American OZ: An Astonishing Year Inside Traveling Carnivals at State Fairs & Festivals: Hitchhiking From California to New York, Alaska to Mexico

by Michael Sean Comerford

You'll never see your state fair or neighborhood festival the same again!

American Oz is a rollicking, gritty, adventurous story of life in the secretive subculture of traveling carnivals.

Comerford writes a bold, inspiring true story of a year working behind the scenes with the colorful characters and legends of carnivals.

He shares stories of freaks, a carnival pimp, a tramp gold miner, and the last King of the Sideshows. An insult dunk tank clown is shot. Masked gunmen rob his carnival. And a young showman friend dies on the road.

It's a new classic American road story as he hitchhikes to shows in California, New Jersey, New York, Chicago, Alaska, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia, and Florida where he works in a freak show.

He becomes the #1 hitchhiker in the USA and a top agent at the State Fair of Texas.

He travels to the lawless foothills of Mexico to see the new face of the American carny. He exposes the truths about immigration, labor abuse, and living between two worlds.

Comerford finds carnival people seeking meaning and love in their lives, and the answers always seem to be somewhere down the road.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, History, Travel, Adventure

340 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 18, 2020

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of those books that I hate to finish because I want more. I'm sure the author would point out that one of the main principles of show business is to always leave people wanting more, and he'd be right. There were times, however, when the stories felt incomplete. If I spend two chapters reading about the adventures of hitchhiking across the country to work in a carnival, I'd like to get a payoff by reading several carnival stories once he arrives. Perhaps it's because I'm in a similar business that I want to hear more of the inside scoops, but Comerford is walking a fine line between telling those inside stories and betraying the trust of the people around him. Nobody knew he was doing this in order to write articles and a book, and a few people held it against him when they learned about it. So, I can imagine he had difficult choices to make in deciding what went into the book. He does give the reader more than a glimpse of the low-pay, difficult life of carney workers, and respectfully describes their view of life, which is probably far different than most people. All-in-all a fun, educational, thrilling, and sometimes sad journey. But hey, it's the ups and downs that make life worth living, right? Nobody wants to ride a flat roller coaster.

[Steve Reddick · Rating 5 out of 5]

American Oz by Michael Sean Comerford

American Oz is an evocative, unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime odyssey filled with countless larger-than-life characters, not least of whom is the author himself. Mike Comerford, intrepid adventurer, award-winning journalist, and inveterate, consummate, storyteller, sets out to capture the stories and souls of the people who literally make an American institution—our carnivals and state fairs—come to life every year.

Traveling from coast to coast, north to south, from Alaska to Mexico, Comerford works ten carnivals and fairs in ten states in a single year. He goes deep with the carnies, working side-by-side with them for long hours and low pay, getting to know their stories and the owners, showmen, hustlers, and other walks of humanity who populate this little-noticed subculture of American life. Along the way, he earns the carnies’ respect and admiration (well, except for a few who wanted to kill him), and experiences firsthand their loves, dreams, heartbreaks, addictions, dysfunctions, family separations, and all the pathos and melodrama of a group searching for meaning while teetering precariously on life’s razor-thin edge. Just as Upton Sinclair learned in the slaughterhouses of Chicago in his 1906 novel, The Jungle, Comerford (himself a Chicago native) discovers that “living the life made writing about the life come to life.” (p. 126)

But carnies are only part of the American Oz story. Equally as compelling are Comerford’s adventures as he crisscrosses America, mostly by thumb but also by bus and train. Stretching his carny wages to the bone, he encounters numerous unforgettable characters as he rambles, outwitting (and more than once winning over) overzealous state and local police, enduring all kinds of weather and outdoor sleeping arrangements, blogging in all-night diners and all-you-can eat pancake joints, and living a life of exhilarating freedom. Such freedom is clearly not without stress, and it comes at a cost—the book’s most poignant moments are the author’s occasional on-the-road reunions with his delightful and precocious now teenaged daughter, Grace, who is herself an accomplished author and storyteller. But Comerford pulls it off with a panache and spirit that are uniquely his own. The book’s surprising conclusion reveals the keen analytical eye that the author developed during his decades as an investigative journalist.

