I wasn't really sure what to expect when I began reading this book, but the desciption piqued my interest. It was one of the first library downloads I added to my new kindle. The story (because it is not a true autobiography) is very detailed and captivating, although it is a long book (I've been reading it for weeks and my kindle tells me I have only read 52% so far!).
My husband and I used to watch the TLC show "Little People, Big World" and absolutely LOVED it! This book also focuses on the life of a particular little person, Lavinia Warren Bump, from the late 1800s. What especially captivates me is the character of P.T. Barnum, showman and owner of the American Museum (and later creator of the circus), and his relationship with General Tom Thumb, a.k.a Charles S. Stratton, and Lavinia "Vinnie" Warren. The author, Melanie Benjamin, really brings these historical characters to life in this novel, which is well crafted and written in a style that makes the reader appreciate her use of words. I am grateful to be reading this on my Kindle Touch because every page contains at least one word that needs to be defined. I am hoping my vocabulary will improve as a result!
If history interests you, particularly the time of the civil war, then I believe you may enjoy reading this book. It certainly has given me a new appreciation for little people trying to live in a big world.
