This story follows four boys in a two week period of time. It tells of love, friendship, and first times. Carnival Decatur was an emotional story that was heartbreaking in some ways and heart stealing in others. Like all books I read, there are things that I loved and things that were not great for me, but overall this was an excellent book and a great story to read.
Jesse is a carny’s son, who has traveled with the carnival for as long as he can remember. Though he lost his mother when he was young, he has great memories of her. He and his father live and travel together, never staying in a town for more than two weeks. This life is hard on Jesse because he wants friends and a chance at love. He doesn’t believe he can have love because he is never in the same town long enough to have a real relationship with anyone.
Tate is the Mayor’s son. His father is religious and cares a lot about appearances. He is afraid to be himself and be out because he doesn’t know how his father will take the news. He believes he is falling for the carny boy as soon as he sets eyes on Jesse, however there is also someone else in Tate’s life who is very important to him.
Rand is Tate’s best friend. He is secretly in love with Tate and just waiting for Tate to figure it out for himself. He is very confident that Tate will figure it out and is not afraid to push Tate into becoming friends with the Carny Boy. Though not out to the public, he also doesn’t try to hide his sexuality.
Donny is the new guy at the carnival. He has a past that haunts him, but is ready to move on with his life, and become independent. He shies away from questions of his sexuality even with himself. He wants to pretend that the right girl will make his thoughts of being gay go away.
I like how the story is told in all the points of view. They each have a few chapters then the story evenly cycles through each boy’s POV. This worked very well for the story. I felt I got to know and understand each of the boys and their feelings. I never needed to question whose POV it was. I like stories that make that clear. It helps keep me in the story if I don’t have to skip ahead just to see who is thinking, speaking, or acting at that time. Though, one bad thing about this is, by the time we cycle back to the first of the boys, big things have happened and I didn’t feel as connected to them or why they made the decisions they made.
All the feelings and actions seemed to work with each boy, and the author did a great job describing what they all felt. Another thing that was not great for me in this story was the over describing and detailing. There is a point where there is too much description in a story. There were a few parts where I got lost in the words. Using too many metaphors in a paragraph, or to explain the same thing, can pull me out of a story. That may be because in my mind I think with images more so than words. Too many images at one time will throw me off.
The story has a few surprises and three of the boys have special talents. It was interesting to see how these gifts were used and/or not used. I like how the author explained them in the book and made it easy to follow what each gift did for each boy. The author also left the ending wide open for more books to follow, however I would have liked a bit more closure on a few things before we ended this part of their lives.
Jesse is a carny’s son, who has traveled with the carnival for as long as he can remember. Though he lost his mother when he was young, he has great memories of her. He and his father live and travel together, never staying in a town for more than two weeks. This life is hard on Jesse because he wants friends and a chance at love. He doesn’t believe he can have love because he is never in the same town long enough to have a real relationship with anyone.
Tate is the Mayor’s son. His father is religious and cares a lot about appearances. He is afraid to be himself and be out because he doesn’t know how his father will take the news. He believes he is falling for the carny boy as soon as he sets eyes on Jesse, however there is also someone else in Tate’s life who is very important to him.
Rand is Tate’s best friend. He is secretly in love with Tate and just waiting for Tate to figure it out for himself. He is very confident that Tate will figure it out and is not afraid to push Tate into becoming friends with the Carny Boy. Though not out to the public, he also doesn’t try to hide his sexuality.
Donny is the new guy at the carnival. He has a past that haunts him, but is ready to move on with his life, and become independent. He shies away from questions of his sexuality even with himself. He wants to pretend that the right girl will make his thoughts of being gay go away.
I like how the story is told in all the points of view. They each have a few chapters then the story evenly cycles through each boy’s POV. This worked very well for the story. I felt I got to know and understand each of the boys and their feelings. I never needed to question whose POV it was. I like stories that make that clear. It helps keep me in the story if I don’t have to skip ahead just to see who is thinking, speaking, or acting at that time. Though, one bad thing about this is, by the time we cycle back to the first of the boys, big things have happened and I didn’t feel as connected to them or why they made the decisions they made.
All the feelings and actions seemed to work with each boy, and the author did a great job describing what they all felt. Another thing that was not great for me in this story was the over describing and detailing. There is a point where there is too much description in a story. There were a few parts where I got lost in the words. Using too many metaphors in a paragraph, or to explain the same thing, can pull me out of a story. That may be because in my mind I think with images more so than words. Too many images at one time will throw me off.
The story has a few surprises and three of the boys have special talents. It was interesting to see how these gifts were used and/or not used. I like how the author explained them in the book and made it easy to follow what each gift did for each boy. The author also left the ending wide open for more books to follow, however I would have liked a bit more closure on a few things before we ended this part of their lives.
I give this book 3 marbles. I recommend this book to others and will definitely be waiting for the second book to come out.~Timmy
Carnival Decatur by Zoe Lynne
Available in Print and eBook
About Carnival Decatur
In a world of lights, music, fanfare and fun, there’s not a lot left to the mundane, and nothing can be truer for four special boys whose lives intertwine in a most unusual, unexpected way. They all have secrets and supernatural powers that set them apart from the average small town high-schooler.
Jessie’s world revolves around his family’s traveling carnival. Tate’s busy being the good son to Decatur, Alabama’s first black mayor. Rand knows everyone’s secrets. And Donny wants a family. When sexuality and special abilities become each boy’s focus, a whole new realm of possibilities opens up. With an uncertain road ahead of them, their talents to see the future, hear other people's thoughts, and manipulate wills might help them change their destined courses and find the right path.
Four boys. Each with his own cross to bear. Just trying to grow up.
Excellent review, Timmy!
ReplyDeleteYou spotted all the things I've had running around in my mind for days since I read this book.
I've read another book by the same author which was a smashing story, called Freeing Stella, so I was expecting a bit more here. I got lost in the words a lot. Too much telling and not enough showing!
Three marbles, that's a good evaluation, I think.
Well done!
It's not that it was a bad story, just I like a little more action. But it was a good story to read, and I love the characters.
Delete<3 Timmy
I agree! Nice story. Could have been a bit longer, perhaps. :-)
DeleteYes, longer would have been good. If it was longer I might not have felt I had missed some things.
Delete<3 Timmy
A lovely review Timmy. I myself have a lot of trouble with "wordy" descriptions lol. I like to know what things look like or feel like and such but I'm happy if the author keeps it simple rather than try to impress people with all the words they can use to describe one thing.
ReplyDeleteA possible for me, but I might wait till more are available.
Let me know if you decide to read it Deeze.
Delete<3 Timmy
Great concise, thoughtful review as always! I also read as a movie plays in my head ... how kool & inexpensive is that! Reading & a movie! I will put this on my TBR list & wait to see if their is a companion book. Thank you for the very literate review! Here's a whole bag of marbles for you!
ReplyDeleteThere ... not their ... hate auto correct when it's wrong!
DeleteIt's fun to be able to do that isn't it? But we also have to be careful not to overload our head with images that can take away from the story.
Delete<3 Timmy
Really well-balanced review, Timmy.
ReplyDeleteThanks Aniko! Thanks for stopping by and reading.
Delete<3 Timmy
I'll be looking this one up! Great review, Timmy! <3
ReplyDeleteSo glad you liked it. Let me know your thoughts on the book after you have read it.
Delete<3 Timmy
This is a terrific review, Timmy. I'm interested in knowing exactly worked and didn't work for you in the story. You made your review very clear and concise and I like that.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it was helpful for you. Though I do like to recommend books, it's important that I say what I feel didn't work. That way the other readers will know if this will be a problem for them as well.
Delete<3 Timmy