Listen up, people. You won’t be able to put this book down. Reminiscent of The Big Fish and the gritty writings of Studs Terkel and John Steinbeck, with a dash of Jack Kerouac, Tony Horwitz, and even Hunter S. Thompson thrown in, American Oz will take you on the adventure of a lifetime. It will kick your COVID blues, give you the vacation that you maybe couldn’t take, and, I daresay, give you a very clear picture of what it’s like to “run off and join the carnival”. Who doesn’t occasionally just want to chuck it all and hit the open road? Thanks to Mike Comerford, you don’t have to. Just like the carnies and Midway goers who came to love him, you will quickly realize that you’re in the hands of an irrepressible master storyteller. Buy this book now, and grab extras to give as birthday and Christmas gifts. Your family and friends will thank you.

Review by Steve Reddick, Oak Ridge, TN

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm quite proud to have edited this revealing, exciting story of a year spent meeting interesting everyday people hitchhiking and working traveling carnivals in numerous states and Mexico. Comerford has a gift for remembering details and telling tales that make readers feel like they are his privileged traveling companions on an exciting journey that most would never dare to take. If you've ever shouted, "I got shot gun!" before a free spirited road trip or spent $50 trying to win a giant stuffed animal, this book is for you.

[Rmslis · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 2013, the author, a well travelled journalist in his fifties, decided for his latest writing project to spend a year hitch-hiking across North America - West Coast to East Coast, Alaska through Mexico and everything in between - to work in traveling carnivals. The project started out as a travel blog and was eventually compiled in the form of this book.

I was amazed and impressed with the dedication the author had to his craft, namely the spartan lifestyle he experienced while on the road traveling between carnivals - sleeping out in the fields along the roads (even in the Everglades!) without even the shelter of a tent, dumpster diving, evading law enforcement in those states where hitchhiking is illegal, and placing his trust and very life in the hands of all those he met along the way, especially those who would offer him a ride. He certainly met a colorful cast of characters on his year long journey.

Now as for the portion of the book focused on working in the various carnivals, overall I found it very interesting, but I also thought it wanting. It seemed that no sooner does the author arrive at a carnival to start work, than he is quitting it to move on to another one, or he is writing about the work involved in tearing down the carnival in order for it to travel on to its next set-up site. A lot of times he does not travel on with the rest of the employees but rather travels on to yet another carnival. Interesting people the author introduces from each carnival he works at remain obscure figures in his travels, becoming merely ships passing in the night. I would have liked to have learned more about some of his co-workers and of their background and their ties with that line of work. Close to the beginning of the book the author did state that no carnival would hire him if they knew he was a writer, and also, the reader is informed that a lot of people who work in traveling carnivals are either running from something or have something to hide. Hence it was necessary for the author to conceal the fact that he was working on this written project and likewise, really could not do in-depth interviews of the people affiliated with the traveling carnivals. Thus, it did seem like a good portion of the book was devoted to his hitchhiking between the carnivals rather than to his actual experiences with each carnival. Although the material the author presented could have been more substantial, but for the above-stated circumstances, I still found that what the author did provide on each carnival he worked at to be intriguing and informative. The author’s writing style kept me interested and engaged and I got through the book quickly. I’m only knocking off a star from my review because it didn’t quite meet my expectations with regard to providing more in-depth information pertaining to the carnivals, the main reason I chose to read the book.

