Beautiful and brilliant!  So atmospheric and left me nostalgic for a time period I never quite got to know.  The entire concept of the dark carnival is so well written.  If you enjoy poetry, horror, and breathtaking coming-of-age stories, you will love this book.

I’ve read a lot of complaints about “purple prose” when it comes to this story.  I think the fanciful language works so well with the plot here.  The story itself doesn’t follow the rules of your average, everyday novel.  It takes a good plot, a good book, and makes it phenomenal.  Ray Bradbury’s genius is exhibited in so many ways throughout this story; whether it be in it’s philosophical tones, the way it makes you think, the thrilling friendship between Jim and Will, and the beyond eccentric cast of characters inviting townspeople to ride their time bending carousel and come for free rides at their dark carnival.

The relationship between Will and his father, Charles, gives me hope.  It is such a heartwarming relationship.  Charles so ornately brings up amazing points about good, evil, and what may drive humanity to choose either side.  He, himself, tries his hardest to be the best man he can… and though he hopes it pays off, he’s just here to fight the good fight, whatever it may take.

Conceptually it’s strong as hell.  It’s the kind of world you are comfortable leaving, but you don’t want to, because you can’t stop looking back over your shoulder to find out what happens next.  This is a bizarre and GORGEOUSLY written story