Home of the American Circus

★★★★★★★★★☆ 9/10

320 pages

What’s it about?

Freya Arnalds left her hometown of Somers, NY, as soon as she could.  She is now thirty years old and living a very underwhelming life as a bartender.  When she suddenly needs an appendectomy, she finds herself at a loss.  Without giving it much thought, she drives back to her hometown of Somers to stay in the ramshackle house that was left to her in her parents' will.

What did it make me think about?

"When we talk about a place, I don't think any of us are ever talking about the same place, even when we think we are."

Should I read it?

Well, this is my first book by Allison Larkin, but it will not be my last! She writes the most interesting characters- quirky, odd, dear people that just get under your skin.  I thought it was so clever how she interspersed with Freya's story, old stories from the school paper concerning the town's circus elephant.  She makes the point that history is written from a particular viewpoint.   From Freya's viewpoint, Old Bet is a sad figure, and she is troubled that the town has rewritten history in a way that benefits them.  The author effectively illustrates this idea throughout the novel. I am not sure this book will be everyone's cup of tea. The characters are out there, but ultimately, it's a heartwarming story.  I must admit that the heroes and heroines are one-dimensional - all good or all bad - but sometimes it's nice to know who you're rooting for.  I'm rooting for this book!

A passage I marked

"Most, if not all, of what we know about the past is perspective and opinion masquerading as fact." " 'How does everyone else walk around like everything is fine? How does the world work for other people when it fucking breaks me over and over?' he says, his breath warm and damp on my neck."