Customer Reviews

Side Show: My Life with Geeks, Freaks and Vagabonds in the Carny Trade

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

 

 

I'd love to give this book a higher rating, but it's disappointingly slim in both size and content. It feels like the unfinished outline for a book which the author was never able to write. The author's entire marriage (of many years, and several children) is dismissed in two paragraphs. He frequently refers to the great and unbelievable stories he could tell about life on the road...then neglects to tell them. There aren't even any photos to spice up the narrative (though it sounds like the author never made enough money on the road to afford a camera). In all fairness, this is a pleasant little book, and not a bad addition to an existing collection for sideshow/carny fans. But there are other, better books out there which you should go to first.

'Side Show' is a compilation by editor Daniel Waldron of one the last manuscripts left by accomplished career carny Howard Bone. Waldron's Introduction and Teller's (of Penn And Teller) Forward tell give a much needed background to the book's contents focusing on Bone's musings over his life in carnivals and circuses.

Bone's musings are short, and the book does contain the feel of something that could have been so much more, but the stories are still fun and entertaining enough to hold up to four stars. It's the personal "telling" rather than any detailed content that grabs a hold of your attention and keeps you reading straight through to the end. It leaves you wishing Mr. Bone were still alive, and that you could sit an chat with him awhile to fill in the blanks.

Bone was a veteran of World War II and a black belt, ninth degree Master, of Itto Ryu Jutsu, a form of martial arts. Unfortunately, the stories compiled in this book don't include any detail of either part of Bone's life, except how he used his martial arts to perform feats in the carnival. Magic Shows, Athletic Shows, Torture Acts, backup on Animal Acts, Mr. Bone covered a lot of ground in his lifelong career with "traveling entertainment".

'Side Show' is a short but entertaining read, not detailed on any particular aspect of carnival life but rather like having a short chat with a newly found friend of his tumultuous life. Easy to read in one sitting, I would recommend this book if you like memoirs of a lost lifestyle. Enjoy!

Personally, I loved this Book! This is a very well written recounting of the sideshows of yesteryear, obvious of the authors past. He has added every detail of how the sideshow used to be and this makes terrific reading for those interested in the history of such a wonderful (yet almost forgotten) pastime. This is most certainly a text of material for any serious sideshow lover!

The author is a fascinating man with a life worth reporting. However this book barely scratches the surface. A lot is made of his martial arts prowess in the introduction and is referenced throughout the text. But no details are given. Not where he trained or even how he became a master at a time when oriental fighting arts were obscure in the extreme. Also no war service is recorded and that would have fleshed out the story and the man considerably. Having said that, I enjoyed the insights and characters that were discussed. So I recommend the book and suggest that it be accompanied by the Daniel Mannix book, Memoirs of a Sword Swallower. Between the two books the reader will gain a good understanding of a peculiarly American and sadly lost world.

This book is well worth a read by anyone interested in the carny lifestyle. Please be advised, however, that this is more of a biography than a true, in-depth look at the sideshow phenomena. I was disappointed in the lack of analysis and found the title a bit misleading. However, this is still a GREAT READ. It reads like a fast short story, which I guess is what it really is. In other words, yes, it can EASILY be read in one, couple hour, sitting. I would have like more detailed information on the gaffs and "attractions". The honest, easy tone more than made up what this book lacked in substance. Like a few other reviewers, I felt let down by all the stories the author claimed to have but never got around to telling. Tragic, truthful, and sincere, this book is worth a look. Recommended.

The memoirs of a professional sideshow entertainer, SIDE SHOW is all at once shocking, tragic, funny and interesting. It's a whole different world in the carnival/circus side show trade. Find out what a Geek does for money. Are those really deformed fetuses in those bottles? How far does a "girly show" go? All this and more is inside this compelling book by a man who was there.