Registered@Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA.
I received ARC copy of this book.

I read Water for Elephant, but I was not really into circus. When I think about "circus", the first thing I think about is circus animals. It was not like I don't respect circus performers, but I had never thought about them, really.

Until I start reading this book, I knew nothing about Lilian Leitzel, a famous female aerialist. Nowadays, there is Cirque du Soleil, but she was performing since long time ago, before World War I. When I read of her performance, I was so shocked. How could she do that?! I mean, how could she abuse her body so much?! Also, she performed very frequently, more than once a day, in consecutive days. Her life and personality were fascinating. Probably because she was proud of her performance, she was both generous and selfish; I know it sounds very contradicting. Sometimes, a chapter to the next, or a paragraph to the next did not flow well. I assume the author couldn't find enough information to fill some gaps. Oh, her mother's story was also interesting enough, and it surely had a big influence on Leitzel's personality.

During reading this book, I searched if there were any video image about Leitzel and Alfredo Condos left, and I was able to find just a few clips. You can watch these either before or after reading this book. Or you may watch them in between :)


LEITZEL, LILLIAN, Ringling's gymnastic superstar (USA, c.1928)
LEITZEL, LILLIAN, extraordinary aerial gymnast, (USA, c.1929)
CODONAS, THE, at the Wintergarten, Berlin (Germany, c.1925)
CODONAS, THE, with Australian Vera Bruce (USA, c.1932)

This book starts its travel as US ONLY bookray. The forum post is here
With my home scale, its weight is 1lb 2 oz (490g).
Its size, width & height, is a bit irregularly big. (I already put into an envelope without measuring it, sorry!)

~~Mailing Order~~
1. JudySlump612 (MN)
2. iwillrejoice (FL)
3. azuki (FL)
4. AlterEgoZoe (PA)
5. hostile17 (IN)
6. hyphen (HI)
7. FeistyPom2Love

Arrived here safely today. Thanks, imuzak12, for the bookmark and the lovely bookplates!

I'm giving this book eight stars because, even after allowing for this being only an ARC and knowing editors will fix a lots of the problems, Dean Jensen is not a very smooth writer. For instance, he danced around her relationships with men, calling them "paramours" or "suitors." Pfui. They were lovers, whom Leitzel took and dismissed when and as she chose. And I frankly admire a woman with the self-confidence and honesty to be so proactive.

However, not even a writer like Jensen can dim the story of this dazzling performer. And like imusak12, I had never so much as heard of her. Leitzel's story is incredible, but true, and this is also a great look into the hidden details of circus life. I agree with imuzak12, this is much better than Water for Elephants.

Furthermore, I give imuzak12 ten stars for her Journal Entry, for including the video links. Incredible! The technical quality is indifferent, but we're looking back almost a century, and I'm grateful to have any record at all. Thank you!

Media mail to iwillrejoice

I left the Friends of the Library bookmark in the book, because it's such a good cause. I chose one of the beautiful bookmarks, and replaced it with another special one. I encourage others in the bookring likewise to take and replace, so that imuzak will find some nice surprises when the book returns to her.

It's here, safe & sound. I'll read it next, after I finish my current read. Thanks for this book ray!

I finished reading this this morning. I enjoyed reading about the lives of these performers, although I'm not sure I admired *everything* about them. I guess they would have been of my grandmother's generation. Such a different time.

I did find another link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyhsAmQYJrE

It's a trailer for the book, but it includes some good footage & photos.

I've left the bookmark & swapped out the bookplates. Fun idea.

Thanks for sharing! I'll PM azuki for her address & get this moving again as soon as I hear back.

No response yet from azuki. If I don't hear from her by tomorrow or Tuesday, I'll PM AlterEgoZoe next.

Released to azuki in Florida as next in line for this book ray. Happy travels, little book!

Tracking # 9449009699938809716640

Book is here. However, I will be travelling in a few days and will be gone for two weeks. I don't want to take a ring book w me as I don't want to lose or damage it, so I will start on it upon my return.

ETA: Didn't get to start sooner because of a string of house guests visiting. Started reading on 10/28. Should finish in two weeks.

This is a sad story. It's tough to learn how hard the artists torture their bodies daily, and putting themselves in such risk. It's like tempting death every day: any small equipment malfunction, any nano second off beat, can spell the end. Definitely make me appreciate the artists more.

It's also a love story, filled with so much potential for a happily-ever-after.

Thank you so much muzak12 for posting the you tube links.

My apologies for keeping the book for so long. Thank you for your patience and I will mail it out to the next reader within a week.

Recieved today.

I will be mailing this today to Hostile17.

Mailed. ;)

Book received.
Still recovering from my broken ankle but will try get this book moving to the next person as soon as I am able to.
I'm really looking forward to reading it.

I enjoyed this book but think it was 50 pages or so too long.
My favourite part of the book was reading the all to brief mention of "The Flying Codonas" doing the stunt work for Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'Hara AND Cheeta in the Tarzan movies. I laughed out loud to find out that THE MONKEY had a stunt double.
I also now know why,( when as a young child, I would try to swing from the vines in the woods and they would always break, leaving me with bumps and bruises), I could never swing through the trees like "Jane". In the movies they used Trapezes that had been strung into the tree tops. That 'splains so much. :D
I really enjoyed watching the old videos. Thanks so much to those who posted them.
I removed 1 bookplate and replaced it with a couple of bookmarks. Great idea to return the book to imuzak12 with a few goodies inside.
Snowed in at the moment and my ankle isn't up to shoveling but will try to get my son or my niece to stop by and take this to the post office for me before the week is out.

Mailing off today to hyphen8.
Enjoy!

Thanks for sharing this book!

Received today (less than 3 weeks is pretty good time for media mail to Hawaii) stuffed full of goodies and with a traveling companion. I'm in the middle of something right now, but this one will be up next.

(Larger photo here.)

A fascinating story about a woman I knew nothing about; kudos to Dean Jensen for keeping Leitzel's memory alive. I was impressed at how many of the other people I had heard of, sometimes in surprising ways. For instance, I had no idea that Glinda the Good was Mrs. Florenz Ziegfeld.

I've added a couple of bookmarks and PM'd FeistyPom2Love for an address so this book should be moving again soon.

Note to future readers: I apologize if the book looks a little grubby or sheds some brownish grit; before reading it, I treated it with coffee grounds to try to reduce the effect on my allergies..

FeistyPom2Love has asked to be skipped - is there another reader waiting for this book?

To be released at our fourth annual pop-up Skygate OBCZ during the 2014 Hawaii Book and Music Festival.

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Thanks for finding this book!

If you're new to Bookcrossing, I hope you will take some time to explore this wonderful free and anonymous community and learn what it has to offer.

Freed any good books lately? It's good for the circulation. :)