It simply is a life raft to hold onto in a world flooded with change. Words simply fail me in how much I loved this book! Highly Recommended 5/5
[disclaimer: I received this book from the author and chose to read and review it]
August 31, 2019
From the Midway is a collection of linked short stories about carnival freaks, called ‘oddities’ in the book. The first story is about a family that runs a travelling carnival show and subsequent stories tell the background of several of these people and how they came to be with the show.
From the subtitle of the book, “Unfolding Stories of Redemption and Belonging” I expected an unusual but uplifting collection of stories, perhaps describing how these oddities found a place where they fit in. The word redemption in the title and the location of the stories in the Jim Crow South led me to expect some religious overtones. It got off to a slow start, and although the circumstances and backgrounds of the people were interesting what should be a really fascinating subject was rather dry. None of the carnival owners were likeable and I felt a bit uncomfortable reading about how the performers were treated. Religion was in fact present throughout the book but not of the redeeming or forgiving sort.
All in all an interesting premise for a book that didn’t quite do it for me. Thanks to LibraryThing, author Leaf Seligman, and Bauhan Publishing for providing an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
From the subtitle of the book, “Unfolding Stories of Redemption and Belonging” I expected an unusual but uplifting collection of stories, perhaps describing how these oddities found a place where they fit in. The word redemption in the title and the location of the stories in the Jim Crow South led me to expect some religious overtones. It got off to a slow start, and although the circumstances and backgrounds of the people were interesting what should be a really fascinating subject was rather dry. None of the carnival owners were likeable and I felt a bit uncomfortable reading about how the performers were treated. Religion was in fact present throughout the book but not of the redeeming or forgiving sort.
All in all an interesting premise for a book that didn’t quite do it for me. Thanks to LibraryThing, author Leaf Seligman, and Bauhan Publishing for providing an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 15, 2019
This book was about the traveling carnival through the south early 1900's. The Beasley's (the owners) went around recruiting people for their "attractions". Oddities or "freaks" as they were referred to. Each chapter looks into the lives of these "odd" people who were hired for acts in the Midway. Some with very sad stories of how their families just let them go, they thought of them as a "curse from God", or as a burden or embarrassment and thought their lives would be better off with sending them away.
Overall, a good story, although outside of the usual genre that I read.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review
Overall, a good story, although outside of the usual genre that I read.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review
September 23, 2019
Beasley's Traveling Amusements is just as it sounds. The troop travels through the south offering rides, amusements and "freaks".
Each chapter introduces us to these people: Flipper Boy, Lizard Man, Tiny Laveaux, etc. Each character is given a voice and a history.
The feel of these stories is such longing and feeling a need to be loved and looked at as normal people. There is a bit of religion intoned in the book, but we are talking about the South, with its strong religion.
The book really made you want to make these people feel good about themselves and look at others with more understanding.
Each chapter introduces us to these people: Flipper Boy, Lizard Man, Tiny Laveaux, etc. Each character is given a voice and a history.
The feel of these stories is such longing and feeling a need to be loved and looked at as normal people. There is a bit of religion intoned in the book, but we are talking about the South, with its strong religion.
The book really made you want to make these people feel good about themselves and look at others with more understanding.
January 17, 2026
This was an interesting read. I never thought about what it was like for the "oddities" to be displayed in carnival shows. The characters were very empathetic. I can't exactly put my finger on it, but there was something about the writing that made it difficult to follow the stories. I had no idea what the last chapter was all about. An important aspect of the book was how important human touch and connection are to us.
October 20, 2019
Really good story
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews