Customer Reviews

The Road Show: Spangle #1

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I looked for the original hardcopy of all three books, Spangle, for years and could not find it. It took Amazon about 6 months, but they finally got it for me. I just finished reading it, and I must say it was an amazing read. It doesn't have the sexual escapades of Jennings Aztec or the Journeyor, and there is a lull here and there, but overall, all three books make up extraordinary storytelling. While I sometimes glossed over Jennings extraordinary detailed descriptions, this is more than made up for by the characterization of the circus lifestyle in the 1800s, the growth of the various characters throughout the story and the political/cultural background throughout the tale. For several weeks on my train ride home from work, I enjoyed being in a traveling circus in the past, and will never forget Mr. Florian, and will never look at a circus the same way again with my children.

I was a collector of Jennings's books before many of these got reprinted in paperback, so I haven't actually read Roadshow as an individual work, but as a hardback version of the entire circus story. The whole story, Spangle, was Jennings's second best book, after Aztec. It has violence, sex, and bizarre plot turns that keep you interested, as well as a historical look at circuses, post Civil War America, and 1860's Europe, a continent on the brink of its own war (the Franco-Prussian War).

Although not quite as rich historically as Aztec, the series is much longer and covers more territory, so it's my personal favorite. If you like Jennings and you realize that Roadshow was not meant to be a stand-alone work, you won't be disappointed in this series.

As a Jenning's fan, I felt lucky to pick up Road Show at the airport book shop. Jenning's round up of new characters are as colorful as ever. I enjoy Jenning's ability to draw me into the very heart of the story. The settings are well researched and the post civil war imagery springs to life with Jennings detailed discriptive language. I read voraciously about this vagabond circus troop, their joys and their losses; and I was disappointed to finish the book without the next already in hand. I am waiting on the edge of my seat to finish the saga.

The Road Show concept carries the reader from the end of the Civil War in America, to Italy with a group of Circus performers,an Elephant, acrobats, and horsemanship. The times, problems, and scams the characters deal with are engrossing to the point of my not being able to stop reading until this tale of the lives, and deaths, of the group along with new performers and circus acts ends just as they return to Europe in Italy. The book was copywrited in 1987 and I am searching for the next book to be published. Eventially they are to roam Europe until they play in Paris.

This book was released a few years back as a hardcore book under the simple name of "Spangle" (the complete book as opposed to the installments being printed now in paperback). Either way, if you are a Jennings fan, you will enjoy these installments.

I've always liked historical novels. Jennings books are always informitive as well as entertaining, and this book is no exception. You'll learn alot about circus/sideshow history. It was disappointing to see a book of so few pages by this author, but now I realize that he has the next two installments being released in a few months. I wait with anticipation. This story is almost as good as Aztec and the Journeyer, and a lot better than Raptor.

Note: I made some immature Mormon angry because of my negative reviews of books that attempted to prove the Book of Mormon, and that person has been slamming my reviews almost as fast as they are posted. Oh, well.

So, your "helpful" votes are appreciated. Thanks, and note that a short review is not necessarily a bad review if it leads you to a great book.

You'll love this novel about a traveling carnival in the years after the Civil War. The details of carnival life are fascinating, and it really gives you a picture of a forgotten America.

Jennings tells a wonderful story with some funny lines thrown in. Here's one:

"Florian told me that we must never let ourselves be bound by propriety, precedent, convention or morality, those things are recipes for banality." What a perfect description of a character. You can almost hear him saying, "Step right up, I've got a deal for you."

Incredible reads: chunky, lurid, twisted, funny, sad, and simply great page turners throughout. In Spangle, even if you fail to get engrossed by the characters themselves (I don't see how that can happen) you learn so much about circus life itself. Even now, I can't look at a contortionist without thinking about this book.

You can't go wrong!!

I am a Jennings fan but have to say that I am struggling to get through this book. It is nothing like Aztec which kept me wanting to read on to see what happens but this book has me looking for an reason to put it down.....time to walk the dog again....

Riveting characterization and excellent story telling make this a must read. Can't wait to read the sequels!