When the curtains are drawn back on the cabinet of wonders, every individual you meet is an original, the indelible mark of their uniqueness shaped in their flesh. Molly and Faye are spirited teenagers - and conjoined twins. Saffron is the Wolf Girl, her female form covered head to toe in fur. Alex/Alexandra is a seductive hermaphrophodite, her male/female parts irresistible to many. To the rubes that pay good coin to see them, they are Freaks. To the other carnies - those who run the Ferris Wheel, the Girl Show, and more - they are the Starlight Carnival Royale's most lucrative source of income, and sometimes, friends. To Shadrach the tattooed man of God who travels with them, they are evidence of the divine. For Dugan - scholar, businessman, romantic, and dwarf - the cabinet of wonders is more than just his business, it's his family and the centre of his universe, and he'll do everything he can to keep it together...despite the rifts that are appearing after three years on the road.
Sometimes a book is just not the sum of its chapters. It does so many things right, and yet, and yet…
Such is a case with A Cabinet of Wonders by Renee Dodd. It’s a book about circus freaks: a hermaphrodite, two dwarfs, a tall man, a fat woman, a dog-haired woman, a tattooed man, and Siamese twins. What could be better?!?!? Not much I tell you, except a slightly better book about circus freaks.
As I mentioned in one of my previous reviews, I’m focusing on books that somehow relate to the one I’m writing now, and in this case I was drawn to ACoW because nearly half of my own book takes place in a circus. Albeit, one a damn sight weirder than this one. Nonetheless, I like to read other writers’ portrayals of circi as well as actual research on actual circi. You can tell that Renee Dodd did very thorough research. She sure did. Because, you know, that’s what you have to do. To write a good book, is a lot of research. And I know for a fact she did a lot of research because she explained that she did a lot of research right in the Afterword. More on the Afterword after the next few words.
Dodd is a university creative writing teacher, and I’m sure she teaches her students many guidelines that she followed very carefully in writing this book. Don’t write it unless you’ve…read a lot of books about it. I might go so far as to say that this book is written by the book. Truthful inner monologues, (mostly) vivid scenic descriptions, well-crafted sentences, well-researched detail, (mostly) believable characters, and a nice (if shallow) theme (the “other” is just like us…and at the same time…different. Which is okay!) She’s a wee bit shallow on this theme and doesn’t reveal much complexity. Instead, it’s all there, laid out like liberal guilt. People who are different are just like us inside. I can hear all the boxes being checked in my (her) head as I’m reading (she’s writing) it.
In fact, I think she should have included a dissertation at the end of her book analyzing her own book. How about outlining the themes for us and give us your character back stories? I’m sure you’ve got a chart of the plotline, and maybe throw in all the events you cut that “really happened,” but didn’t make your final edit. You know, director’s cut? If you get what I’m getting at here, it’s that this is all so bloodless. Her bold “freak” characters just don’t match the boldness of the book itself. It’s too tame. I guess I prefer more freak in my freak. And I could hear the theme churning in the background…make the characters as believable as possible so that the reader will sympathize—or at least understand—them and thus create empathy. It’s the standard modus of your average realistic fiction.
I’ll jump to the ending. The ending made me angry. No, not the denoument, the Afterword, which actually starts out by telling us how much research she did on carnivals and sideshows. Really? Color me impressed. Did you like, read lots and lots of stuff? Like for hours and hours? Thanks for sharing. I like your book so much more now that you’ve clarified how convincing it is. I would not have been able to figure that out just from reading the book because I be dumb.
Then she actually goes on to explain and justify various choices she made including saying “Siamese twin” instead of “conjoined twin” or the word “freak.” There you are, I can see that flag waving in your hand. “Look at me, I’m a liberal! I know it’s wrong, but it’s true to the period.” Give me a fucking break. We readers who pick up obscure literary fiction is so stoopid we need it s-p-e-e-l-e-d out for us. “Freak” bad, “differently abled,” good. You know, I don’t actually disagree with political correctness. People shouldn’t say hurtful things casually in real life. But fiction, that’s a whole ‘nother animal. The point is to reflect reality (or the lack thereof) in some fashion, and you know what, reality bites.
