Home of the American Circus: A Novel
The acclaimed author of the “lyrical coming-of-age novel” (Good Morning America) The People We Keep returns with a luminous new story of redemption, breaking generational curses, and the power of family in its truest form.
After an emergency leaves her short on rent, thirty-year-old Freya Arnalds bails on her lackluster life as bartender in Maine and returns to her suburban hometown of Somers, New York, to live in the house she inherited from her estranged parents. Despite attempts to lay low, Freya encounters childhood friends, familial enemies, and old flames—as well as her fifteen-year-old niece, Aubrey, who is secretly living in the derelict home. As they reconnect, Freya and Aubrey lean on each other, working to restore the house and come to terms with the devastating events that pulled them apart years ago.
Set in the birthplace of the American circus, this deeply moving novel is an exploration of broken families, the weight of the past, and the complicated journey of finding home.
After an emergency leaves her short on rent, thirty-year-old Freya Arnalds bails on her lackluster life as bartender in Maine and returns to her suburban hometown of Somers, New York, to live in the house she inherited from her estranged parents. Despite attempts to lay low, Freya encounters childhood friends, familial enemies, and old flames—as well as her fifteen-year-old niece, Aubrey, who is secretly living in the derelict home. As they reconnect, Freya and Aubrey lean on each other, working to restore the house and come to terms with the devastating events that pulled them apart years ago.
Set in the birthplace of the American circus, this deeply moving novel is an exploration of broken families, the weight of the past, and the complicated journey of finding home.
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Community Reviews
thenextgoodbook.com
What’s it about?
Freya Arnalds left her hometown of Somers, NY, as soon as she could. She is now thirty years old and living a very underwhelming life as a bartender. When she suddenly needs an appendectomy, she finds herself at a loss. Without giving it much thought, she drives back to her hometown of Somers to stay in the ramshackle house that was left to her in her parents’ will.
What did it make me think about?
“When we talk about a place, I don’t think any of us are ever talking about the same place, even when we think we are.”
Should I read it?
Well, this is my first book by Allison Larkin, but it will not be my last! She writes the most interesting characters- quirky, odd, dear people that just get under your skin. I thought it was so clever how she interspersed with Freya’s story, old stories from the school paper concerning the town’s circus elephant. She makes the point that history is written from a particular viewpoint. From Freya’s viewpoint, Old Bet is a sad figure, and she is troubled that the town has rewritten history in a way that benefits them. The author effectively illustrates this idea throughout the novel.
I am not sure this book will be everyone’s cup of tea. The characters are out there, but ultimately, it’s a heartwarming story. I must admit that the heroes and heroines are one-dimensional – all good or all bad – but sometimes it’s nice to know who you’re rooting for. I’m rooting for this book!
Quote-
“Most, if not all, of what we know about the past is perspective and opinion masquerading as fact.”
” ‘How does everyone else walk around like everything is fine? How does the world work for other people when it fucking breaks me over and over?’ he says, his breath warm and damp on my neck.”
What’s it about?
Freya Arnalds left her hometown of Somers, NY, as soon as she could. She is now thirty years old and living a very underwhelming life as a bartender. When she suddenly needs an appendectomy, she finds herself at a loss. Without giving it much thought, she drives back to her hometown of Somers to stay in the ramshackle house that was left to her in her parents’ will.
What did it make me think about?
“When we talk about a place, I don’t think any of us are ever talking about the same place, even when we think we are.”
Should I read it?
Well, this is my first book by Allison Larkin, but it will not be my last! She writes the most interesting characters- quirky, odd, dear people that just get under your skin. I thought it was so clever how she interspersed with Freya’s story, old stories from the school paper concerning the town’s circus elephant. She makes the point that history is written from a particular viewpoint. From Freya’s viewpoint, Old Bet is a sad figure, and she is troubled that the town has rewritten history in a way that benefits them. The author effectively illustrates this idea throughout the novel.
I am not sure this book will be everyone’s cup of tea. The characters are out there, but ultimately, it’s a heartwarming story. I must admit that the heroes and heroines are one-dimensional – all good or all bad – but sometimes it’s nice to know who you’re rooting for. I’m rooting for this book!
Quote-
“Most, if not all, of what we know about the past is perspective and opinion masquerading as fact.”
” ‘How does everyone else walk around like everything is fine? How does the world work for other people when it fucking breaks me over and over?’ he says, his breath warm and damp on my neck.”
My audiobook review:
3.75 star
I’ve had such a hard time with how to rate and review this one! This was my first audiobook to listen to since Clara was a baby, so 9-10 years ago was my last experience with one! How did I not know what I was missing- especially as a migraine sufferer?! This month has knocked me on my bum with intense migraines, making it SO difficult to read anything. I remembered I had purchased this audiobook last month from BOTM and hesitantly gave it a try. I ended up loving the audiobook experience, which genuinely surprised me! Such a saving grace to my head! That being said, I had a difficult time deciding if my love is for the audiobook experience, the actual book, or some of both?! This book is very long, 432 pages, spanning over the course of six seasons- Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter (again), and finishing off with another Spring (finally). Taking place in Somers, NY, home of the American Circus and of Bet the elephant (“sorry Bet” 😢), it explores the life of Freya, who, due to a medical emergency, is forced to return home to the town she chose to flee from years ago, a town she’d much rather leave behind and forget with all the trauma and heartache it holds. Taking up residence in the home she inherited from her parents, she is shocked to find her teenage niece, Aubrey, has been living in the dilapidated house alone, she herself fleeing her own demons. Together, they begin to heal and renew their fractured relationship, begin new relationships, and mourn those lost forever. As they navigate past hurts and trauma along with uncovering hidden secrets, they realize the beauty in second chances and what it looks like to truly belong. Freya has a very sensitive and vulnerable heart, and I found her so easy to connect with, often feeling everything she was feeling right alongside her. Her relationship with Aubrey was what held my heart the most during this entire read, a love so beautiful and genuine that it made me weep on multiple occasions. She had a mother’s love for her niece, a love that went so much deeper than your traditional aunt/niece relationship. It was a love that broke my heart, then mended it, then broke it again over and over throughout, a love that often made me think of my own love for my precious daughter, aching with all we have lost together as Freya and Aubrey mourned their many losses together over the years, too. This book is very character driven, which I really enjoyed, with supporting characters that will completely uproot you in both good and bad ways. It is an emotional coming of age and found family story that won’t be for everyone, but has made its way into a lot of hearts nonetheless. It hits on a lot of tough adult topics- many of which I held an emotional connection with, and many that I didn’t agree with at all and that made me genuinely sad and at times angry for the characters I had come to love. While I do think that certain parts of the book carried on needlessly and it still could have been an excellent read if shortened a bit, for me personally, the good moments ultimately overshadowed the moments I didn’t particularly enjoy and overall I did enjoy this book. There is A LOT of adult content with lots of triggers, so please review trigger warnings before reading.
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