Somewhat, Bildungsroman ( )

David Harper is an orphan who is raised by his Aunt Reba who is a very unhappy woman. She ran a poorhouse for men who were downtrodden. David learns much from these men who take him under their wing to protect him from his Aunt. Eventually he joins a troop of actors who are traveling around the USA performing a Chautauqua.

He falls in love with a couple of women one of whom is Mona Meigs, an aspiring actress who uses him whenever she is out of money or finds another man who she thinks can take her further in her career. Marcia Paxson is the other love of his life who is a Quaker and thus struggles with his life style and her religious beliefs.

Early in his life, he works in a carnival as a barker and we learn much about the life of a carny in a 1920's carnival especially the illegal activities of the carnies.

The novel started out slowly but eventually it was difficult to put it down and gives a wonderful picture of the activities of a traveling theatre troop in 1920's America. ( )

the thing about michener is that when he's good, he's so very good. and when he's not, well he's really not. this isn't an irredeemable book, which is why it doesn't get .5 stars, but this really is not well done. he gives all of these very important and worthy life lessons, but all in a jumble and with his main character unable to process much of what was going on (but michener seemed to think he was growing). the transitions were particularly terribly written, and there were problems with time continuity throughout.

this was just such a slog with only a few decent points and characters. and michener can do so much better. ( )

I really loved this book and it's the one that got me started on Michener. I discovered after subsequent readings of his autobiographical books and other biographies about him, that this story is largely based on his own early life. It is a youth's "voyage of discovery", to steal from the cover notes, and it is enthralling. ( )