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God's Fool
Born attached at the chest, Chang and Eng were considered a marvel, an omen, an act of God, evidence of His glory or proof of His wrath. Uniquely cursed, enslaved to one another for life, they were a joke of nature variously feared and abhorred, disturbing our most basic assumptions about the human condition. Mark Slouka’s dazzling achievement in God’s Fool is the ease and compassion with which he draws the story of one human being from this ghastly predicament. Looking beyond the twins’ physical connection, he imagines one man’s life of ordinary grace and suffering, longing and resistance, and the ties of love, as well as of blood, that bind and redeem us all.
By any standard, theirs is a history of epic variety and drama. Their birth, to an illiterate fishmonger, sent midwives screaming from the room. Condemned to death, they survived to be brought, at the age of thirteen, to the Royal Palace in Bangkok for an audience with King Rama III. At seventeen, laboring as merchants on the Meklong River, they saw their world erased by a typhoon. Consigned for three hundred pounds to an opium trader by their mother, who was desperate to ensure their survival, they sailed for Europe. There they entertained kings and counselors in salons and drawing rooms from Brussels to Rome, and, in Paris, met the woman who would divide them as no surgeon ever could.
When the culture that had lifted them up inevitably cast them down, they landed in the flophouses of London, where, penniless and starving, they were discovered by Phineas T. Barnum, who packed them off to America along with an assortment of bearded ladies and two-headed calves, albino beauties and dog boys, German midgets and twelve-fingered flute players. Leaving Barnum at the height of their fame to take a last stab at normal life, they settled in North Carolina, where, despite the tensions growing between them, they found, for a time, tranquillity as farmers and slave owners, marrying a pair of sisters and fathering, between them, twenty children. Their peace, however, would prove to be short-lived. As the Civil War drew closer, and their world began to tilt, they would first turn against each other and then, faced with a trial unlike any they
had ever known, draw together once more. No longer young, they set off to find the war, and to save what could be saved. It would be there, on that very real battlefield, that Chang would enact his final, terrifying battle with fate.
Sweeping and intimate, vibrant and austere, God’s Fool is a novel of soaring ambition and accomplishment from a fiercely gifted storyteller.
By any standard, theirs is a history of epic variety and drama. Their birth, to an illiterate fishmonger, sent midwives screaming from the room. Condemned to death, they survived to be brought, at the age of thirteen, to the Royal Palace in Bangkok for an audience with King Rama III. At seventeen, laboring as merchants on the Meklong River, they saw their world erased by a typhoon. Consigned for three hundred pounds to an opium trader by their mother, who was desperate to ensure their survival, they sailed for Europe. There they entertained kings and counselors in salons and drawing rooms from Brussels to Rome, and, in Paris, met the woman who would divide them as no surgeon ever could.
When the culture that had lifted them up inevitably cast them down, they landed in the flophouses of London, where, penniless and starving, they were discovered by Phineas T. Barnum, who packed them off to America along with an assortment of bearded ladies and two-headed calves, albino beauties and dog boys, German midgets and twelve-fingered flute players. Leaving Barnum at the height of their fame to take a last stab at normal life, they settled in North Carolina, where, despite the tensions growing between them, they found, for a time, tranquillity as farmers and slave owners, marrying a pair of sisters and fathering, between them, twenty children. Their peace, however, would prove to be short-lived. As the Civil War drew closer, and their world began to tilt, they would first turn against each other and then, faced with a trial unlike any they
had ever known, draw together once more. No longer young, they set off to find the war, and to save what could be saved. It would be there, on that very real battlefield, that Chang would enact his final, terrifying battle with fate.
Sweeping and intimate, vibrant and austere, God’s Fool is a novel of soaring ambition and accomplishment from a fiercely gifted storyteller.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
86 people are currently reading
381 people want to read
About the author
Mark Slouka
18 books110 followersMark Slouka most recent books are the story collection All That Is Left Is All That Matters, the memoir Nobody’s Son, and the award-winning novel Brewster. His work has appeared in The Best American Short Stories, The Best American Essays, and the PEN / O. Henry Prize Stories. He lives in Prague.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 11, 2009
The second recent novel I've read in recent months based on the life of Chang & Eng, the 19th-century Siamese twins who became southern farmers after touring for a while with P. T. Barnum. This one was narrated by the one who became a drinker; the other by the one who became a Christian & temperance advocate. This one focused more on their shared life; the other more on their individuality. This one was probably more introspective, so much so & in a way that seemed out of character that it was not always believable. But what's most remakable, given how little is actually known about Chang & Eng, is how similar the two stories are, despite a marked difference in tone. The writing was probably better here, but the several story lines didn't seem to have a common thread, & the closing section on the Civil War seemed particularly isolated from the rest. But it was a strong book nonetheless--& less depressing than the other one.
