An Overview of The Circus Rose - Cora Lewis-Patterson

        

        When The Circus Rose was first recommended to me, it seemed that it was just going to be a “quirky” book based on Beauty and the Beast. With the recommender explaining how a major plot of the part was one of the main characters falling in love with a bear, I was not exactly ecstatic about reading the book. Themes of zoophilia in any type of storyline tend to draw me away from ever reading or watching it, as I assume it does to most other people. Nonetheless, the recommender kept pursuing his quest to get me to read the book, and I am very happy to say that zoophilia is not something to watch out for while reading. Instead of being geared toward Beauty and the Beast’s plot like I had imagined, as I kept reading, I was reminded more of Snow White, as many other people who have read The Circus Rose thought as well. So, without further ado, here are my thoughts and an overview of The Circus Rose.

Ivory and Rosie (both named after the color of their hair), are twin girls who have lived their whole lives in the circus business. With their mother being the ringmaster and bearded lady of the circus, it is no surprise that their lives have been fully intertwined with it. The book takes place in the circus and is focused on the twins’ outlooks of the circus and everyday thoughts and feelings. Switching between Ivory and Rosie’s perspectives, the reader is able to understand both twins on a deeper level–Ivory’s introversion, prose writing style, and keeping to the side as a stagehand, and Rosie’s extroversion, short but sweet poeticness, and shining in the spotlight as a tightrope act.

The Circus Rose begins with Ivory and Rosie describing their relationship with each other and the circus. Although twins, the reader discovers that the two are half-sisters, and from there, the differences between them are clearly shown throughout the book. We are also told that the circus is a traveling one and that it is returning to its founding home, Port’s End. A grand show is prepared, with many dazzling lights and plenty of astonishing performances to be had. However, upon returning, the circus finds multiple flyers denouncing magic around town posted by the Brethren, who are an extremist religious group that announces hellfire on the circus. Ivory’s lover, a magician at the circus, is especially in danger from the group. Although appearing to just be propaganda for the most part of the show, during Rosie’s final tightrope act, the circus catches on fire, burning it to the ground. Thankfully, nobody dies, but Rosie is left in critical condition, and Ivory finds herself having to take on the role of the ringmaster. The rest of the book navigates Ivory and Rosie’s experiences after the incident, following them along on their love lives, circus lives, and just their lives in general.

Although short–being less than 300 pages–The Circus Rose is what I would consider to be a great read. I myself am a large fan of books that switch between the main characters' perspectives, and this one takes it to another level with Rosie's being in poetry. With most of the book being from Ivory's perspective, as she writes in prose, it was easy to relate to the book, as I am also decently introverted, and it was nice seeing her step out of her comfort zone to help save her family and the circus. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys slower books that switch character perspectives.