A Fascinating Journey Through the American Heartland: An Inside Look at the Traveling Carnivals and State Fairs of the U.S.

Michael Antoine: Great story telling and writing. So many characters they blend together by the end

United States on Jan 04, 2024

JClo: A fun ride and a great adventure. An interesting slice of life.
I really enjoyed the last chapter and the authors observations on life.
So I Read it twice

United States on Sep 26, 2023

Vivace: I think the original idea, experiencing a Carney perspective of the bay area, would have worked better. The problem I had is that he moves around so much, it becomes a stream of grey gritty characters that all sort of merge together. Yet wedding know much of anything about the author other than he has a young daughter, that it's hard to be away from. But having some blanks filled in could have given a dire tion to the tale, bringing it together. For instance, I get that he is a journalist and wants to be authentic but does that really warrant sleeping outside on cardboard by gas stations?? What a the rational there? It's pretty obvious that he's actually broke during this period, so what's the story there? At some point he just says he doesn't talk about his past... ok...it would have helped. My other critique is more minor, but it would have been helpful to include the actual year up front at the beginning. I'm still honestly not sure but think it was 2013... anyway, great effort, seriously enjoyed the first couple of chapters!

United States on Sep 07, 2022

Amazon Customer: A++++++++++ seller! Fast shipping and great book!

Canada on Sep 12, 2021

Bookshillstation: The deeper you read the more you'll see. If you're into adventure then it's for you. It's also a true story with the story arc of a novel and deals with the American Caste system, the working poor, Mexican immigration and the Joy we are all missing due to Covid. This is the greatest American road book

India on Jan 03, 2021

Max I: I actually lived this story and traveled with the hero all around. A story of life’s meaning, questions and answers. It is by working behind the scenes you get to learn the other side of the coin in any industry. I was always fascinated by circuses and festivals. A lifestyle of constant movement, living out of suitcase, meeting people you might never meet again, becoming friends the same day, and leaving the next.

It is definitely a new and refreshing look at the other side of the bright lights and decorations.

The adventures, people, stories - everything in this book is compelling and intriguing. A great piece of journalism and an outstanding book. And I can guarantee you will remember this book the next time you attend a fair or a festival.

Canada on Nov 26, 2020

Genesis Fix: The next book on my reading docket this summer was the recently published American Oz, a book by journalist Michael Sean Comerford. The tale is described on the book cover as “An astonishing year inside traveling carnivals at state fairs and festivals.” And it is.

Comerford was not so naive or ultimately as frail in purpose as the peripatetic McCandless (featured in the book Into the Wild, John Krakauer). He tore into his journey to work at carnivals with patent determination. He chronicles the doubts this decision created at times yet stands as solidly as one could imagine almost every situation he encountered. Such are the challenges and joys of immersive journalism.

Those were not days filled with comforts. Working at traveling carnivals is a nomadic existence on its own. Traveling between caravans was even tougher. Comerford learned how to live lean. Beyond that, he learned to make do in often depressing circumstances.

He was robbed and had precious bikes stolen. His life was even threatened at times by co-workers. But at 6'5" and possessed of a cutting sense of humor, he avoided potentially fatal confrontations. He was his own form of...

United States on Sep 21, 2020

Colin M. Shea: Is your social bubble feeling small, and do you want to get out and meet new people? Are you feeling cooped up after months of quarantine, and want to set out on the open road? Then read "American OZ: An Astonishing Year Inside Travelling Carnivals as State Fairs and Festivals" by award-winning journalist Mike Comerford. Go back in time to the halcyon, pre-pandemic year of 2013, and travel with Mike as he hitchhikes (and occasionally takes buses and trains) over 21,000 miles from San Francisco to the Big Apple, from Fairbanks Alaska to Tlapacoyan, Mexico, working travelling carnivals in some 13 states. Living the life of a "carnie," Mike offers readers a behind-the-scenes look at an ubiquitous American institution. It is a hard life of long hours, rough living conditions, occasional dangers, and low pay. Mike meets extraordinary characters along the way, some noble and generous, and others selfish and predatory. But Mike does not presume to judge. Instead, he seems to have a real affection for his new co-workers. For a self-avowed atheist, he makes a remarkably Christian confession when he writes, "Traveling carnivals employ precious people with immortal souls whose work is vital...

United States on Aug 05, 2020