October 24, 2008
I'm writing this review because I'm surprised there are none already posted. I picked this book out rather randomly at the library because I was drawn to the cover design; I'm glad I did. I didn't immediately take to it because the narrator's reminiscing at the beginning can be a bit confusing--it lacks chronological order and mentions a lot of names without first explaining who the people are; however, once a proper narration began, the story held my attention--perhaps even more so because I already had pieces of the puzzle before it was revealed to me in the proper context.
The narrator, Chang, is one of Siamese twins, joined to his brother Eng by a bridge of flesh at their waists. The story takes place in three different countries. Early in life they are forced by circumstances and bad luck to leave to Paris, where they are exploited for the profits of others and deserted in extreme conditions of poverty; and later to America, where they eventually settle down as farmers in North Carolina. Although they find some peace, it is short-lived, because the Civil War breaks out and disrupts life. (I would mark this as containing spoilers, but I don't think it reveals much more than the book description does, and really it leaves out all of the specific misfortunes they endure.)
In short, if something can plausibly go wrong for the main characters, it does. There isn't really a moment without some conflict or foreshadowing of conflict. Because of the book beginning with the narrator as an adult more than just hinting at unhappiness and tragedy, even moments of bliss during the "flashback" are not without the reader's awareness that it will not last. If the brothers are not in conflict with the outside world, then they are suffering from an emotional rift between themselves, which is most evident and troublesome as Eng embraces Christianity and Chang does not.
Eng clings to Christianity, I believe (and it seems his brother believes so as well), because of the idea that we are all equal in the eyes of God. It is natural that someone who has been mostly treated as inferior by his fellow men that he would long desperately for equality. Still, the losses the two endure are more than enough to justify Chang's disbelief. It is a wonder that two people, who experience practically all of the same external factors, could differ so greatly in their chosen responses and beliefs. The conflict between the two (as well as other instances) displays their stubbornness, their tempers, and that they are very much human, not just cardboard-cut characters vying for the reader's pity.
It isn't by any means a feel-good story, but the subject matter is intriguing, and the writing is, at times, very beautiful. The author manages to take characters who just by their condition alone will incite the readers' curiosity, and fleshes them out so that there is more to them than that condition. They are dynamic, three-dimensional characters, with pride and shame, just like anyone else, who strive to make their own place in the world, all the while witnessing the fickle nature of the public--one minute being praised as creatures of God; the next, being ridiculed as a monstrosity.
The narrator, Chang, is one of Siamese twins, joined to his brother Eng by a bridge of flesh at their waists. The story takes place in three different countries. Early in life they are forced by circumstances and bad luck to leave to Paris, where they are exploited for the profits of others and deserted in extreme conditions of poverty; and later to America, where they eventually settle down as farmers in North Carolina. Although they find some peace, it is short-lived, because the Civil War breaks out and disrupts life. (I would mark this as containing spoilers, but I don't think it reveals much more than the book description does, and really it leaves out all of the specific misfortunes they endure.)
In short, if something can plausibly go wrong for the main characters, it does. There isn't really a moment without some conflict or foreshadowing of conflict. Because of the book beginning with the narrator as an adult more than just hinting at unhappiness and tragedy, even moments of bliss during the "flashback" are not without the reader's awareness that it will not last. If the brothers are not in conflict with the outside world, then they are suffering from an emotional rift between themselves, which is most evident and troublesome as Eng embraces Christianity and Chang does not.
Eng clings to Christianity, I believe (and it seems his brother believes so as well), because of the idea that we are all equal in the eyes of God. It is natural that someone who has been mostly treated as inferior by his fellow men that he would long desperately for equality. Still, the losses the two endure are more than enough to justify Chang's disbelief. It is a wonder that two people, who experience practically all of the same external factors, could differ so greatly in their chosen responses and beliefs. The conflict between the two (as well as other instances) displays their stubbornness, their tempers, and that they are very much human, not just cardboard-cut characters vying for the reader's pity.
