Silent World — A discussion group discussion

If your book club is looking for something boldly different, Illegal Skills delivers an unforgettable reading experience. Lampe uses the Janicki Family Circus not just as a backdrop, but as a surreal, atmospheric ecosystem where ambition becomes cutthroat and desperation breeds danger. Ethel’s journey through this world filled with performers, illusions, rivalries, and secrets feels like entering an entirely new universe of tension and spectacle.

Book clubs will find themselves discussing how the circus mirrors society: the pressure to perform, the masks we wear, and the ways people claw for status. This novel gives readers a chance to explore symbolism, setting as a character, and how childhood trauma shapes adult choices. It’s fresh, cinematic, and emotionally intense the perfect club pick for groups wanting something highly original.