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queerbillydeluxe's review against another edition
2.0
2 stars more for nostalgia’s sake than anything. The movie made from this has long been a favorite (though the problematic nature wasn’t clear to me till I was older), and I wanted to like the book. But...oh, 1935 and your casual, incessant racism. sigh.
kastelpls's review against another edition
medium-paced
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
stevendedalus's review against another edition
2.0
Completely inane withour being charming, it's a repetitive list of mythological references combined with a subversion of Chinese racism and an affirmation of racism against Black people, combined with some redneck mockery. There's really no plot, things just happen stitched together by allusions and set changes. No characters really exist on their own.
I'm slightly baffled this became a touchstone, probably more for its fantastical imagery and juxtaposition of the supernatural and the mundane. The writing does really provide a physical sense of the exotic but that is literally the only thing I can think of going for this. Probably striking at the time, and the Twain-ish lightness has a certain flair, but I was just mostly bored by this two-dimensional pop up that just appears, no matter how self-referential it is about it.
And yeah the African tribe scene is...a lot. I'd skip and read some Bradbury, personally.
I'm slightly baffled this became a touchstone, probably more for its fantastical imagery and juxtaposition of the supernatural and the mundane. The writing does really provide a physical sense of the exotic but that is literally the only thing I can think of going for this. Probably striking at the time, and the Twain-ish lightness has a certain flair, but I was just mostly bored by this two-dimensional pop up that just appears, no matter how self-referential it is about it.
And yeah the African tribe scene is...a lot. I'd skip and read some Bradbury, personally.
maleficentknits's review against another edition
4.0
As a little girl I adored the film "7 Faces of Dr. Lao" which starred Tony Randall and Barbara Eden for its weird and strange makeup so had to snag this book up at the Friends of Seattle Library's big book sale earlier this month. Of course the movie was different and a bit more tame than the book but so was the ways of Hollywood in the mid-sixties.
A strange and gangling trio of vehicles come into a sleepy little Arizona town led by an ancient Chinese man proclaiming to be a circus of unusual and amazing acts and sideshows to delight the senses. It was right in some ways. The weird and creepy astounds but delight might be a little off the mark. I would have been enthralled if I attended Dr. Lao's extravaganza.
There is an additional list of characters with descriptions, some off the mark and funny, at the end of the novel. I wondered if Charles G. Finney had come up with this as an outline before writing his story.
A strange and gangling trio of vehicles come into a sleepy little Arizona town led by an ancient Chinese man proclaiming to be a circus of unusual and amazing acts and sideshows to delight the senses. It was right in some ways. The weird and creepy astounds but delight might be a little off the mark. I would have been enthralled if I attended Dr. Lao's extravaganza.
There is an additional list of characters with descriptions, some off the mark and funny, at the end of the novel. I wondered if Charles G. Finney had come up with this as an outline before writing his story.
iceangel9's review against another edition
5.0
This classic little book is a wonderful treat! When the unusual circus of Dr. Lao arrives in Abalone, Arizona, the citizens are treated to a variety of strange attractions such as a mermaid, a sphinx, a chimera, an ancient god, and other bizarre creatures. Set in a small town during the Great Depression, this is a classic work of speculative fiction. Warning: it is not politically correct in any way shape or form, so be prepared. For those of you who have seen the movie version, the book is similar - but there are differences. A Reader's Corner Highly Recommended read.
librarydino's review against another edition
2.0
2 stars more for nostalgia’s sake than anything. The movie made from this has long been a favorite (though the problematic nature wasn’t clear to me till I was older), and I wanted to like the book. But...oh, 1935 and your casual, incessant racism. sigh.
tanreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
oleksandrrr's review against another edition
5.0
The book is very dense. Every paragraph is important and gives some information.
The plot is easy: Circus arrives to small American town. This shows the clash of modern and ancient popular cultures.
The plot is easy: Circus arrives to small American town. This shows the clash of modern and ancient popular cultures.
myxomycetes's review against another edition
3.0
A curiosity that goes up to 5-stars and down to 1-star, before righting itself.
A circus comes to a small Arizona town. It's operated by a Chinese man and is full of magical creatures. Sometimes the racial caricatures get thick but invariably Finney undercuts the stereotypes or twists them so they're poking fun at the characters who resort to stereotypes. It makes for weird reading at times.
You can certainly see it being influential on Ray Bradbury and Peter Beagle.
A circus comes to a small Arizona town. It's operated by a Chinese man and is full of magical creatures. Sometimes the racial caricatures get thick but invariably Finney undercuts the stereotypes or twists them so they're poking fun at the characters who resort to stereotypes. It makes for weird reading at times.
You can certainly see it being influential on Ray Bradbury and Peter Beagle.