Circus Folk | Michael Chin | Fiction | ARC Book Review

 Book Info

Name of Book :  Circus Folk

Author :  Michael Chin

Publisher :  Hoot 'n' Waddle

Publication Date :  29 November, 2019

No. of Pages :  215

Format :  E Book

Why did I choose the book?

To tell the truth, I was fascinated with the title of the book, Circus Folk by Michael Chin. The book was offered as an ARC by @BookTasters on twitter in exchanged of an honest review.

Where to get the book?

The book, Circus Folk by Michael Chin is available on Amazon : 

Paperback

Author Introduction

Michael Chin was born and raised in Utica, New York and currently live in Las Vegas with his wife and son. He serves as an Assistant Professor in Residence for the Honors College at UNLV. Michael is also an alum of the MFA program in creative writing at Oregon State University and the MA program in writing at Johns Hopkins University. He completed my BA at The State University of New York Geneseo.

I am the author of four full-length books. You Might Forget the Sky was Ever Blue is available from Duck Lake Books (2019), Circus Folk is available from Hoot ‘n’ Waddle (2019), and The Long Way Home is available from Cowboy Jamboree Press (2020). Most recently, my debut novel, My Grandfather’s an Immigrant, and So Is Yours is out from Cowboy Jamboree Press (2021).

My chapbook, Autopsy and Everything After, won The Florida Review's Jeanne Leiby Chapbook Contest (2017-2018). I previously published two other chapbooks, The Leo Burke Finish with Gimmick Press (2017) and Distance Traveled with Bent Window Books (2018).

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Blurb

The circus at the heart of this tragically beautiful collection of stories by Michael Chin, led by a tortured ringmaster, filled with performers bound together by the tenuous common thread of having nowhere else to run, is not the glitz and glamour big top you might expect, but rather a dark, mystical place where you go to forget and be forgotten--a circus traveling out of necessity more than anything else. At times reminiscent of Bradbury and Matheson, CIRCUS FOLK draws you into a vivid world that will haunt you in the best way.

My Opinion

Circus Folk by Michael Chin is an excellent collection of emotions and feelings of people of Circus. A Circus is always on the road full of freaks, musicians, dancers and acrobats. But, they all have a story to tell which is excellently penned down by the author. The book is a real page turner and I finished it within one day. I really liked the book and enjoyed it. Although, I expected the book to be of horror genre but it turned out to be an emotional piece of gem. The plot hooked me from the very beginning and is really interesting.

I would give the book 5 stars for the plot and characters. Thanks to @BookTasters and Author @miketchin for giving me an opportunity to read and review the book. 

Character Portrayal

I am in love with the characters of Circus Folk by Michael Chin. Each and every character has a different story to narrate. My favorite character is Arabullonia, a clown who is trying to strive in this world of competition. While reading you can easily feel the emotional connection with them. 

Ratings

• Recommendation -------------- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Cover ---------------------------- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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• Characters ---------------------- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Climax -------------------------- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