It isn't by any means a feel-good story, but the subject matter is intriguing, and the writing is, at times, very beautiful. The author manages to take characters who just by their condition alone will incite the readers' curiosity, and fleshes them out so that there is more to them than that condition. They are dynamic, three-dimensional characters, with pride and shame, just like anyone else, who strive to make their own place in the world, all the while witnessing the fickle nature of the public--one minute being praised as creatures of God; the next, being ridiculed as a monstrosity.
July 15, 2016
I love knowing that any time I pick up a book by Mark Slouka that I will find something wonderful. He is such a beautiful writer. This story was not one that I would have thought could be done so beautifully, but it surprised me. I definitely recommend him to all who enjoy language and storytelling.
June 15, 2014
one of the most brilliant and memorable books I've ever read. I don't believe in plot summaries, so instead I will say that I was mesmerized.
If you want to learn about life for Siamese twins during the Civil War in a way you never imagined, dive in!
If you want to learn about life for Siamese twins during the Civil War in a way you never imagined, dive in!
February 19, 2019
This novel about the lives of Eng and Chang, the "original Siamese twins," is told from Chang's perspective. It was OK, but seemed rather shallow to me. I didn't think the self-reflections went very far. The early part of the book was more like a travelogue of the scenery (We saw this. We saw that.) and was kind of boring. Second half was better, although the end spent too much space on observations of the Civil War, which has already been covered in considerable depth in other books. There wasn't a single line about how they met, courted, and married the sisters who were the mothers of their 21 children, and no real discussion of the children at all other than Chang's first born. There was so much more potential here for an insightful book than what God's Fool offered.
February 17, 2019
interesting and made me want to go learn more about the real story of Chang and Eng. I liked it more for the very true and insightful observations about memory and narrative and the blurry line between the two. Also fascinating to ponder the question of what binds us to one another and what tears us apart. I found the jumping between time periods confusing at times and wished some of the stories were fleshed out a bit more. just a few pages about 3 years with Barnum?
May 21, 2019
Hard to read
This book would have been better if it hadn’t been written in abstract. I felt like I was constantly reading a puzzle. The auth
author would tell the end of a story,and then tell the story. The writing was vague. I was never really sure what was happening, especially at the end . It was a good story, just frustrating to read
This book would have been better if it hadn’t been written in abstract. I felt like I was constantly reading a puzzle. The auth
author would tell the end of a story,and then tell the story. The writing was vague. I was never really sure what was happening, especially at the end . It was a good story, just frustrating to read
February 14, 2019
I will never forget this book
The characters are so interesting and well rounded. The details paint an unforgettable picture of what these men’s life must have been like. I was sad that the book ended where it did as I wanted to know the rest of the story.
The characters are so interesting and well rounded. The details paint an unforgettable picture of what these men’s life must have been like. I was sad that the book ended where it did as I wanted to know the rest of the story.
March 23, 2019
This was a very strange, oddly witty and seemingly sad book. Based on the possible lives of Siamese twins born 160 years ago and were a sensation with the Barnum Circus. Still rolling the story around in my mind.
May 6, 2020
I did not like this book. The author uses too much description in sentences that ended up becoming paragraphs. Many times I needed to re-read a sentence to get back to what he was talking about. This book was confusing and I didn't like the ending at all.
February 17, 2019
I would recommend that people shouldn't waste their time reading this book.
March 25, 2019
I could not finish this book. I was not fond of the writing style. I really like the subject. Hopefully others find the book to their liking.
April 29, 2019
Just could not finish it. It felt like it was plodding along, more prose than non-fiction. Maybe I had different expectations, but whatever it was, it was unreadable to me.
November 24, 2022
Intriguing to read about the original "Siamese Twins." What a life it must have been.
February 16, 2025
"Life is unfair " sums up this novel. Beautifully written.
August 13, 2016
Historical fiction; story is based on the conjoined twins from whom the term "Siamese twin" was originally coined. Chang and Eng had fascinating lives that stretched from Siam to Europe to the US. Before I knew this was based on a true story, I actually believed the author asked the reader to take too many leaps in faith :)
What worked: Beautiful writing examples, especially of Siam and of Chang's relationship w/ his son. Fascinating storyline. Perfect example of the American Dream. I would read Slouka's short stories. I would read other historical fiction about Chang and Eng.
What didn't: It felt too condensed. Some fictional forays didn't ring true. For example, the avoidance of Eng's side of the story created a big hole; they are identical twins and conjoined at that. I think Slouka believed that if he told the story from the first person perspective, he could pull this off, but are we to believe that one twin could simply ignore the other?! Further, the bizarrely small section describing their marriage was weak - I don't believe Slouka even mentioned how the two sibling pairs met! Their relationship could almost be a book in itself. I'm also unsure what the reader was to make of the sideline Christianity; was it all foreshadowing of the near death experience at the end?
