The Invisible Circus

by Jennifer Egan

Book Overview

The highly acclaimed debut novel from the bestselling, award-winning author of A Visit from the Good Squad follows two sisters in the 1970s--one lost, one seeking--on "a trip that takes the reader through stunning emotional terrain" (The New Yorker).

The political drama and familial tensions of the 1960s form a backdrop for the world of Phoebe O'Connor, age eighteen, in 1978. Phoebe is obsessed with...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0307387526
• ISBN13: 9780307387523
• Release Date: October 2007
• Publisher: Anchor Books
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Marvellous - an extraordinary read.

The simplicity and honesty of this story thrilled me. The people are sharply observed; the language deft and graceful; the ultimate payoff immensely poignant. Phoebe and her sister struggle in a flood of history, captured with verve by Egan, that they can only begin to understand, reaching finally, each in her own way, a kind of transcendance.But this is much more than a coming-of-age book for girls (I'm a man, f'rinstance). "The Invisible Circus" is a section of our culture, the sixties, and today, carved deep in the earth of history.

An exquisitely written coming-of-age story.

There is not a word out of place in The Invisible Circus; it's been a long time since I've read such beautifully crafted prose in a contemporary novel. But the portrayal of Phoebe is most amazing: She's an intelligent, troubled, and wholly sympathetic girl who comes right off the page. I was with her all the way, and with this wonderful novel as well.

Traveling in Europe as a Young Girl

I loved this book and couldn't put it down! While it is successful in exploring the feeling that most of us brought up in the 70's had of eating leftovers from the 60s party; it is even better at portraying the excitement, danger, loneliness, and naivite that are part and parcel of a girl's first trip to Europe. I too was there, at the tail end of the '70's, and Egan is absolutely on target. She has created a picaresque novel with a female lead character who doesn't die, have a baby, or suffer incestuous abuse. How refreshing!Yes, some of the relationships seem improbable, there is some adolescent wish fulfilment in the relationship between Wolf and Phoebe, but I didn't mind. I thought the relationship was fun and romantic, and Wolf's dialogue and attitude was realistic enough to me to keep me glued to the page. Okay, I fell in love with him. I loved the scene where Phoebe meets Wolf in Europe for the first time! To me the extraneous stuff was in her mother's fantasy second marriage, and her brother's career. Admittedly, this book will appeal more to women than men.I was surprised to read above that they were making a movie out of it. It's suitable material, but I can't help but anticipate that Hollywood will make a mess out of it. Loved it, Loved it, Loved it. So go ahead and Buy it!

This hauntingly beautiful novel is why we read fiction.

Jennifer Egan's The Invisible Circus is a triumphant first novel. The riveting plot and fascinating characters make this book a page-turner, and the thematic reflections on memory and family ties keep the reader thinking of this book long after the last page. The gripping plot is at once a mystery and love story: Phoebe goes on a quest to understand her sister Faith so that she can begin her own life, free from the bonds of the unresolved family issues that Faith's life and mysterious death created. The portrayal of the relationship between Phoebe and Faith reflects more insightfully the bond between siblings than any other description I have read. Phoebe's impulsive trip to Europe results in a beautifully written adventure, filled with engaging vignettes and believable characters. Ultimately, however, it is not only the well wrought characters or carefully constructed plot that makes you love this book. Rather what makes this book a cut above are the stimulating reflections on the nature of memory, the search for transcendence, and the impact of even fleeting relationships on shaping everyday existence. The Invisible Circus will haunt you, leaving you pondering the elusiveness of memory and the ephemeral nature of experience. Faith's search for 'real life,' and the tragic consequences of her search prompts the reader to reflect on the nature of the ordinary versus the unusual, the struggle for balance between routine and risk. Ultimately this book helps the reader achieve a moment of transcendence, the highest achievement both in fiction and life.

a beautifully written piece of life

This book becomes a part of you. It comforts you and haunts you, follows you wherever you go in life. I've taken some very important lessons from between those pages and I will carry them with me throughout life. The author is extremely good at bringing all the elements of a good book (excitement, love, humor) together in one beautiful story. It is so well written, you don't even feel like you're reading...it's as if you are experiencing the tale itself. I was overwhelmed with anticipation for the end to come, but when it finally did, I was devastated that it was over