I didn't start out loving this book, but the characters and setting really drew me in. It was an extremely satisfying listening overall.

Deserves a five star rating.

This is definitely one of the cases where the audiobook format greatly helped in engaging the reader into the story.

I tried reading the paperback once. Put it down after the first chapter. Didn't really grab me that time.

I gave the story another chance after it was recommended by one of the podcasts I listen to. I figured that since I was going to get a free audiobook via the podcast promotion, it wouldn't hurt to try their recommendation. Was not disappointed at all.

Obviously I managed to get past the first chapter this time. Both narrators did an excellent job in portraying the old and young versions of the protagonist and helped contrast and distinguish their differences in character. Without it, I would have missed out on a great adventure set in Prohibition America involving the enigmatic institution that is the Circus.

If I were to gripe, it would just be that the female characters were limited in their emotional range/depth because the narrators are male. Otherwise it is an excellent audiobook production.

Recommended for people who like a good love story/adventure... and of course, elephants. ;)

Previous reviewers have said it all; the writing, the narration,the originality...best of the best!

I absolutely recommend this book.
The story, the narrative, the grand sweep of a long bygone era (not so unlike ours today) left me wanting for more. At the end, I laughed, and I cried, and started a second "listen".
My only peeve, was that their should have been a third narrator for the female characters of the story (but then that might have brought the narration up towards the "Radio Staging" level of audio-drama's.