[Ally Green · Rating 2 out of 5]

American Oz was a difficult book for me to read. It held the idea that the typical steady nine to five employment was a system, and the characters in the story had found an “out,” the carnival life.
The story is written by Michael Sean Comerford and follows his journey as he hitchhikes across America and joins various carnivals and circus’ - almost all of which have horrible employment conditions. He is faced with terrible wages, unsafe work conditions, is forced to work alongside dangerous criminals, and sleeps in various bunks and trailers that are generally unclean, unkempt, and all around unpleasant.
While the people in this story hold the general consensus that they have “outsmarted the system,” there are countless events in this book that show how truly dark and depressing this lifestyle can be.There was a line on page 282 that said, “She was proud to have raised her kids in carnivals without ever being homeless.” Is this really something to be proud of? Providing a shelter for your child is pretty much the bare minimum. Going to the circus or a carnival is fun for maybe twenty minutes, then the smells and the lines and the people start to become overwhelming. I cannot fathom being paid horrible wages living in terrible conditions in trailers, sleeping under bridges, and being away from your family for a carnival of all things. The concept of this book is so ridiculous to me. Page 300 says “I haven’t had a real job since I was sixteen. Now I have a prison record and just carnies for references. People don’t like carny references. They think we’re all drug addicts and idiots, which is pretty true. I’m thirty years old now. How can I save one thousand dollars for a deposit on an apartment?” These carnival workers have experienced so many things, but often lack basic life skills like communicating without threatening someone, or any sort of money saving skills. It’s all just depressing.
Comerford’s own daughter Grace appears infrequently in this story, but is often at the forefront of reader’s minds. While Comerford is off gallivanting across the country with the circus, there is a little girl at home wondering when the next phone call from her dad will come, or when he will next be able to visit her. It’s a difficult book to read, and I don’t know that it is truly an accurate portrayal of the working class in America. However, if you find yourself interested in the circus and want to know more about carnivals across America, you may enjoy this story. It just wasn’t for me.

[Mike Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book. It's that simple.

This is a latter-day On the Road -- but with some some essential differences.

American Oz is less Kerouacian stream-of-consciousness than lyrical journalism. The prose is often lovely, and humorous at the same time, and succinct. But this book at it's core is not poetry. It's a compilation of beautifully written vignettes of real people living unique, previously unchronicled lives.

Comerford is a reporter at heart, and it shows. The quotes are authentic. The characters are real, many heroically struggling for meaning, some just odious - but authentic. Comerford is the rare reporter who is also a first-class raconteur.

I was worried that there wouldn't be an arc. But the book and the characters and writing will pull you forward effortlessly. This is really well done, and timely. Many carnivals may not much longer survive. Good thing they'll live on here. I recommend it highly.

[Tim Blackburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what an entertaining book. I listened to the audiobook which the author reads. That's always more interesting to me for the author to narrate and Mr. Comerford is an enthusiastic narrator and makes the listener feel a part of the action. I pass our county fairgrounds to and from work each day - for the past 36 years. Then comes that magical week in September when the carnival arrives which makes me yearn for the carnival life. Mr. Comerford allows us to live this life vicariously through this fascinating book. I was truly sad to reach the end of this engrossing book and that's rare for me. I strongly recommend this book particularly the audiobook because it is highly entertaining.

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

"American Oz" is a high-spirited tale with heart. We get to join the ride as author Michael Sean Comerford embarks on a year-long odyssey across the U.S. and Mexico to work for carnivals. Along the way, we get to meet some of his carney acquaintances, such as Rose Dog and Jimmy Tattoos. As a bonus, we get to join the author as he hitchhikes across the country looking for his next gig. We watch as Comerford learns to make his own place in the often tawdry, but always exciting, world of carnivals.This is a winner of a story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

American Oz was a very interesting book. It provided insights into the lives, relationships, family and hardships of the carnival workers and the people who provided rides to the author as he hitchhiked North and South and across America to work 20 different carnival and state fairs. The diversity of the carney cultures was fascinating. The first part of the book told stories of the daily life of the people Mike worked with, bunked with, and traveled with. The last couple of chapters gave broader, systemic, cultural perspectives of these workers and of America. American Oz is an easy and enjoyable read but it also can be thought provoking. I do highly recommend this book.

