The Life She Was Given
Ellen Marie Wiseman is noted for capturing little known pockets of American life and depicting them with heart and insight; her latest novel may be her most harrowing yet.
In the Depression era, a young girl, Lily, is kept in a secret attic of her family home. When her mother remembers, she brings her food. Lily has never breathed fresh air, nor has she ever been allowed to venture into any other part of the house. She has no idea why, other than that she is a “monster,” though she has never seen herself in the mirror. When a traveling circus comes to town, her mother does the unthinkable and sells her daughter. Terrified, Lily is forced into the circus life, even though she knows nothing about life at all. Subject to cruelty but also exposed to love for the first time, Lily learns to call upon reserves of strength that she never knew she had.
Twenty years later, a young woman, Julia, has inherited her parents’ estate and soon begins to suspect that they were keeping a dark secret; the reader suspects that the two stories, which are told in alternating voices, will eventually interconnect.
The author’s in-depth knowledge of traveling circuses and “freak shows” of the era is evident. The novel seamlessly blends mystery and history with compelling and well-researched details. The two women in the book, though separated by time, demonstrate resilience in the face of despair. Thematic elements include religious extremism; the many forms of love; and strength under adverse circumstances. Sensitive readers should be aware of several very vivid and graphic scenes depicting cruelty to both humans and animals.
