We may have received complimentary copies and/or review access to any books, products, and/or other visual or audio media mentioned below. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.
Books: The Circus of the Vanishing Elephant & A Season for Falling
Today, we recommend The Circus of the Vanishing Elephant by Tim Schooley. Henrietta, the vanishing elephant, the star attraction of the King Minos Circus, disappears for real during a routine parade walk. The number one suspect is King Minos' daughter, Randi, an activist who urged her father to free the elephants.
This is a beautiful story about the relationship between humans and animals. However, it is not only about the warm, loving bonds that can develop between them but also about the darker side of the relationship and the literal shackles that may keep them bound together.
The animals in the story are especially well drawn. Some even more so than some of the human characters. Henrietta in particular has so much personality, and completely worms her way into your heart. You can't help loving her and only wanting the best for her, although it is often hard to determine what that is. The author does a good job of presenting both sides of the circus animal debate. Although he does seem to favor conservationism somewhat more, he is not heavy-handed about it.
A secondary storyline deals with Ainge, a newbie clown, haunted by the ghost of his dead father after being rejected for being gay. Although the story is handled sensitively, the issue of his sexuality gets short shrift. A relationship between him and another circus worker is hinted at but never really gets developed. It is refreshing, however, that the relationship between Ainge and his mother doesn't get the cliched and unrealistic ending that so often happens in fiction but doesn't always occur in real life.
The book is also a primer on what it is like to be part of a circus. As a former clown himself, the author knows what he's talking about. There are lots of warm family vibes but also teasing, jealousy, and more. All in all, it's very much like being part of an actual family.
Today, we recommend A Season for Falling by Kate O'Shaughnessy. When Claire's TV career imploded after a devastating betrayal by her father/manager, she, her mom, and her brother left him and moved across the country. Determined to start again and lead a more normal life, Claire keeps her past hidden, but when her childhood friend, former co-star, and secret crush Luca comes to town to film a movie, old feelings rise to the surface, and it becomes harder and harder to keep her past hidden.
This book provides a real insider's view of the darker side of childhood stardom. However, Claire is lucky enough to have risen above it rather than succumb to the dangers of drugs, alcohol, or other numbing substances to deal with her past. This is largely due to the support of her extremely loving and tremendously supportive mom and brother, but Claire herself shows an admirable strength and fortitude. Whatever happens, she deals with it; she never retreats into either herself or the aforementioned drugs, alcohol, or other substances.
Claire's father, on the other hand, is a selfish asshole who never really has her best interest at heart, something she has to learn the hard way. His gambling problem is no excuse for his treatment of his daughter, and even when his family literally leaves him, he still doesn't learn his lesson.
Luca is sweet and really seems to care about Claire. He can be annoyingly wishy-washy at times, however, and doesn't always stand up for himself or Claire when he should. However, as someone who has always had his decisions made for him, it is somewhat understandable but not always forgivable. He does show growth over the course of the story, however.
The ending of the book is satisfying, but in a relastic way. Although ardent romance fans may not accept it and may choose to imagine a future for these characters beyond what is written on the page, others will find it refreshing.
Movie: Before the Ice Melts
Today, we are talking about Before the Ice Melts. This movie is about a young female hockey player waiting to hear if she will get drafted. This film is very narrowly focused and accordingly extremely short. It feels like just as you are getting into it when it's already over. It would have been nice to know more about what happened before and/or after, particularly before. However, it is somewhat inspirational, particularly for young girls who have been told that they cannot do certain things because they are girls. It also teaches good lessons about perseverance, self-confidence, and adaptability, as you have to adjust to a reality that may be a little different than you wanted or expected, but it can still be equally good.
And that's our view. The Circus of the Vanishing Elephant was published last Tuesday, September 15, 2026. A Season for Falling was published today. Before the Ice Melts is now available on DVD and for digital purchase or rental.
Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.
Images other than film images in this post are our own. Film images were sent to us from publicists, artists, and/or PR firms. Address any concerns regarding image usage here.
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