A Son of the Circus

Rating:
Summary: Double lives
Review: I try to cut authors some slack wherever possible, so I'm giving A SON OF THE CIRCUS four stars rather than three, but it's really more like three and a half. John Irving seems irresistably drawn to transsexuals, yet his portrayals of them continue to be some of the silliest and least convincing I've read. I'm not looking for political correctness, but I do appreciate characters I can believe in. Fortunately, A SON OF THE CIRCUS does have some. The protagonist, Dr. Daruwalla, is well-drawn and likeable. His informally-adopted movie star "son," John D. (a.k.a. Inspector Dhar), is intriguing. Nancy, a displaced American married to a Bombay policeman, is heartbreaking.

Among other things, this is a book about twins, and Irving uses "twinning" in interesting ways throughout the story: several characters are referred to by more than one name; the real crippled boy Ganesh is mirrored by a similar character in Dr. Daruwalla's screenplay. Dr. Daruwalla himself lives not one but two double lives -- as a respectable orthopedic surgeon and a writer of trashy cop movies; as an immigrant in Toronto and a not-quite-Indian in Bombay.

This novel disturbed me and I have found myself thinking about it quite a bit in the few days since I finished it. If you're the sort of reader who believes these are good things, you may well enjoy it too.

Rating:
Summary: Irving's Best - A Creative Wild Ride
Review: I read this book when it first came out, and was buying a copy for a friend when I noticed how mixed Amazon's reader ratings were. I was shocked, as I truly believe this to be Irving's finest book yet. Everything that is intriguing, outrageous and wonderful about Irving's intense writing style and ultra-creative story-telling abilities is epitomized in Son of the Circus. It is not necessarily an easy read, as Irving presents a LOT of information for the reader to digest (there are dozens of quirky characters and several subplots). With that in mind, if you feel up to the task, it is more than well worth the effort.

While reading this book, I was constantly aware of the author's genius. His ability to conceive and weave together intricate plots and carefully constructed characters into a cohesive, wildly entertaining story is mind-blowing. Irving's previous books (Owen Meaney, The Cider House Rules, Garp, Hotel New Hampshire, etc.) and the subsequent Widow For One Year are all excellent reads, but all much tamer and far less intricate than the grand spectacle of Son of the Circus. It is truly an amazing feat of fiction - a wonderful book with as many twists, surprises, and glimpses of the bizarre as one could ever hope for. Irving's beautiful writing, outstanding background research, and vivid imagination make for a truly original story that haunted me for months after reading it. Several years after reading it, I still harbor strong memories of Son of the Circus(and I have read dozens of books in the interim).

This is a book to be read carefully - it makes an excellent vacation read, when the proper amount of time and attention can be paid. If some of the other reviewers of Son of the Circus were disappointed with it, I suggest that they return to it and read every word with care - perhaps then they will understand John Irving's gift and what an intelligent and interesting book Son of the Circus is. Don't miss it - books like this don't come along very often!

Rating:
Summary: AUDIO TAPE ALL THE WAY
Review: Have wanted to read this book for some time, but unable to do so because of poor eyesight. I finally wised-up and purchased the audiocassete. WOW. The narrator does an unbelievable job. David Colacci's voice complements Irving's words beautifully. If you have enjoyed this book, do yourself a favor and listen to the audiocassete. I'll live with these characters for a long,long time. Take me away John Irving, take me away.

Rating:
Summary: it's not like his other books, that's for sure...
Review: When I read "a son of the circus" the first time I HATED it vehemently! "Damn it, I want more Owen Meany!" I thought to myself. I was incredibly disappointed by this book.

Then, about a year later I was desperate for something to read so I picked it up and read it again and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!! This is now my favorite of John Irving's novels. And during the second (and third, etc.) rereadings, I found myself rolling with loud laughter and delighted by Irving's vivid, colorful descriptions of India and Indian life.

If you read this book expecting a continuation of Owen Meany, forget it. But if you want to read an excellent novel that is nothing like anything else Irving has written, pick this up with an open mind and prepare to be delighted!!!

