Cathy Day
The Circus in Winter (2004)
Author: Cathy Day
Genre: Literary (Short Stories)
Plot Summary:
From 1884 to 1939, the small Indiana town of Lima was the home base for
the Great Porter Circus during the winters when the circus troupe wasn't
touring the country. During the circus's heyday and afterwards, the
Porter Circus and those associated with it impacted the town and its
people. Stories include the circus's inception, a homicidal elephant, a
mysterious and alluring high flyer, a band of campground- invading
gypsies, and a former clown trapped in a loveless marriage.
Geographical Setting: The fictional town of Lima, Indiana (which is based
on Peru, Indiana)
Time Period: 1884 to present
Appeal Characteristics:
Based on the real Indiana town of Peru (and the author's hometown),
Day captures the often isolating and melancholy world of circus performers
and small town life. Day's stories are heartbreaking, beautiful, witty,
and dreamy. One of the real pleasures of this book is how the many
different generations of townsfolk and lore weave throughout the stories,
creating a rich reading experience for the careful reader. The back of
the book contains notes on photographs and the real-life events that
inspired Day's stories.
Red Flags: Some sex and violence but nothing too detailed.
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