I recently finished reading this novel while I was on holiday and it's one of the few recently that have really stuck with me long after reading it. I originally started reading it a few months back but put it down as I didn't have time to go back to it so seeing as I am on break from university I decided to take it with me and I was very happy that I did.

The story:
Basically it's a man called Jacob Janowski who is remembering the time that he ran away from his exams to work with the travelling circus known as the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show On Earth. Jacob jumps on board their train after receiving some bad news and comes face to face with the colourful characters who run the circus.

It takes a while for Jacob to be accepted to the group and it shows the dynamics between the circus workers and their customers and how it's a hard circle to break into if you're considered a 'Rube' (member of the general public). Jacob has to contend with people such as Uncle Al and Kinko but finds solace in the horse trainer Marlena.

The novel is set during the Great Depression when Jacob is twenty three. It cuts at certain chapters to the present day when Jacob is ninety three and waiting for his family to take him to the circus.

The Author:
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The novel has been written by Sara Gruen who writes a lot like Jamie Ford and Audrey Niffenegger. She has written a number of books with animals as the subject and they also feature heavily in this novel given how her subject is a circus.

My Opinion:
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This book has definitely entered my top three favourite books of all time (my other two being Time Traveller's Wife and Hotel on the corner of the Bitter and sweet). The language is very similar to the other two and the imagery that Gruen creates is lovely. The love story in the book is also something that makes you continue to turn each page as you find yourself wanting to find out what happens in the end.
Gruen leaves a lot of the actual action to the final few chapters of the book but she does a wonderful job of setting up her characters and the story that she's going to tell.

This novel has won a number of awards and is about to be released as a major motion film starring Robert Pattinson and Reece Witherspoon. (Personally I think they should have chosen someone other than Pattinson for the part but because of Twilight I guess he's the go to guy these days!)

I bought my copy of the novel for around £6.99 and you can find it at any place that has a good selection of books available (Waterstones, Smiths, etc) but if you like literary novels and are looking for a page turner then you won't be sorry that you parted with your hard earned money on this book.

RATING: 5/5!