What worked: Beautiful writing examples, especially of Siam and of Chang's relationship w/ his son. Fascinating storyline. Perfect example of the American Dream. I would read Slouka's short stories. I would read other historical fiction about Chang and Eng.
What didn't: It felt too condensed. Some fictional forays didn't ring true. For example, the avoidance of Eng's side of the story created a big hole; they are identical twins and conjoined at that. I think Slouka believed that if he told the story from the first person perspective, he could pull this off, but are we to believe that one twin could simply ignore the other?! Further, the bizarrely small section describing their marriage was weak - I don't believe Slouka even mentioned how the two sibling pairs met! Their relationship could almost be a book in itself. I'm also unsure what the reader was to make of the sideline Christianity; was it all foreshadowing of the near death experience at the end?
April 26, 2009
Great book! It is about the original Siamese twins, Chang and Eng,
told from the point of view of Chang. The cover has a excerpt from a
review that is very true: "If you can read [this:] novel without being
astonished and touched, then you'd better check to see if your heart
is made of stone...simply brilliant. A book of the year."
It is a very touching novel, as it is so hard to imagine going through
a whole lifetime physically tied to a person. Even sadder, as time
goes on, these two brothers drift apart mentally, but of course cannot
separate from each other. Follows the story of their lives beginning
in Thailand, and the tragedies that befall them...loss of loved ones,
being taken to England and taken advantage of by their supposed
benefactors, and on through their time in the American South during
the civil war. Very well written.
told from the point of view of Chang. The cover has a excerpt from a
review that is very true: "If you can read [this:] novel without being
astonished and touched, then you'd better check to see if your heart
is made of stone...simply brilliant. A book of the year."
It is a very touching novel, as it is so hard to imagine going through
a whole lifetime physically tied to a person. Even sadder, as time
goes on, these two brothers drift apart mentally, but of course cannot
separate from each other. Follows the story of their lives beginning
in Thailand, and the tragedies that befall them...loss of loved ones,
being taken to England and taken advantage of by their supposed
benefactors, and on through their time in the American South during
the civil war. Very well written.
March 25, 2010
I was initially a little wary of reading historical fiction about Chang and Eng Bunker, the most famous pair of conjoined twins. On the one hand, one of my absolute favorite themes in fiction is brotherhood, which Chang and Eng literally embodied, and another of my favorite themes is interculturality, and Chang and Eng not only traveled extensively but also eventually settled in North Carolina, half a world away from their native Siam. On the other hand, I didn't want to read a book about the wonderousness of freak shows.
Fortunately, God's Fool contains none of the latter and quite a bit of the former. Chang is the narrator, and I would've appreciated a bit more about his relationship with Eng, especially after they grow up and leave Siam. Despite this small disappointment, though, it's an engrossing and excellently written book.
Fortunately, God's Fool contains none of the latter and quite a bit of the former. Chang is the narrator, and I would've appreciated a bit more about his relationship with Eng, especially after they grow up and leave Siam. Despite this small disappointment, though, it's an engrossing and excellently written book.
November 1, 2013
Two stars because this book was rather slow and boring at times. This is the story of the original Siamese twins from China who were sold as a curiosity to be shown to kings and the like, and then escaping to "freedom." This should have been an exciting read but it just was not very gripping at all. It picked up towards the end but not the way it needed to in order to hold one's attention
March 24, 2010
I found that Chang's inner thoughts got in the way of the story. Eng becomes a shadow, someone we never get to know, although he's always there. His wife isn't even named. Somehow, the characters didn't seem real.
August 20, 2011
I had a really hard time finishing this. While good at first, the introspection of the main character/narrator and the writing style just made the book tedious after a point. The topic (the original Siamese twins) was interesting, but I think I'll end up getting a biography of them.
Read
November 21, 2009None
January 19, 2011
It's an unusual story, loosely based on the true events of conjoined twins born in China.
February 24, 2011
This was one of the 2003 RUSA Notable Books winners. For the complete list, go to http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rus...
June 22, 2011
One of my favorite books.
May 30, 2015
Once I got into it (after a very confusing beginning), the story and its characters fascinated me and I couldn't put it down. Lovely writing; great characterisation.
Want to read
November 8, 2014Whittaker Road Library Fiction FICTION Slouka On shelf
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews