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A Living Nightmare (Cirque du Freak, Book 1)by Darren Shan |
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A Living Nightmare (Cirque du Freak, Book 1) Freaks, Cirque, Spider, and a Vampire For a quick, lighthearted, and entertaining book, this first installment in the Cirque du Freak series should satisfy you. Most editorial reviewers suggest a 4th - 8th grade reading level however adults will find the book enchanting as well. The story is about 12 year old, Darren Shan's exploits and experiences with the Cirque du Freak and a Vampire, the famous Mr. Crepsley. Darren's fascination with spiders results in him stealing Madame Octa from the Cirque, who Mr. Crepsley pet spider. The situation get complicated for Darren after a series of events relating to his friend Steve, Madame Octa and the Vampire. While the book is mildly entertaining, it was not enough for me to continue to read the second book, even though I purchased it and started it. Some reviewers have made comparisons to R.L. Stine and J.K. Rowling, mainly due to the age level and macabre content. Cirque du Freak certainly stands on it's own and will have it's own following and audience. Although entertaining, there is no real depth to the book, which, based on the reading level is not a surprise. The dialog between the characters is also kind of weak and some parts are a little slow moving, but all in all, it is a fun read and will not take you too long to finish. 7/10/03 |
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