Three Ring Circus

Three Ring Circus
Book Review | 📚📚📚 3/5
John Maggie | 120 Days @ Riverdale Avenue Books

The circus is home primarily to family acts, drifters and an assortment of others searching for opportunity and a sense of place. John Maggie’s Three Ring Circus offers a 1970s snapshot of coming-of-age, self-discovery, and anything-goes sex; sprinkled with deception and perceived taboo behavior; all while on the road of a traveling circus.

Why I was interested in this book:
I read a lot of “grit lit”, but I had not previously read any self-proclaimed “queer pulp fiction” (as mentioned in the book’s blurb). What was once an underground and taboo genre where men wrote anonymously, now seems to have become a mainstream M4M genre, written by women. Combining the idea of gritty and taboo, before the genres were considered commercial, seemed appealing.

My assessment:
Technically, Three Ring Circus reads as one might expect of a pulp fiction genre: formulamatic story-line and uneven writing. Thematically, the book contains lots of 1970s pre-AIDS sexual freedom and experimentation. But, what I found of most interest was the complexity of the characters. The primary and secondary characters, from a raw and sexual context, all have needs and don’t seem to be hung up about them or about those of other circus family members. There are also tons of secrets and underground encounters, but the characters do not judge one another when they do learn of their “taboo” exploits.

I found the book’s introduction to be more like a critical review and analysis of the book itself, than providing background to the reader. In fact, I think it gave some of the story away, which was a distractor and detractor. However, it did provide some pertinent information relative to the author, why he was an anomaly writer of his time, and other contextual tidbits.

The story itself was good. While I don’t have context to compare it to other “gay pulp fiction” stories of its time, I don’t think it’s necessary for an honest review of a book.

At the beginning, I thought the book to be more fluff (like a romance novel) than substantial (like a contemporary grit lit novel). However, it was a very quick read and I was compelled to keep following the escapades of these characters. I was surprised at how the book ended – either it was abrupt, or open-ended enough to have further stories published based on these characters. But I did want more. And there was an entire plot-line, so important to the relationship of the two main characters, that was not resolved or written about to further the tensions (again, this could have been intentional for subsequent adventures).

If someone is squeamish about descriptive sexual encounters, this might not be the one for them. In comparing this book to more contemporary M4M genre novels, it might not be as polished, but the characters are complex, raw and written with more pursued freedoms.

Stories of the human condition:
While there was a fairly traditional story arc, I don’t think that Maggie set out to write gritty, 70s, gay pulp fiction. At the time, he was more like a pioneer who wrote without those labels. So, that makes for a more honest book. Perhaps, in writing about sex and identity well-before the AIDS epidemic, these freedoms to experiment were the norm and even less taboo than it is now with our conditioning that sexual encounters can be deadly.

Three Ring Circus addresses perceptions about gay stereotypes and identity. But it also addresses stereotypes and judgements about class, power, gender, alcoholism and other forms of oppressive dynamics. Looked at from this perspective, this book contains many stories of the human condition that mirror issues contained in contemporary grit lit fiction.

I really appreciated the sensitivity in the writing of these characters’ coming of age in a hyper-masculine, blue collar setting.

Disclosure: I received this book via NetGalley for an honest review. I would not have requested a copy of this book to read if it did not, at some level, seem like it would be of interest. Thanks to NetGalley for another good read!

TAGS:
#ThreeRingCircus #review-book #book review #NetGalley #RiverdaleAveBooks #JohnMaggie #LGBT #gaypulpfiction #TuggleGrassBlues #Tuggle Grass Reviews #TuggleGrassReviews

Although this is probably my least favorite of the four titles I have read so far from this imprint, it was still a pretty fun read. As always you just really have to keep in mind that these books were written almost 50 years ago and they are going to seem a little bit dated because of that, but I think it's interesting to take a look into the history of queer books like this. I also really like the introductions because they help put the book into it's historical context, although I suppose it does 'spoil' some of the plot points [but are you REALLY reading this for the plot?].

Some of the sex in this was pretty good and some of it was fairly ridiculous. Luckily there is PLENTY of sex to go around so if you're not feeling a certain scene then a new one is going to start in 2 or 3 pages. There is actually a fair amount of M/F sex in this as well since one of the characters is bi. So if you are looking for a strictly M/M book then maybe try something else, but I enjoyed it. The actual story is incredibly cute at times but I was taken out of it a bit by one particular person that one of the main characters slept with that I thought really crossed a line. Still, it was overall enjoyable if you're looking for a slightly ridiculous erotica novel.

Three Ring Circus is another great reprint from 120 Days @ Riverdale Avenue Books... I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to read these otherwise 'lost' work of queer pulp fiction.

You can't read a book like Three Ring Circus without placing yourself back in the time it was written. You have to understand the fear and homophobia of the time to truly understand the attitudes and behavior of the characters. This a raw a gritty view of sexuality where desire wins out over commitment every time.

The story is well told and the plot is clearly a vehicle to move from sex scene to sex scene-- including both homo and hetero encounters. There's a little traditional and a whole lot of kink explored by behind the big top. The sex scenes are written in frank language without poetic elaboration. Not the type of writing you find coming out today. Is it realistic? A little yes, a little no-- but it is erotica after all, so expecting it to be a little fantastical is normal.

I hope to see many more of these titles reprinted in the future!

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.