[Patti connelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful version of my childhood memories of the carnivals which came and went in my own life over the years. Never did I ever consider the hardships of those paid pennies a day to make me laugh! American Oz plunges the reader deep into the day to day existence of these faceless “carnies”. He brings meaning to their lives and mastery to their abilities to “make children happy” knowing well there are so many children today whose lives closely resemble these forgotten carnies. Step back into your childhood and enjoy the ride!

[Patricia McGlone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quintessential Comerford

Delightfully witty, informative and historical with an edgy twist

The people he encounters along the way are brought to life as we learn about their cultures, family's and colorful past.

The book is a page turner as the reader tries to keep up with his adventures as he travels around the country. We explore the minds and hearts of the people who brought excitement and happiness to our youth.

Best book I've read in many years.

[Kathleen Ring · Rating 4 out of 5]

A terrific read! Following the many carnivals through out the US and Mexico you come to admire the author,Michael Comerford as he hitch hikes thousands of miles to learn about the lives of those who work the masterpieces. The author quotes"Living the life made writing about the life come to life". If theBig Eli, Apollo,SuperSlideetc.doesn't draw you to "American Oz,the journey Comerford took will do the trick.

[Trisha Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amizong read. It goes into detail of the behind the scenes no one really sees. Im with it have been since i was 9 years old. When i read the book it reminded me of my childhood. When book talks about changes in the show biz ive seen it first hand its nothing now onvroad like it was back then. If you want to experience carnoval life withput every leaving home tead this book

[Paul J. Schwake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Different World

Michael opens the door to a world most of us never are exposed to. A surprise around every corner. And of course, people who we never thought existed. Makes you wish you could do something like this if you had the guts and the time. Great read.and

[Katherine Coble · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ok. An explanation. This was interesting and I learned a lot but I HATED that the author essentially abandoned his family to join the carnival. His voice throughout the book was tinged with that selfishness.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put it down. Well written with intriguing stories.

[mark goesling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great ride

Thoughtful examination of struggling people hooked by life on the road and the freedom it brings. No judgement. Free, free,free

[mary m green · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book. After a successful, decades-long newspaper career, author Michael Sean Comerford chose to write about a subculture unknown to most Americans: traveling carnivals and the people who bring them to cities and towns across the country. If he had simply interviewed carnies, freak-show entertainers and owners, then gone home with his notes at the end of each day, he would not have produced such a compelling read. Instead, he immersed himself in the life, working long hours as a carny, earning a set payment for each run so that sometimes his compensation didn't even come up to minimum wage, and sleeping in cheap motels or in bunkhouses, at least once with a hose providing cold shower water. One of the bunkhouses was set up in a cow pasture, and when it rained, the trek to the separate toilet facility through fecal mud was, uh, unpleasant.
Why would someone want to subject himself to such conditions? That's what Comerford wanted to know. He had wondered years earlier about the ride jockeys and game runners at a carnival he attended, and he set out to get their stories. He worked in ten carnivals run by different companies in ten states, hitchhiking between gigs. After living and working with him, carnies opened up as to a friend, sharing their histories, their fondest dreams and biggest disappointments, even their spirituality. I have to admit that after meeting the first few people in his book, I wasn't sure I wanted to continue, but I'm very glad I did. There were ex-cons, drug and alcohol abusers, and wife- or girlfriend-beaters in the crews, but there were others doing well by their families, feeling rewarded by the happiness on the faces of children at each stop, and loving their shared life on the road. One of Comerford's co-workers gave up $75 of his meager income to buy tickets for an unknown woman he had spotted trying to comfort her crying little ones because she couldn't afford the cost. There was a woman who could have been the first in her carnival family to graduate from college but decided instead to turn down her acceptance into Northwestern University and return to "the only life she'd ever known," a life she "associated … with her happy childhood."
Hitchhiking between carnivals introduced Comerford to another cast of authentic American characters with interesting stories, and he included them in his book as representatives of the country where carnivals travel.
Yet "American Oz" is not just a compilation of stories and vignettes. Comerford learned firsthand about labor and immigration issues, the history and business of traveling carnivals and the changes sure to come. The face of carnivals is changing, he writes, as an increasing number of Mexicans join carnival crews. He traveled to Tlapacoyan in the mountainous east of Veracruz state, Mexico, home of many seasonal Mexican carnival workers. Tlapacoyan is a ghost town during carnival season, they told him, but when they return home, life is good, thanks to the wages they saved on the road. Drug cartels pose a constant danger, so they don't venture out at night, but their families are happy and close. Comerford also went to the Florida town south of Tampa where carnival owners and others congregate for their annual convention. There he met the man who almost singlehandedly started and maintains the flow of Mexican workers into the business by helping them get temporary visas and handle the intricacies of immigration.
The stories, the insights and the writer's compassionate but humorous take on his adventure add up to a book well worth reading and remembering.
In the interest of journalistic integrity, I feel compelled to say that Comerford - Mike to me - is my cousin. However, after more than 40 years as a writer and editor, I value my professional ethics enough that if I could not give his book my wholehearted endorsement, I would simply fail to review it. I read it twice, once as Mike was making final adjustments, and later in Kindle. He has done a remarkable job, and I would say that even if I didn't know him.

