The Ringmaster's Daughter - A review.

Petter is a special child. Not because he has some physical disability but, because he has got an immense gift. The gift of imagination. The gift that renders him helpless in distinguishing between ‘recalled reality’ and ‘recalled fantasy’, he engages himself in a business both profitable and perilous. He starts distributing his ideas and plots to intellectually challenged individuals who make a living out of building novels around their borrowed framework. With time both wealth and recognition comes to know of Petter. But, his is an extraordinary life. A life riddled with imperfections and anxieties. A troubled childhood combined with a deep sense of isolation makes him commitment-phobic. Though he loves, he loves with a fraction of himself always held back in reserve. Almost in anticipation of a setback.

Maria, the only woman amongst numerous flings who he comes to love truly leaves him for a life in Stockholm. She gives birth to a daughter he is never to know of. Life with its glorious uncertainties moves on for Petter and unexpectedly comes full circle in the most inopportune manner. In times that prove to be both difficult and dangerous for his existence Petter discovers love again. But, this time in the arms of an intriguing stranger in an unknown land. A tortuous road to rediscovery and revelation shatters Petter and takes the reader along with him to his nemesis.

‘The Ringmaster’s Daughter’ is a book which narrates the life of a precocious child with such chosen simplicity that the reader is left asking for more. Jostein Gaarder, in this studied documentary of human nature draws unbiased portraits of characters victim to destiny and circumstance. Though at some places the reader is bound to feel a shade distracted by the advent of a plethora of concomitant tales yet, he is left sumptuously served at the closing paragraphs. He is sure to discover the very intent with which the digressions were designed. He is sure to close the book basking in the glory to have finally read a book which is not didactic on morality but rich in content.

A beautiful book which I am sure will find equal favor with my reader friends.