i loved this book more then the movie. there is love, action and it is funny! the guy in the old home is very funny at times. it is also a historic look at what traveling with a circus was like in the 20s era. i loved it

I loved the history here - the gritty details of circus life during the Great Depression - the hardships, the poverty, and my heart ached for the animal, as well as the people abuse. What a hard life these downtrodden workers led - the setting up and tearing down day after day, the brutality, the harsh conditions, the 'homelessness', the filth. I liked the alternating perspectives of old Jacob living in the nursing home and suffering all the indignities that go along with that, and young Jacob learning the ropes of circus life.

I didn't care for the Hollywood ending though. And what happened to Marlena? The other characters were interesting enough but I found Marlena to be on the boring side....flat and uninteresting. It made the romance between her and Jacob less believable. All in all though, an entertaining read.

So, so much better than the movie- as is most often the case. I loved the look inside the behind the scenes of a travelling circus- which is long ago now. Tough to read the animal parts, but it's important to know. The parts of the story told by the main character as an elderly man were my favourites- so touching

I loved this book. It was engaging and kept the reader interested. For me, it was a page turner. Nearing the end of the book I found myself wishing there was a bit more to read but it completed the story. Definitely suggest this as a read for anyone looking for a new book.

The title captured my attention when I was looking for a book to read. I enjoyed it. It had it's long and dull moments, but overall it had my attention. If I had to summarize it, I'd say it's a story of forbidden lust and love.

A very interesting and easy read about life in the circus during the depression! I got fully immersed in the characters. Great story jumps from present to past and back again. I have not seen the movie yet, so I cannot compare it to that.

I read this for a book club I am part of and wasn't sure how I was going to feel about it, as a book about a circus didn't seem appealing....but I LOVED it...I read it over a year and still think about it...it had all great aspects a book should have...romance, suspense, drama..it was an exciting read and I couldn't put it down...I am an avid reader, and find it hard to find books that make an impression on me, but this one sure did....

I was immediately engrossed in Sara Gruen's novel about circus life in the 1930s. Her portrayal of the protagonist's (Jacob's) adventures after having run away to the circus, created a story that I could not stop reading. I found her description of the circus characters both engaging and funny. The combination of humor, intrigue and a little bit of romance made for an enjoyable reading experience.