[D.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was a kid, after seeing Pinocchio, I wondered what it would be like to travel with the circus or a local carnival. I admire the author for pursuing his dreams and going on the road with the carnival. It’s more of a fascinating life than I thought. But, this life quickly loses its glamour when the inhumane conditions of the carnival. I was fascinated by all of the stories, especially the ones in California. Many of the cities I’ve been to or lived in or near.

Each location brings a different set of true stories that are different than the last because they are all true. From armed robbery to stealing customers, the carnies definitely have it tough. But, some of these people wouldn’t have it any other way. One of the carnival sayings sums up carnival life “if you fall, you’re fired before you hit the ground.”

In part 2 of the book, the author hitched to New York via Los Angeles. This section was another fascinating account of the author’s journey in life. In this section, the author sings a little to set the tone, but it’s not all that bad.

In part 3, the author had made it to the east coast, but the stories were not any less interesting as the author resumed his carnival career. The carnies of n the east coast seemed crazier than in the west. I was shocked to learn that there is such a thing as a carnival priest, a 95-year-old who comes down sets up shop near the midway. When the author made it his mission to travel hundreds of miles to see his daughter, my heart warmed. Hitching to Chicago and some of the mishaps along the way was exciting and insightful.

Parts 4 and beyond were no less exciting. It was inspiring to listen to the author’s experiences as he traveled the world. Listening to the audiobook read by the author was a special treat as well. If you are looking for an inspiring tale of one man’s true story of finding himself through his experiences with the carnival, then get this audiobook now.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished one of the best non-fiction books I have ever read! No thesaurus could help me with enough adjectives to encapsulate the honesty, mesmerizing, and dauntless adventures put forth in American Oz by this author. The author weaves a journey, that he personally made, among individuals that are character rich in a world most of us are unfamiliar with in such a manner that engaged and captivated me from Page One(even reading past my bedtime into the wee hours of the night!:))! These characters are defiant of the norms, but eloquently so, even if harsh at times.
The intuitions and inspirations that the author displayed in his stories are incomparable!
American Oz will grab you and keep you enthralled. Everyone needs to buy American Oz and ENJOY THE RIDE!

[Dick Rowland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I worked in the fair business over 20 years. I wanted to read this book to see if there was more to the story. I was slightly disappointed in that it deals with life on the carnival on a limited level. I wish it was more in depth and dealt with the owners and the sites that the carnival played as well as the people.

