Frank H. (perryfran) reviewed on 8/17/2017 + 1178 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

I was kind of mesmerized reading this book about traveling carnivals, mermaids, tarot cards, horseshoe crabs, and water, water, water. The book alternates between the present and the late 1700's. In the present, the book's protagonist, Simon, received an unsolicited gift in the mail...an old journal detailing the daily records of a traveling carnival and sideshow in the late 18th century. As Simon tries to decipher the hidden meanings in the journal, the book alternates with the story of the carnival. Simon's mother was a performer in a carnival who could hold her breath up to 10 minutes but for some reason, she drowned on a July 24th...was it an accident or suicide? Simon discovers from the journal that he and his family are descended from a line of "mermaids" who worked in carnivals and who all seem to drown on the same date -- July 24th. So what is going on here? Simon becomes concerned because his sister also works in a carnival and July 24th is approaching again. And how does this all relate to an old set of tarot cards? And how does the person who sent the journal and Simon's neighbor, Frank, fit into Simon's history? Overall, I enjoyed this one as Simon tried to piece together the past and how it relates to the present and future.

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