The Bookaholic

This book was recommended by my fabulous step-mother-in-law.  I had no idea what it was about when I put it in my Booksfree queue.  I’m delighted to report that it’s well worth reading!

To say that it’s about a 90-something year old man living in a nursing home and reminiscing about his days with the circle would be the bare truth.  And honestly, I probably wouldn’t have picked this book up based on the description… or even the slightly more interesting blurb on the back cover.  After all… how interesting can a circus be?

I’ll admit that I was wrong.  Gruen has created a rich and charming cast of characters in this novel, and has made circus life a three-dimensional tapestry.  Telling the story as flashback memories of an old man brilliant.  The juxtaposition of his current life in the nursing home and the freedom he had in the circus make the story’s ending the only possible one that would be satisfying.

I highly recommend this book!

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