One of Us
by Dan Chaon
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A playfully macabre and utterly thrilling tale about orphaned twins on the run from their murderous uncle who find refuge in a bizarre traveling carnival, from master of literary horror Dan Chaon
It's 1915 and the world is transforming, but for thirteen-year-old Bolt and Eleanor--twins so close they can literally read each other's minds--life is falling apart. When their mother dies, they are forced to leave home under the care of a vicious con man who claims to be their long-lost uncle Charlie, the only kin they have left. During a late-night poker game, when one of his rages ends in murder, they decide to flee.
Salvation arrives in the form of Mr. Jengling, founder of the Emporium of Wonders and father to its many members. He adopts Bolt and Eleanor, who travel by train across the vast, sometimes brutal American frontier with their new family, watching as the exhibitions spark amazement wherever they go. There's Minnie, the three-legged lady, and Dr. Chui, who stands over seven feet tall; Thistle Britches, the clown with no nose, and Rosalie, who can foretell the death of anyone she meets.
After a lifetime of having only each other, Eleanor and Bolt are finally part of something bigger. But as Bolt falls in deeper with their new clan, he finds Eleanor pulling further away from him. And when Uncle Charlie picks up their trail, the twins find themselves facing a peril as strange as it is terrifying, one which will forever alter the trajectory of their lives. An ode to the misfits and the marginalized, One of Us is a riotous and singularly creepy celebration of the strange and the spectacular and of family in its many forms.
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Book Details
ISBN:
9781250175236
EAN:
9781250175236
Binding:
Hardcover
Pages:
288
Authors:
Dan Chaon
Publisher:
Henry Holt & Company

Not my favorite of Chaon’s novels but still entertaining. The whole circus/freak show setting was interesting but when it veered into the supernatural with the mind reading stuff it had me rolling my eyes a bit.
“There should be a word for that cosmic deflation you feel when your whole heart is singing with joy and anticipation, when you are most full of childlike hope and delight, and then the person you love most in the world says something scornful.” (p89)Much of this novel is a lot of fun – a nice mix of adventure and mystery and magical realism. The characters are fascinating and largely likeable. Even the bad guy is interesting – the kind of person you enjoy hating. There’s plenty of social commentary, especially in the emotionally jarring epilogue.Ultimately, though, the story promises more than it delivers. After carefully setting up a central mystery, the author ends up dismissing it as irrelevant with a single throw-away line. For much of the book, the plot proceeds in a straightforward and largely predictable way, until it gives way to an over-the-top, jump-the-shark climax. The book certainly has its moments, but it’s too uneven to be entirely satisfying.
It was a book. I ordered it. I read it.
An intriguing read about coming of age twins Bolt and Elanor in 1915. After losing their parents at a young age, they are shuffled around and end up with Uncle Charlie. But is he really their uncle? The twins have a unique ability to read each other minds and possess other psychic powers. They run away and get adopted into a circus. Chaon weaves in historic elements like the Orphan Train, going from horses to automobiles during this time period which adds to the culture and people's perceptions of how to treat people that look different than others. The twins adapt to their circus life and we meet all sorts of characters. But always in the background is Uncle Charlie searching for the twins. Sinister and heartwarming, this story has many lessons about life to the reader. Highly recommend.
Loved the story of Bolt and Nellie..this was a good murder mystery and all the characters are just great !! This book will not disappoint..thank you for such a good story