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The only life Sonja has ever known was on the road. Now she must choose between the carnival and her convictions, between her family and her faith. This beautifully written memoir of growing up in post-war Germany and meeting the Mormon missionaries will remind you of how much God loves each one of us and how his power can make anything possible.
l_manning
Posted November 8, 2012
Sonja has known nothing but living on the go. Growing up in Germany after World War II is interesting enough, but Sonja's parents run a carnival. This means Sonja is always moving from place to place. This can make it difficult to make friends and get a consistent education, but none of this holds Sonja back. Not even being stuffed in a small caravan with her 3 siblings can hold her down. Sonja tries to make the best of her life, and even manages to find something she didn't know she was looking for- religion. Her faith allows her to make a new life, but she never forgets her old one.
I found this book very interesting. What a fascinating way to grow up! I really felt for Sonja's mom; she seemed to chafe with the constant moving. That would be so hard, especially with so many small children. In some ways though, that lifestyle seems like something I dreamed of as a child. Running a carnival was definitely interesting as evidenced by this book. There were also some unique situations the family found themselves in. I do with one particular thing had been delved into a little deeper, but I can see why it wasn't.
I think my favorite aspect of this book was Sonja's search for a sense of self and home even. She eventually found this, but I don't think it's where she expected. Through everything though, you can tell Sonja has an amazing affection for her mother. In some ways this is a very sweet tribute to all her mother went through raising children on the road. I am really looking forward to the book about her mother's life during the war. This is a book that many people will enjoy. It reads like fiction in some ways, but it is all real. It's a great book.
Book provided for review.
beaniz
Posted July 18, 2012
Carnival Girl by Sonja Herbert A Memoir Published by Cedar Fort
This is a very well-written memoir of the childhood of a young girl born in the aftermath of WWII Germany, raised in a carnival.
I've always been fascinated by WWII history. The author's mother, half Jewish, ran away to the circus to evade the Nazis. She fell in love and married a man who worked in the circus. They left the circus together with the beginnings of their own caravan. They added to it a little at a time as they added to their family.
Their entire living depended upon and confined to this small caravan that traveled from carnival to carnival in central Germany.
The arduous task of eeking out a living, and their daily routines were so well described I pictured myself in the background viewing the crowded living conditions, the author going for water, and fulfilling her chores. I felt the cold winters and the awkward feelings of "the new kid" every time she attended a new school.
Contrasting this to my own childhood, I can't help but feel blessed. Though no one's life is perfect, my basic needs were met in a warm, cozy home with running water. This was a wide eye-opener for me.
In spite of her challenges, or perhaps because of them, Sonja recognized the hand of the Lord at an early age. She had a strong desire to learn of her Heavenly Father and an appetite for education. And then, she met the missionaries.
At the beginning of most of the chapters, the author draws us back to the present where her mother is paying her an extended visit. This serves two purposes. First, while Sonja and her mother relive the past together, she learns some of the reasons for her mother's behavior, memories she'd previously seen through a child's understanding. Second, although a bit distracting, the present serves to bring the past into sharp contrast. All in all, this memoir is an honest glimpse into another time, another world. It's an enjoyable read.
Icecream18JA
Posted July 16, 2012
How many times have we wished we could be part of a carnival? Sonja, the main character, travels in a caravan home and helps "build" carnivals. Her life may seem exciting, but it is apparent that it may be less than ideal. Margot, Sonja's mother, first started travelling with the carnival to hide during WWII. Margot is not a religious woman, can be a little crass, and rarely fawns over her children. Whether or not Margot knows it, she plays a large part in shaping Sonja's character. Sonja mainly wants her family to appreciate and love her. She doesn't always feel noticed or care about and simply wants to do her best. It could be said that Sonja's loneliness led her to God. Will Sonja's deepening faith lessen or cause trouble with her family?
This memoir is not exactly up-lifting. The readers will most likely find themselves wanting to hug Sonja. Sonja speaks plainly and succinctly in the memoir; the only subject the reader may want to know more about would be Sonja's parents-how did they meet? What happened to Margot during the War? Getting to know Sonja made this book worth reading for me. The book isn't fast-paced, but this isn't a book a reader would probably want to skim through. This book is set in a very topsy-turvy, unsettled time in history, a setting that adds to the novel. Overall, this book is recommended to adult readers.
Overview
The only life Sonja has ever known was on the road. Now she must choose between the carnival and her convictions, between her family and her faith. This beautifully written memoir of growing up in post-war Germany and meeting the Mormon missionaries will remind you of how much God loves each one of us and how his power can make anything possible.