Reviews with content warning for Medical content - The Circus Train

Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

The Circus Train by Amita Parikh

12 reviews

boba_nbooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Spice Rating: 🫑 / 5 🌶️

The Circus Train takes readers on a decades-long journey across WWII Europe through the eyes of a disabled young girl, her father, and a young boy.

Lena lives a very abnormal life on the circus train. As a baby, Lena almost died from Polio, but she miraculously survived and is told she probably won't ever walk. But living around people who can do all sorts of tricks makes her feel out of place. Lena's father, Theo is a circus' star illusionist and quite overprotective of Lena's physical limitations but encourages her to continue her education. Lena and her father's unconventional life takes an even more unexpected turn when they bring in an orphan named Alexandre to their crew. Over the years, Lena and Alexandre form a lovely friendship despite all of their differences. But World War II is escalating, and soon Theo and Alexandre are separated from Lena. Will they be able to find their way back to each other after years apart?

I wasn't expecting this novel to make me feel so much. I became quite attached to Lena, Theo, and Alexandre. The Circus Train didn't feel like just another WWII novel--it felt like so much more due to the strong character development.

Content Warnings

aestass's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

friendly_neighborhood_grandma's review against another edition

Go to review page

slow-paced

4.25

The novel is really rich and beautiful, the narrator imojen church was very good in my opinion.
It shows the side of wealthy people in ww2, usually storiea are about brave poor and suffering people, not the people who did not envolve themselves in the war.
I enjoyed it.

Content Warnings

bibliomania_express's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Content Warnings

oceanwriter's review

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Before reading, I saw a lot of hype for this book. I get nervous when this happens because more often than not my reading tastes aren't similar to other readers in my various online social circles. I was relieved to see such exquisite writing when I finally opened it up. Though this wasn't a five-star read for me personally, the hype is understandable.

All Lena has ever known is the traveling circus where her father Theo performs as an illusionist. Lena was left unable to walk by a contracted bought of Polio as an infant. Her spirit and desire to live a better-abled life are strong. Eventually, she attempts a new form of treatment to try and recover the use of her legs.

Meanwhile, it's the early days of World War II. Theo and Lena take in a Jewish boy Alexandre. He's Lena's first friend and companion her age. As the war carries on, she ends up separated from them. Though she always wished for the freedom to do what she wishes without her father's constant fretting and concern for her wellbeing, she never would have wished for him to be taken away.

As much as I loved the writing and a great deal of the story, I also felt like some parts were unrealistic. There was also a love of distinct plotlines going on throughout the book. For me, the polio plot was strong enough to stand alone without the addition of the war. It shifted the focus too much late in the book and it felt like a completely different story than the one I started.

My quips aside, I cannot compliment the beautiful writing enough. The opening pages took me in immediately. I'm insanely impressed given The Circus Train is the author's debut novel.

Content Warnings

apagetoturn's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

4.0

I thoroughly enjoyed this one, I’m not always into historical but this one pulled me right in. I loved Lena and her story of growth and overcoming her personal and medical traumas.

Content Warnings