I learned a great lesson early on in my career. That Carnies are people who for the most part love the work and relish in the day. A saying that I lived by in the days in the office was " We are in the FUN business" everyone who believes that will succeed in the fair and carnival business.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must confess, I am not a fan of non fiction books.
I read about 75 books a year and 99.99% is fiction.
I gotta say, American Oz was one of the most enjoyable
books (fiction included) that I have read in many years.
The cast of characters the author interacted and worked
with was so interesting. I want to know more about them
and how their lives turned out. What a life that must be.
I felt as if I was there working in the carnival with him.
What an interesting year. Took a lot of guts and courage
to just up and go. Great read.

[shellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me a while to get through. Parts of it I was fascinated by the journey and truly felt like I was with him along the way, meeting all of the characters he was, but it took me a bit to really get to that point. It did feel a bit like it was too much of the outside perspective sometimes, and I just wanted more about the actual people. That’s what a carnival is supposed to make you want though — more more more! I would love to see this made into a movie.

[Leslie Antonelli Baldwin Mayhorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unforgettable read. Having worked for many years at County fairs in Northern and Southern California this brought back fond memories of watching the carnival arrive, set up, run the length of the fair only to disappear in the middle of the night. A closer glimpse at the day-to-day operations of those who never really get the recognition they truly deserve. I was especially fascinated by the chapter spacers being “cotter pins”!🤣Only real showmen and fairgrounds employees would know what they mean.

[Chuck · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disjointed collection of notes, no real flow to the story. Just a collection of weird bullets about random people met along the way, but nothing that tied it all together. Life is too short to waste on bad books.

[Al Stark · Rating 5 out of 5]

American Oz
( A very cool title)
Next time I go to a Carnival and I will, I am going to look at the experience with a different lens!
I didn’t want the book to end!
Al Stark/ NYC

[megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read on the Carnival life.

[G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting peak behind the curtain into the lives in the folks who spin our cotton candy, whirl us around the Ferris wheel and separate us from our paycheck pursuing plush on the midway. American Oz is focused mostly on the every man who works the carnivals rather than the better represented sideshow performers or carnival owners. Comerford joined their ranks (undercover) on his 2013 hitchhiking trip around the continent. He joins a variety of different carnival operations in his travels.

The overall concept the book was a little muddy. In telling the stories of the carnival workers, Comerford touches on drug abuse, domestic abuse, wage theft, immigration, race relations in the carnival scene, alcoholism, family dynamics and lord knows what else. He also tells his own story of modern day hitchhiking, the logistics of carnival set up and take down (called the "slough" I learned!), a hitchhiking seduction story (thankfully a fade to black situation) and how writing this book impacted his own relationship with his daughter. Peppered throughout are various interesting factoids and tidbits, like bits of carnival history and random stories from the people who gave him rides. It's... a lot... and it buried the best parts under a flood of miscellaneous people and encounters.

The author seems to have intended to shine light on the lives of the carnival workers. To be frank, by and large they come across as a downtrodden lot plagued by criminal histories and substance abuse issues. Comerford tries to share what makes them unique - one memorable and tragic carnie dreamed of owning a laundry mat, another struggling worker paid for a carnival guest and her children's tickets when they were unable to do so. However, when so many different individuals are discussed my brain couldn't keep them all straight. I walked away remembering mainly what most of them had in common - the aforementioned substance abuse and criminal histories.

The working conditions of the workers was particularly interesting/horrifying. I never really thought how how carnival workers travel from place to place and where they sleep. No wonder lots of them turn to alcohol and drugs. Obviously a lot of these people are vulnerable and lack options for better work, so they are taken advantage of. They are worked insane hours for low pay, of which they must pay for their accommodations on the road. Most of the bunkhouses and "reefers" described here sound worse than a prison cell.

