≫ Read Masters of Illusions A Novel of the Connecticut Circus Fire MaryAnn Tirone Smith 9780446518062 Books

Masters of Illusions A Novel of the Connecticut Circus Fire MaryAnn Tirone Smith 9780446518062 Books

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Masters of Illusions A Novel of the Connecticut Circus Fire MaryAnn Tirone Smith 9780446518062 Books

I have been fascinated with the Hartford Circus Fire ever since I first saw the History Channel special "Fire Under the Big Top". In order to learn more and satisfy my morbid curiosity, I read anything I could get my hands on about the subject, with Stewart O'Nan's "The Circus Fire" being the most informative, well-written documentation. After learning a good deal about the true facts, this book was very frustrating to read, even though O'Nan himself complimented the author's work. I understand for legal reasons the author probably had to change certain details about a few things, but a good portion of the story is just. . . wrong. The fictionalization and renaming of real places that existed and actual events that happened at the time of the fire irritated me; people who read the book and don't know any better will think it to be true facts. The sub plot about Little Miss 1565's identity is also frustrating to read if you know the truth. In real life, she was exhumed and reburied after investigator Rick Davey (who the character of Charlie is based on) insisted she was Eleanor Cook, even though forensic evidence did not match up and close members of Eleanor Cook's own family said it wasn't her.Little Miss 1565 was a real person- and to write her into a story using made up details about who she and her family were is disrespectful and half-assed writing on the author's part.
Besides the historical inconsistencies, my other main problem with this book is what drags all of the characters are. Margie only wants to read and puts sitting in a chair with a book ahead of everything thing else going on in her life. Charlie only cares about the fire, and their daughter Martha, while frustrated herself with her mother's apathy and father's obsession, comes off as equally annoying. While this book is certainly not the worst thing I've ever read, I just can't get past the lack of correct information.


Tags : Masters of Illusions: A Novel of the Connecticut Circus Fire [Mary-Ann Tirone Smith] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. In an historical novel based on the 1944 Barnum & Bailey's circus tent fire that killed hundreds, two survivors reexamine their lives and marriage while seeking the fire's true cause. By the author of The Port of Missing Men.,Mary-Ann Tirone Smith,Masters of Illusions: A Novel of the Connecticut Circus Fire,Grand Central Publishing,0446518069,Thrillers - Suspense,Circus - Fiction,Circus performers;Fiction.,Hartford (Conn.);Fiction.,Hartford Circus Fire, Hartford, Conn., 1944;Fiction.,Historical fiction,Circus,Circus performers,FICTION Historical General,Fiction,Fiction - Historical,Fiction Thrillers Suspense,Fiction : Suspense,Fiction-Suspense,GENERAL,General Adult,Hartford Circus Fire, Hartford, Conn., 1944,Historical - General,MysterySuspense,POPULAR AMERICAN FICTION,United States,Hartford (Conn.),Hartford Circus Fire, Hartford,Ringling Brothers Barnum and B

Masters of Illusions A Novel of the Connecticut Circus Fire MaryAnn Tirone Smith 9780446518062 Books Reviews

I am a history buff, especially regarding clowns and circuses and I have long had an interest in what came to be know as "The Day the Clowns Cried", the circus fire in Hartford CT in 1944. As such I was really looking forward to reading this book. If the story had not claimed to be fiction that is based on fact, I'd have given it a great review. Unfortunately, the author does what several others (Lloyd Douglas, author of the Robe and The Big Fisherman, comes to mind) have done. She doesn't even care to get her facts straight. This is even more shocking considering she is actually from the town where the real fire took place.

Clown Emmett Kelly was not late; he was on his way to perform on schedule (he and another clown did a comedy routine while the Great Wallendas performed), not as the book suggests an act to keep the audience's attention away from the wild cats being removed from the ring. The entire big top was not coated with parrafin and gasoline, only the roof (although the stitching that held the tent together was easily flammable dry hemp). I could go on and on. My point is this. If you want an accurate picture of what really happened, read "The Circus Fire" by Stewart O'Nan. If you don't care about the historical accuracy and are simply looking for a good mystery book with a shock ending (also not remotely based on fact other than that experts today seem to agree the circus fire was arson), then by all means, enjoy the book. The author really is a good storyteller; she just doesn't care to get her facts straight and should probably steer clear of historical based fiction.
I read this after reading Stewart O'Nan's vastly superior book, "The Circus Fire." Otherwise, the the novel that is the subject of this review would have made little sense.
The problem is that things just seem to happen willy nilly. The fireman casts aside a girl he's about to marry to take up with a scarred survivor of the circus fire. Why? Why was the first girl even introduced? And the novel just goes on from there.
Most irritating, perhaps, is the daughter, Martha, whose only reason for being seems to be to explain to the dumb reader the psychological workings beneath the surface. I got to the point that I just didn't care. Martha reminded me of Scarpatta's niece in a Patricia Cornwell thriller smarmy, irritating, and ultimately a pain in the you know what.
The denouement of this novel is just too, too pat. Still, it's an improvement over the middle third of the book, which is where we are treated to all the pop psychology. Alas, this could have been so much better if it had been thought out better.
I could not put the book down.I was great.I also recommend her book,Girls of certin age.Another good read.Especially if you are from Connecticut,.
I have been fascinated with the Hartford Circus Fire ever since I first saw the History Channel special "Fire Under the Big Top". In order to learn more and satisfy my morbid curiosity, I read anything I could get my hands on about the subject, with Stewart O'Nan's "The Circus Fire" being the most informative, well-written documentation. After learning a good deal about the true facts, this book was very frustrating to read, even though O'Nan himself complimented the author's work. I understand for legal reasons the author probably had to change certain details about a few things, but a good portion of the story is just. . . wrong. The fictionalization and renaming of real places that existed and actual events that happened at the time of the fire irritated me; people who read the book and don't know any better will think it to be true facts. The sub plot about Little Miss 1565's identity is also frustrating to read if you know the truth. In real life, she was exhumed and reburied after investigator Rick Davey (who the character of Charlie is based on) insisted she was Eleanor Cook, even though forensic evidence did not match up and close members of Eleanor Cook's own family said it wasn't her.Little Miss 1565 was a real person- and to write her into a story using made up details about who she and her family were is disrespectful and half-assed writing on the author's part.
Besides the historical inconsistencies, my other main problem with this book is what drags all of the characters are. Margie only wants to read and puts sitting in a chair with a book ahead of everything thing else going on in her life. Charlie only cares about the fire, and their daughter Martha, while frustrated herself with her mother's apathy and father's obsession, comes off as equally annoying. While this book is certainly not the worst thing I've ever read, I just can't get past the lack of correct information.