Side Show: My Life With Geeks, Freaks & Vagabonds in the Carny Trade

Rating:
Summary: Pleasant, But Ultimately Disappointing
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Pleasant, But Ultimately Disappointing
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Very informative and great sideshow facts!
Review: 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!