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A review by larksnest
Blood and Circuses by Kerry Greenwood
3.0
Before I started reading this, I saw a review that said this is the worst book in the series thus far, that the radical change of scenery and the lack of the known and loved supporting characters makes it fall flat. This led me to read it expecting it to be bad, and I really feel it wasn't. It was interesting, there was a real mystery as to the real killer (and how many storylines overlap), and plenty of interesting happenings in the circus.
Its true that there is a lack of the characters we love - Dot, Hugh, Cec, Bert, The Butlers - but I kind of enjoyed seeing Phryne struggle with insecurity when she had no adoring audience. The author may have taken it a step too far - I don't think Phryne's face would burn at the thought of receiving hand-me-downs to wear - but its definitely a change from her real life - where her money and stature let her behave as shamelessly as she'd like.
Contains a lot of bullying regarding various "otherness" in society.
I have some thoughts! (hidden under the cut):
I hope the dealing with the intersex/hermaphrodite character didn't seem offensive to anyone reading. I kept in mind that it was 1928, and that overall the characters seemed accept Mr. Christopher - except that one gross cop, and he was sharply reprimanded by Jack.
It still breaks my heart that just being born of a certain race (gypsy), or intersex, or a little person, would leave you little choice but to join the circus to get acceptance. There were a lot of new characters, not all of whom we get to know closely or have a reason to like - I honestly didn't care at all about Alan Lee or the snake lady, etc. But each one came with their story of why they don't fit into normal society, and therefore the circus (and its crew of characters) become a surrogate family. A dysfunctional one, with hierarchies and unwritten rules, but sort of a family nonetheless. It almost makes the idea of a circus bearable.
The "sex with a clown in full makeup" scene was enough to make me want to hurl. I can't imagine what could be less sexy. Did people not have an aversion to clowns in the twenties?? With his FACE PAINT ON? Girl, no.
Miss Molly was a particularly polarising character. At first you feel awful for her, the person she loved just died. And then you stop feeling awful, because she sexually assaults Phryne, and spews a bunch of hateful retoric about how she isn't gay, isn't a "freak", but the scent of ladies turned on "brings it out in her". I think in today's world, Molly could get rid of the female body she hates and thinks has never belonged in, and transition to be a man. Or maybe all she needs is some therapy and to stop thinking of LGBTQ people as freaks? The person she loved most was an intersex man, and the only person she was ever attracted to - okay, I did still feel for her a little. But she didn't seem to grow and learn, even after getting to know the other characters.
I loved Elsie from the other storyline - I didn't expect to, but her way of talking really won me over. Hats off to the crazy lady.
Its true that there is a lack of the characters we love - Dot, Hugh, Cec, Bert, The Butlers - but I kind of enjoyed seeing Phryne struggle with insecurity when she had no adoring audience. The author may have taken it a step too far - I don't think Phryne's face would burn at the thought of receiving hand-me-downs to wear - but its definitely a change from her real life - where her money and stature let her behave as shamelessly as she'd like.
Contains a lot of bullying regarding various "otherness" in society.
I have some thoughts! (hidden under the cut):
Spoiler
I hope the dealing with the intersex/hermaphrodite character didn't seem offensive to anyone reading. I kept in mind that it was 1928, and that overall the characters seemed accept Mr. Christopher - except that one gross cop, and he was sharply reprimanded by Jack.
It still breaks my heart that just being born of a certain race (gypsy), or intersex, or a little person, would leave you little choice but to join the circus to get acceptance. There were a lot of new characters, not all of whom we get to know closely or have a reason to like - I honestly didn't care at all about Alan Lee or the snake lady, etc. But each one came with their story of why they don't fit into normal society, and therefore the circus (and its crew of characters) become a surrogate family. A dysfunctional one, with hierarchies and unwritten rules, but sort of a family nonetheless. It almost makes the idea of a circus bearable.
The "sex with a clown in full makeup" scene was enough to make me want to hurl. I can't imagine what could be less sexy. Did people not have an aversion to clowns in the twenties?? With his FACE PAINT ON? Girl, no.
Miss Molly was a particularly polarising character. At first you feel awful for her, the person she loved just died. And then you stop feeling awful, because she sexually assaults Phryne, and spews a bunch of hateful retoric about how she isn't gay, isn't a "freak", but the scent of ladies turned on "brings it out in her". I think in today's world, Molly could get rid of the female body she hates and thinks has never belonged in, and transition to be a man. Or maybe all she needs is some therapy and to stop thinking of LGBTQ people as freaks? The person she loved most was an intersex man, and the only person she was ever attracted to - okay, I did still feel for her a little. But she didn't seem to grow and learn, even after getting to know the other characters.
I loved Elsie from the other storyline - I didn't expect to, but her way of talking really won me over. Hats off to the crazy lady.