There are moments when you go to the bookstore with a specific purpose in mind, and you come home with the treasure you set out to find. There are other moments when one can wander around the bookstore experiencing myriad temptations, but nothing speaks to you. And then there are times like I had yesterday afternoon. Times in which you wander quite aimlessly to and fro and then a book catches your eye and you feel its pull and you just know that you will have to leave with that book. Yesterday that book was Freaks by Annette Curtis Klause. The full title of the story is Freaks: Alive, on the Inside, but I prefer the simple title and will thus refer to it in that regard for the remainder of this review.
There is no mystery regarding my initial attraction to this book:
It was the James Jean cover that did it! The cover art of James Jean, a previous Friday Favorite, never fails to illicit that response in me. The fact that this book was written by Annette Curtis Klause, whose New York Times bestselling book Blood and Chocolate is one I am wanting to read for this year’s R.I.P. Challenge, sealed my fate.
I am currently in the middle of another wonderful book, but true to my nature I arrived home yesterday with the intention of just taking a taste of this novel before returning to my current read. Dame Fortune had other plans. An introductory quote by Edgar Allan Poe and the line, “When a boy’s first romantic interlude is with Phoebe the Dog-Faced Girl, he feels the need to get out into the world and find a new life.” was all it took…I was lost.
Freaks is the story of 17 year old Abel Dandy, an oddity amongst oddities, as he is the only non-freak in the freak show. An ever-present sense of not fitting in prompts Abel to leave the only family he has ever known to seek his fortune elsewhere. A parting gift of a scarab ring and words of fate spoken in his ear bring Abel Dandy dreams in which a beautiful and mysterious woman beckons to him with words of passion and pleas for rescue.
Freaks is a teen novel, and as such I was not sure what to expect. Having seen Tod Browning’s controversial 1932 film of the same name, I had visions of this novel treading along those same paths. I had no idea, however, of the truth of that film’s inspirational influence on this novel and found myself pleasantly surprised with the depth of emotion and the powerful sense of community and family that inhabits these pages.
Annette Curtis Klause has written a thoroughly researched tale of life during the time when freak shows and traveling oddities were a booming business. That research (which she discusses in an afterward) lends such a strong sense of history and realism to the story. Set amidst that backdrop is the story of a young boy coming of age, struggling to find identity during the twilight of adolescence and the dawn of manhood. And if that isn’t enough, Klause deftly weaves a mysterious Egyptian reincarnation romance, reminiscent of the subplot in the film The Mummy Returns, into her tale.
Within a few pages, Freaks becomes a page turner. Mystery, suspense, and danger rub shoulders with romance, adventure, and intrigue. Powerful messages about acceptance of those around us lie just at the surface and yet those messages are never preachy or forced. Klause uses her words to provoke such an immediate sense of caring about these characters that you feel their plight and from the very beginning you are rooting for their success.
Annette Curtis Klause deserves praise for writing an adolsecent male character with a voice that feels genuine. The sexual urges of a seventeen year old boy are a very realistic part of the tale and yet the references to that aspect of adolescence are never treated as lurid nor included to shock or titillate. Those aspects are treated with respect as are the urges of teenagers to leave the comfort and protection of their parents behind to make their own way in life. Maybe men just aren’t that hard to figure out, but I still give Ms. Klause her props for giving voice to a male protagonist that will resonate with males who read this book.
This is a beautiful little trade paperback book that tells a beautiful story of love and friendship, of the cruelty of the world and of the need to stick together to fight that cruelty. I could not put it down and yet I am very sad that it is over. I miss the characters in this book already and imagine that I will be revisiting them again in the future.
In the author’s note Ms. Klause says, “…and I didn’t know that I would fall in love with my characters as much as I did”. I didn’t know that I would either, but I am so glad that I was given the chance. They are wonderfully realized and I already consider them old friends.
I highly recommend this book. It is a fascinating look into a part of our past that no longer exists wrapped up in a wonderful, adventure-filled romance. I look forward to reading more of Annette Curtis Klause’s work soon.
That cover is great; had I seen it at Borders the cover alone would have intrigued me enough that I would have had to take it home with me. The story sounds appealing, especially since it’s so multi-layered. I bought a book called The Red Thread for RIP that I’m having some difficulty leaving until then. I loved the way you posed the Poppit with the book.
Thanks Pat, the Poppet seems circus-like, so I had to include it. Missed having lunch with you yesterday, sorry about that.
I went back to look at the book cover again and I was admiring the background of tree bark. Is that tree in your backyard? It looks immense?
