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Kathleen Cremonesi

Love in the Elephant Tent: How Running Away with the Circus Brought Me Home Hardcover – May 1, 2015

by Kathleen Cremonesi (Author)

72 ratings

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If you live life without a net, what happens when you fall? Kathleen Cremonesi knew early on she wanted to be different. Determined to avoid following in her mother’s footsteps to an ill-fated marriage, Kathleen left Oregon in her early 20s to travel across Europe. On a whim, this former administrative assistant with wanderlust took a job as a dancer in an Italian circus and, working her way up, became an ostrich-riding, shark-taming showgirl. Kathleen bonds with the exotic animals that could strike and kill at any moment, but instead bring her a peace she has never known. And when she stumbles into the arms of Stefano, the sexy elephant keeper, she finds a man who understands her wild spirit. With thrilling prose and vivid descriptions, Kathleen takes the reader around the Mediterranean, where she discovers unexpected friends and learns how to cook, forgive, and love ― across language barriers.

Print length

400 pages
Language

English
Publisher

ECW Press
Publication date

May 1, 2015
Dimensions

6 x 1.5 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

1770412522
ISBN-13

978-1770412521
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“If you love the circus, you will love this memoir. If you hate this circus, you will still love this memoir. . . Her writing voice is as interesting and rich as the experiences she shares in the book. She may have found love in the elephant tent; I found a fascinating woman in the pages of a book.” ― Bibliotica

About the Author

Kathleen Cremonesi now lives near Eugene, Oregon, with her husband and a family of cats and dogs. She had the honour of volunteering at a Thai elephant sanctuary that she still supports with charitable contributions. This is her first book.

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Product details

Publisher : ECW Press; First Edition (May 1, 2015)
Language : English
Hardcover : 400 pages
ISBN-10 : 1770412522
ISBN-13 : 978-1770412521
Item Weight : 1.46 pounds
Dimensions : 6 x 1.5 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,259,787 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #268 in Circus Performing Arts
- #14,029 in Traveler & Explorer Biographies
- #17,938 in Actor & Entertainer Biographies

Customer Reviews:
72 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		77%
4 star		16%
3 star		7%
2 star 0% (0%)		0%
1 star 0% (0%)		0%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Ann McCredie

a great read!

Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2015

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I am always looking for a good read, and rarely do I find a book I can ease into and resonate with as much as this one. Kathleen's backround is similar to my own, and she writes with such a fresh and direct style that reading it is true pleasure. Her story of traveling with the Grateful Dead, then on to Europe, and the Italian circus may be an unusual path, but her telling of it makes it truly relatable. Her experience of falling in love with an Italian elephant trainer in the circus is beautiful, and she totaly captures the emotions of finding love at a young age-(23 years old). The setting of the memoir is so interesting, and I appreciate how she incorporates her mature reflection on cicus reality with her first impressions of the time. The stories of the people and animals in the circus are so facinating, and told sensitively. And I want a Stefano of my own! Its a beautifuly crafted book, and very romantic. The photo section in the middle is a great touch, too. I've laughed, and I've underlined passages I know I will return to for help with my daily perspective. This book is well worth a read!

7 people found this helpful

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M. Smith

I could imagine what it would be like. It is a true story of a young ...

Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2016

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Have you ever dreamed of running off to be in the circus? I never did, but in reading this book, I could imagine what it would be like.It is a true story of a young woman who drove across the US, following the Grateful Dead and then on to Europe where she found herself, and love, in an Italian circus. It is a very well written book that delves into the lives of circus people, and also, into the lives of the animals. It certainly made me think more about how circus animals are treated. She goes on to do whatever she can to raise awareness of animals held in captivity. It is a fascinating book that is easy to read. I highly recommend that you read it!

One person found this helpful

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Susie G

An adventure I will never forget!

Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2015

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There is far more than love in the elephant tent at the Circo Moira Orfei! This memoir beautifully describes the humor, passion, energy, vulnerability, fear and the intensity of how it feels to fall madly in love in young adulthood. Kathleen Cremonesi chose a a colorful, exquisitely entertaining Italian circus for her adventure that is much more than a love story about her relationship with Stefano. Kathleen paints a vivid picture of her traveling home, her foray into cooking great food, descriptions of each European town the circus travels to, the circus animals she meets and comes to love and her bizarre jobs in the circus; gleefully risking her neck riding an ostrich and swimming with Billy Bob the shark. Kathleen's descriptive writing will involve all your senses and the lasting impact evoked memories of my youth. It's a wild ride in every way. I encourage anyone who wants to relive the feeling of fresh young love combined with an exciting real-life version of running away and joining the circus to read "Love in the Elephant Tent".

2 people found this helpful

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Jane Steckbeck

Love in the Elephant Tent should be on every bestseller ...

Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2016

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Love in the Elephant Tent should be on every bestseller list--I couldn't put it down, and yet, the farther along I got, the more I slowed down--so I could savor every word. A story of coming home to one's heart, Kathleen shows us the inside of the Italian circus, her love of and respect for animals (her friendship with Baros the giraffe is remarkably sweet), and her struggle to set aside childhood pain over broken love in order to allow love--in its imperfections--into her life. Her descriptions of Italian men and culture are priceless, as are her insights into the side of circus life outsiders never see.

Parts of Kathleen's story are laugh-out-loud funny (her description of her multi-faceted "courage" before entering the shark tank for the first time, her description of her changing appreciation of her "ample bosom" among others), parts are incredibly poignant--all worth the read. From landscapes to Italian cooking, Love in the Elephant Tent also delighted my senses and evoked my imagination.

Kathleen Cremonesi is a brilliant writer and Love in the Elephant Tent is pure delight. The development and ultimately maturation for her love with her soulmate Stefano is an inspiration. I highly recommend this book!

One person found this helpful

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Who could even imagine riding an ostrich, elephant and swimming with sharks?

Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2015

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I loved this book! Beautifully written descriptive details that soon engaged me.
Was interested that gifted author is one who followed her heart and not her head,...i.e. leaving college, confidently curious, seeking adventure and open to opportunity. Who of us could imagine riding an ostrich, an elephant or swimming with sharks. The author's words create visual images that put us there.
Although this is a love story, Instant sympathy for the animals, particularly the elephants develop early and I am deeply touched that a portion of the sales will go to elephant sanctuaries. Most books do not include photographs I am delighted that this one does.
I have purchased another copy as a gift. Seeing pictures of Kathleen and Stefano, then and now is important. Choices do change one's path but can still lead to a satisfying, productive life that couldn't have been imagined. I hope this book will inspire young people who are not clear about their pathway and would be wise to take a year off before college.
That the author found "running away with the circus brought her home" will most likely resonate with many. I highly recommend the book.

One person found this helpful

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Maisie MacKinnon

Funny, descriptive, daring

Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2015

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I enjoyed Cremonesi's willingness to say “YES” to life with such descriptive writing. Her painful first ride on Raya the elephant made my pelvic bone hurt just reading it! Better yet is the courage she's taken to describe new love with all its trials and tribulations—and with such humor! I can still see her in a funky old robe in-between circus performances in the Beala’s kitchen cooking as “crisp fish carcasses piled up,” sweat smearing her eyeliner while her costume eyelashes hung crooked off her lids—just as her mother-in-law-to-be steps into the doorway of the cook trailer!

How hilarious is that??

One person found this helpful

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