Rating:
Summary: "A Son of the Circus" changed my life!
Review: Although some may not appreciate John Irving's leap across time zones and continents, I have to say that this was better than "Owen Meany," "The Hotel New Hampshire," and "Garp." It was more bizarre, filled with a more colorful cast of characters, written with amazing descriptive grace and style and evocative of a time and place which is just as foreign to you or I as it is to the main character, Dr. Daruwalla. Although Irving stipulates that he has never lived in India, his imagery makes readers feel as though they do. The themes are many, varied and complex, but perhaps the most important one is the lack of identity that Dr. Daruwalla feels. This is so prevalent in today's constantly shrinking world that Irving really hits home with those of us who feel like we don't really "belong" anywhere. In addition to all of these great literary achievements, "A Son of the Circus" is a rollicking good story, a page-turner and sure to bring you both laughter and tears. As crazy as Irving gets, however, he always maintains his brillant sense of humanity. This book has inspired me to study people, ethnicity, migration and statelessness. I'm not kidding

Rating:
Summary: Dickens, with a twist of Kafka
Review: Although certainly not in the leagues of "Owen Meany" and "Cider House Rules," this frivolous frolic is an exciting and demented forray into the world of the circus. Along the way we meet transsexuals, hippies, freaks, a murderer, and a pair of twins who are both sacred and profane. This is clearly not Irving's best work--at times the narrative richochets of course, leaving readers to feel like they're trapped in a pinball machine. But stay with it, if you can, for this is an enchanting an wacky piece of carnivalia that will surely entertain those brave enough to weather it.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Characters
Review: Wonderful character though some perverted and slimy. It was very well written. The story was good not great. I enjoyed the authors character a lot.

Rating:
Summary: Attention Span
Review: I can only reiterate the previous reviewers position: this is a novel for the substantially minded but hedonistically oriented - I am of the MTV Generation but still believe in narrative. If you think that an innocent-savant philosophy of story telling is not contributing to literature than you are probably the kind of cranially-amputed person who would invade arab countries - I think this book does it's little, discrete part in overcoming such adolescent preoccupation. Good job.

F

Rating:
Summary: Yeah, what the last reviewer said . . .
Review: I like what the previous reviewer said (the one titled "Overlong and rambling--but John Irving"). To tell the truth, I can't add anything to that review. So ditto what that one said! And be sure to cast a helpful vote for that review . . .

Rating:
Summary: Overlong and rambling - but John Irving
Review: I love John Irving. I love circus. This book would have been riveting if an editor had the guts to tell Mr. Irving to cut it from 700 to 300 pages. As it is now, it's overlong and, as such, too boring for its potential.

It's got the expected Irving motifs: prostitutes, Vienna, sex, transsexuals, animals, and medical maladies.

Unfortunately, this book doesn't take place at the circus. The book is a "side show" of sorts, which I hate to say because it's an insult to the real-life people described - dwarfs, an extra-large foot, etc. True, these young characters either become prostitutes or, if they are lucky, are treated by the doctor-hero and join the circus. Meaning, it's mentioned but, ironically, the only thing not described.

Much of the information is superfluous, and to me, included in the book because it was of interest to John Irving. Okay. When I was a teenager I loved Garp and The Hotel New Hampshire, then the three earlier ones; and, as an adult I've liked some of the newer ones.

Now, in my 30's, though, I feel I'm reading the inner thoughts of a sex-obsessed teenager in an older man's body. Every character, described in far more detail than the story warrants, has sex as an integral part of his life. The setting has sex as in integral part of its life (we've got detailed descriptions of three different types of transsexuals, how they are perceived by each other and by their communities - the prostitution community and the community at-large).

The style of the narration is authoritative, stilted, and nearly academic - at odds with its material. The sentences, too, are too long. Commas, semi-colons, em-dashes. He just rambles.

The story is told through omniscient narration, and in such great detail, that we've got not a "who done it"--a murder serves as a sort-of grounding point--but a "how will the characters learn." Since the reader knows who the killer is less than half-way through, and I didn't feel very much for the characters, this element was lost on me.

I read all of it because John Irving is in my soul, somehow. Had this been the first one I'd read, and at this age, I probably would have stopped around page 100. As it was, I had to take time out to read short stories between. I also looked forward to its end - I've got other things to read, after all - and looking at 400, 300, 200 pages in front of me that can only be more of the same just doesn't make for optimal reading.

Three stars for being John Irving. For keeping me reading. For my being in love with him since adolescence. But, if you're looking for a first John Irving book to read, I wouldn't recommend this as a starting point.