Yep, it is a big old dying tree (Dutch Elm disease) that needs to go away someday. I should really have it taken down to plant something new but it is just so costly.
I will agree with pat. I love that picture of the poppet with what sounds like another great book.
LOL! I just saw the knives too. Great touch.
This is a book I would have no interest in. It would never capture my attention and I would never include it on my “to consider list.” Except….that your review wonderfully captures the magic of the book and prompts me to reconsider my initial decision.
Yes, I will seek it out, It is obvious that you not only read books but that you fall into them.
You truly write glorious reviews. Thank you Carl V.
This book sounds great! I’ve always loved coming of age stories and the setting of this one is so unique and right up my alley. I’m making a list of books to pick up while I’m in Texas visiting with Megan…we always do a lot of book shopping together and there’s a half-price books there! I’ll put this one on the list. If it’s not at half-price books, I’ll pick it up at B&N…looking forward to it already. Great review Carl, and I love the pic you took. Great cover!
well you certainly are creative with your camera! ( I think you poppets travel more than I do!)
I think if you’ve ever written anything that you are personally proud of that you wind up loving your own characters. You don’t get a choice, after all, you make each and everyone of them exactly how you want them… what’s not to like?
Another one I hadn’t heard of, but it’s going straight to the wishlist. The cover alone would have caught my eye, but after your great review, I’m convinced!
I always love the pictures you use in your reviews, Carl.
This book sounds positively fabulous. I’ll have to keep my eyes open for it. 🙂
carl, you should write these reviews with a warning! you write them so well that i always want to buy the book!! 🙂
that IS a gorgeous cover and with krause you seem to have discovered a gem of a writer!
Love the cover and the review. I’ll be looking for this one. Thanks, Carl.
Great review, Carl! I think I’ll read it. Of course, you went on so much about the cover I think I better check it out from the library. I would hate to spill on it or something. ;o)
I too like the artistic set up with the tree and knives and of course the poppet.
Wow, I love that cover! And I have very fond memories of reading Blood and Chocolate in my early teens. I’m definitely going to put this on my wish list. Thanks for the review!
It looks like something I would really enjoy. Loving the cover art too.
This one sounds great!
Sounds wonderful! I can definitely understand how that opening line would have laid to rest any thoughts of setting the book aside for a bit.
Damn you, wicked enabler!!! The James Jean cover immediately smached me as well (Fables fan, Fables fan!), and I just got Blood and Chocolate from BookMooch recently. This one is most definitely going on the mooch list as well.
I don’t mind being accused of enabling when the book is this enjoyable!!! I am so glad they changed the cover on the trade as I may not have picked up this wonderful book otherwise…I thought the hardback cover was creative, but not something that would have made me pick up the book. I don’t think it represents the spirit of the story like the James Jean cover does.
well I just completed this book and I think it was amazing. I loved the ancient egyptian reincarnated love touch to it and the whole in total was a page turner. I couldn’t put it down until it was over. I really loved it especially the flash back memory scenes between Abel (Ankhtifi) and Tauseret.
Wasn’t it wonderful, Annie? I loved this book and have actually had a hankering to read it again. For some reason I’ve been thinking about it alot these past couple of days so maybe that is a sign that I need to dive in again.
Yes, this is, hands down, one of the top 3 books I read last year. The cover sucked me in, too, and I’m so glad it did.
(And I ended up loving so much that my husband CUT it out of his coveted James Jean book to put it on the wall for me.)
This is one of those “deserving of wider recognition” books.
Wow, now that is commitment!!! I tell you I was…and still am…half tempted to buy another of those James Jean books just to cut the pages out for framing.
I really loved it to and I know it is a book I will reread sometime in the future. Glad you enjoyed it as well.
I read Blood and Chocolate ages ago and enjoyed it. I didn’t know she had any other other books out aside from Silver Kiss. Your review has intrigued me. Going on book list now.
I read Blood and Chocolate after I read this one and though I enjoyed it, I didn’t like it as much as I liked this one. And, though it is blasphemous to say, I preferred the movie version of Blood and Chocolate to the book.
I preferred the movie version too. I just didn’t like how Blood and Chocolate ended so it was fun to see an alternate ending in the movie. And I thought the way they showed them transforming into werewolves was really beautiful.
Jehara: I think what bothered me most about the book was that it had a “each kind needs to stick with their own kind” vibe which not only seemed discriminatory, but seemed to me to be exactly the opposite kind of message than that which Klause was giving in Freaks.
Be thankful for god they invented bark shock collar. This dog has learned his lesson and I lastly have peace.