There were two sections of the book that were far more engaging for me than the rest. First was the Christian owned carnival. After reading about all the drinking, drugs, fighting, womanizing, etc., it was somewhat hilarious to read about these Alaskan owners giving their workers a hard time for cussing - and in proximity to a *school*, gasp! Secondly, I absolutely loved reading about Comerford's time in Mexico. Apparently, there is a town in Mexico that empties out seasonally when many of the men go north to work in carnivals in America. It has the consequence of leaving their families vulnerable to gangs, both when they are away and when they return with money. Everything about that part of the story is interesting - from how that particular town became ground zero for carnival workers, the food, the culture, the crime, etc. I could have read a whole book just on that.

Overall, it's really rich ground for storytelling and the author seems to have gotten a solid feel for this strange world. I would have enjoyed it more though if it was reined in and focused. The way it ended left me feeling let in on a secret culture, but not quite sure why anyone would want to be a part of it.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

American Oz Shows the Perils and Fun of Hitchhiking and Carnivals

In American OZ: An Astonishing Year Inside Traveling Carnivals at State Fairs & Festivals: Hitchhiking California to New York, Alaska to Mexico we follow the author, Michael Sean Comerford, as he hitchhikes across North America working at various carnivals. After a rocky beginning in which his first carnival boss warns him that a writer will not be welcome to observe future carnivals, he works to blend in and moves on before anyone can figure out the truth. His story becomes a portrait of the working class: those who work at carnivals, those who attend carnivals, and those who pick up hitchhikers.

I give this book a 3-star review (4/5 on Goodreads) because it is an honest and detailed look at the lives of each person the author meets. Readers meet transient people who were convicted of crimes, legacy carnival workers, kids who scam the carnival workers for free rides, people who go with the flow, and people who plan. The author gets under a lot of peoples’ skin but tends to avoid fights because of how off-the-wall he behaves. Meanwhile, he struggles with the consequences of leaving his daughter and family for an entire year in order to put himself in dangerous situations to chase a story. One quote really hits this struggle home for me. After attempting to make it home for his daughter’s birthday, he ends up only being able to talk to her on the phone “I wished her a happy birthday on the phone. We laughed about the mix-up, I thought. I realized later that she hung up the phone near tears.” (Comerford, 03:31:03-15)

I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the workings of carnivals or modern hitchhiking. This book offers a unique perspective on both in a journalistic yet upbeat writing style. The audiobook is especially high-energy because the author is the narrator and he adds much inflection that would be lost in print. I also recommend this book to anyone who enjoys working-class autobiographies.

[Lisa Warner · Rating 3 out of 5]

American Oz: An Astonishing Year Inside Traveling Carnivals is the very interesting story of Michael Sean Comerford’s time spent working and traveling with carnivals. I’m going to give the book three stars, because he had some pretty wild adventures and explained the ins and outs of carnival life, but I found his humor to be a little awkward at times. I was also uncertain exactly how Comerford viewed himself. There are times where he clearly believes that he is a true carny. Early in the book, he mentions that he had intended to be an observer but found it too difficult to separate himself from the lives of his new friends (and occasional enemies). “Gone were plans to spend the year with Classic. Gone too were open, honest interviews. From that morning, people wouldn’t know I was writing about them. Against my will, I became a spy” (Comerford 17). His adventures are interesting, oftentimes funny and sometimes dangerous. One of my least favorite parts is when Comerford would try to diffuse situations with jokes, particularly, I’m thinking of when he was joking about being a murderer while hitchhiking. The second hand awkwardness was palpable rather than funny.
There are times when Comerford seems to have a lot of empathy for the people he works with and sees and sometimes lives their struggles firsthand. However, I’m not sure he ever truly understood the desperation of some of their situations. He tries to get police involved when a carnival is robbed, even though he knows some of his fellow carnies have outstanding warrants or iffy legal status. However, when he is traveling with a woman who is clearly being abused by her significant other, he makes no effort to intervene or help with her situation. So while Comerford is not afraid to jump into doing the dirty work of being a carnival worker such as long nights breaking down rides or uncomfortable sleeping situations, I don’t know if he could always look past his privilege in certain situations.