I sound pissed off. Errh, get me my stump. It’s just…take a goddamn chance, right? Push the boundaries a bit here. I’m so over the mundane. And making freaks mundane is lame. Lame, I say! Lame like my one-legged friend Peg. Seriously, now. What? Oh, sorry, I’m off track.
Back to the Afterword, I really had to deduct an entire star for the final sentence. “Ultimately, what I hoped for more than anything was to write a good novel, and the stuff of fiction is too big and sweeping to confine in a Cabinet of anyone’s making.” Seriously? That’s what you wanted? Because I’ve really set out to write a way fucking crappy novel myself. You know, I’m hoping that my second novel sucks ass big time and people will mock it and laugh and say they’d rather beat themselves with a bat of nails than read another page. That Katzman guy, he is awful. Keep your fingers crossed for me people—let’s hope I can make that happen. But Dodd, she sure has some lofty goals. She wanted to write a good novel. I wasn’t sure. I wish authors were more open about things like that right in their books.
Tiffany swung her purse and smacked Josh in the face with it. “How could you, you asshole! I worked my whole goddamn life for you and then you leave me for her? This piece of shit?” (Before I go on with the next paragraph, I just wanted to interject as the author that I hope you enjoyed those last four sentences. I’m trying to create a rich emotional tableaux for you to enjoy so that you’ll give me a good review on Amazon.com. Now, back to the action!)
Fuck you, shut up and write the book, don’t explain it for fuck’s sake. Arrgh.
This is my second time reading "Cabinet of Wonders." I read my review from 2017 and I did like this book overall. I especially liked the main character of Dugan, having pictured his part in a movie of this book played by Peter Dinklage. His voice even spoke Dugan's lines in my head. So this reading was a bit more enjoyable. The cultured Tyrion Lannister voice really added so much to the quotes Dugan recited from his beloved books. The story was a little slow, but overall quite a good story.
Interesting premise, good attention to historical detail and obviously well researched about the "wonders" in the carnival's cabinet. Just a little slow moving and sort of shallow somehow. Other two star and three star reviews here can explain this feeling better than I can...check out a few and decide for yourself if it is worth the time to read it. I did like the main character, Dugan, a lot.
Set primarily in 1927, Dugan is a dwarf who runs a “freak show”, which includes teenaged Siamese twins Molly and Faye, morphodite (hermaphrodite) Alex, giant Sean, Dugan’s “twin” dwarf Mario, “Wolf girl” Saffron, fat lady Beatrice, tattooed man Shadrach(?), and a black gay man (Finch) who travels with them as a photographer. Dugan is worried about profits as motion pictures are starting to become more popular as the others are each musing about what they might do next, away from “carnie” life when they are able to leave. Although the show is a protection of sorts – protection from doctors who want to study and/or sterilize them.
The book was slow-moving but interesting in that it looked at the private lives of those living in this time with various deformities: their personal relationships, and some of the abuses they dealt with. Included was a short afterword by the author.
While the characters were interesting, the story had several plot points that just seemed too silly to be believed, chiefly everyone's "happy ending." It seemed contrived and cheesy, and the author's 21st century sensibilities broke in with the idea of Finch's "marriage"--1920s America, gay marriage? Nope. In fact, there was a little too much acceptance of everything for the time period it was set. The best story was Sean's, I felt, and his ending with Dugan and Mario was the one point that was raw and honest, and he was really only a side note. While the author had moments of really rich descriptions, they came at odd times and belabored the plot somewhat—two long, artistic descriptions of people swimming in chapters back-to-back, for example.
This was an excellent and fascinating read. In the afterword, the author talks about how she tried to make sure she respected the characters in the story, and that really comes through. I found myself caring for and engaged with all of them. They were very real, flaws and all. I highly recommend!
As a fan of carnivals, 1920s America, and freaks I was interested in this novel. It didn't disappoint. I loved how Dodd made the humanity of the main characters shine that you forget their deformities. But the people in their world never forget. A great story of a wandering family confronted with a different kind of wander lust.
