I thought this story was absolutely fantastic. The two narrators really brought Jacob to life, as a twenty-something circus vet and as a 90 (or 93) year old resident of a nursing home, though I have to say, as engaging and exciting as the 1930s circus scenes were, I found myself impatiently waiting to get back to the nursing home scenes and older Jacob. I thought he was absolutely hilarious and every interaction with Rosemary and the rest of the nurses just filled my heart.

Marlena, unfortunately, was pretty bland as a character, but the evidence of Jacob's love for her pretty nearly made up for it. It was beautiful to see that commitment carry through the book and drive some of the plot. After all, this book is not really a love story, despite its being touted by so many as one. That is, it's not a romance; it is something of a love story between a man and the circus, one that is dark, heartbreaking, and totally engrossing.