“Sisters of the
Circus” takes the reader on a joy ride through Europe during the Roaring
Twenties. One can smell the sawdust, feel the swaying of the circus train as it
travels to its next destination, and feel the adrenaline pumping as the acts
prepare for the show. (Review by Fiona
De Goede)
Sisters of the Circus is set in the 1920’s in a traveling circus, The Cirque du Ciel. The owner/ringmaster is Garrett, a cruel and heartless taskmaster. He demands his pound of flesh from each and every performer, including the animal acts. Needless to say, this does not make him Employer of the Year and several of the circus folk try to escape from his avaricious claws – unfortunately not a successful endeavour.
The trapeze-artists and stars of the circus are twins Kahina and Noor. Originally from India, they were kidnapped at the age of four and sold to Cirque du Ciel. The daily grind of practicing their craft until their hands bleed and their bodies cramp in pain is all they know. However, they never stop hankering for their old life in India despite it being just a vague memory.
Behind the curtains of the blue-and-white striped tent and the glitz and glamour of sumptuous costumes, the hot buttery smell of popcorn and the sweet aroma of candy floss an aura of cruelty, lurk sinister dealings. As the story unfolds, this becomes more apparent and a sense of foreboding is imminent.
The two sisters, although virtually identical in looks, have very different personalities. Kahina is the calmer of the two, the leader and sensible one. Noor on the other hand is hot-headed and feisty, inclined to leap before she looks. When an incident involving Noor’s perceived disobedience necessitates her being demoted to clean the animal cages, her friendship with the animal handler Teo, intensifies. At the same time, Kel, a new recruit at the circus, is foisted upon Kahina and she is tasked with training him and honing his trapeze skills to an acceptable level.
Kahina is unused to someone like Kel – he flaunts the rules and his total disregard for doing things by the book, pushes Kahina out of her comfort zone. It makes her realize that life, freedom and choice are things she has never tasted.
The novel takes the reader on a joy ride through Europe during the Roaring Twenties. One can smell the sawdust, feel the swaying of the circus train as it travels to its next destination, and feel the adrenaline pumping as the acts prepare for the show. The glamourous costumes come to life as the author describes the sequins, the velvets, the draped molten gold fabrics.
A series of events unfold and the two sisters are faced with dire consequences. This novel beautifully captures the essence of what sisterhood, trust and courage is all about. The ending is quite open-ended and leaves the door open for a follow up.
Laila Manack is a South African English teacher and this is her debut novel. In her acknowledgements she thanks various of her school teachers that encouraged her to write – once again illustrating how powerful the formative school years can be. Here’s hoping she will continue! - Fiona de Goede
Sisters of the Circus is published by Penguin Random House South Africa. ISBN 978-1-77638-001-5
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