An interesting look at a travelling carnival in 1927, with the focus on the various characters in the Freak Show. (Freak was the term used in 1927). This novel was based on historical information so was interesting to learn about the "carnies".
Maybe I expected to much from this novel and that made it seem dry and slow. While the freaks are interesting the story moves at a slow pace which made it difficult to get to the ending.
This was a book which evoked in me a host of emotions ranging from dismay, anger, disgust and desolation to wonder, admiration and amusement. As much as I enjoyed the book I would have some hesitation in wholeheartedly recommending it because of the explicit sexual detail which I believe besmirched and assaulted the honor of the most vulnerable of the characters. In spite of my reservations, the author, through each character presented a powerful message both individually and as part of the whole Carnival family. As the novel progressed and the characters became more familiar their humanity eclipsed my original clouded image of their obvious deformity or disability and revealed their inner persona. Each character exhibited extraordinary strength and determination, coated by varying degrees of denial. All were moulded and scarred , tormented by the harsh reality that the prejudice and cruelty to which they were subject emanated from the very same people on whom they relied for the success of the Carnival. Huddled together, the Carnival family insulated itself against the superior predatory world of “normal” people who flocked every week to gloat, spurn, leer and enjoy the spectacle. The narrative lurched from triumph to catastrophe, both corporately and personally as the Carnival retraced its endless circuit of 1920s towns in the USA. The father figure Dugan subjugated his own feelings, his pain and his yearnings to maintain a precarious balance between leadership and stability and to provide an environment in which to cocoon his “family”. For me, this book presented an opportunity to examine myself and others through the eyes of a minority group of people. Perhaps the author intended that the clever use of an outmoded type of circus entertainment could provide a platform from which to extrapolate and draw parallels with our current day experiences. As mankind embarks on another century it is interesting that this author has chosen to reveal “cracks” in our civilised behaviour by relating a story from our “not too distant” past. This is a book with many messages, tales of heroism, loss of innocence and an ongoing struggle against enormous odds. Carinya
This book is wonderfully written. Renee Dodd has some beautiful prose and I think she does a great job of capturing the ambiance and feel of a roadside carnival show.
I think my main problem with the book though, was it was sort of bland. Nothing really happens, and I kept thinking of this ‘Little House on the Prairie’ episode when the carnival comes to Walnut Grove.
All these different characters join the ‘Cabinet of Wonders’ because it’s a place where they can be accepted and feel safe, not to mention make some money. Yet everyone decides to take off at the same time.
I also wondered why the ‘Cabinet of Wonders’ was such a rinky- dink setup when they really do have some very high class freaks. I also wanted Dodd to also give more information about the shows they put on, maybe explain better what they do to entertain their audience.
I think my main interest was in Molly and Faye the twins. Yet now that I’ve read about Daisy and Violet Hilton, the bases for these characters, I can’t help but think the real life twins are far more fascinating than their fictional counterparts.
This was an enjoyable read though. Dodd has a lovely light prose and I whipped right through this. The book brings with it a touch of nostalgia.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book certainly gives you an interesting perspective of the "wonders" or freaks, as they call themselves, who traveled the US as part of sideshows. You learn to know them as real people who think and feel just like the rest of us. I wasn't sure if I would like the book at first but it grew on me as I continued through the pages. I am glad I read it.
This was an excellent book. Very hard to put down. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because there were a few graphic scenes of sexuality that I could have done without. What I loved about this book is that it didn't focus on the outward appearance of the "wonders" but their inner selves and emotions. Great read!
There was something about this book and it's telling of "side show freaks", not as monstrosities but as the very deeply human beings they were, that captivated me. Parts made me laugh, many parts made me horribly sad, and the book ended with my wanting to know more about what happened....one of my criterion for giving five stars.
The story is about people who are "freaks of nature" and shunned by society. Well told through the prospective of the the carnival individuals and the life they perceived normal.
Interesting story about a carnival troupe of freaks and their fatherly boss, a dwarf named Dugan. I liked it but some of the scenes would be too candid for my book club friends.
A whimsical yet deep character study of those considered "other." I've known the author personally and am in no way surprised her vivid imagination produced this work. Thanks, Renee!