The Transformation of Bartholomew Fortuno by Ellen Bryson

The Transformation of Bartholomew Fortuno by Ellen Bryson is  one of those novel that's be in my 'to be read' pile for over 5.5 years! 

I finally decided to listen to the unabridged audio version of The Transformation of Bartholomew Fortuno by Ellen Bryson and narrated by Jeff Woodman.

Listening time for The Transformation of Bartholomew Fortuno by Ellen Bryson is 12 hours, 29 minutes.

If you enjoy reading historical fiction set in New York City that includes P. T. Barnum's American Museum and the performers for his unique museum, then this may be just the novel for you!!

I enjoyed this novel quite a bit. Jeff Woodman is an excellent narrator and would love to hear him narrate other novels! The writing and storytelling are both good. I also liked the main characters. There's love as well as mystery woven into the storyline as well. I was able to predict a few things about the plot and one of the characters, which was a bit disappointing. The ending was also a bit abrupt too.

Below is the plot summary for The Transformation of Bartholomew Fortuno by Ellen Bryson from Amazon:

Water for Elephants meets Geek Love in this riveting first novel, an enchanting love story set in P. T. Barnum's American Museum in 1865 New York City

Bartholomew Fortuno, the World's Thinnest Man, believes that his unusual body is a gift. Hired by none other than P. T. Barnum to work at his spectacular American Museum—a modern marvel of macabre displays, breathtaking theatrical performances, and live shows by Barnum's cast of freaks and oddities—Fortuno has reached the pinnacle of his career. But after a decade of constant work, he finds his sense of self, and his contentment within the walls of the museum, flagging. When a carriage pulls up outside the museum in the dead of night, bearing Barnum and a mysterious veiled woman—rumored to be a new performer—Fortuno's curiosity is piqued. And when Barnum asks Fortuno to follow her and report back on her whereabouts, his world is turned upside down. Why is Barnum so obsessed with this woman? Who is she, really? And why has she taken such a hold on the hearts of those around her?

Set in the New York of 1865, a time when carriages rattled down cobblestone streets, raucous bordellos near the docks thrived, and the country was mourning the death of President Lincoln, The Transformation of Bartholomew Fortuno is a moving novel about human appetites and longings. With pitch-perfect prose, Ellen Bryson explores what it means to be profoundly unique—and how the power of love can transcend even the greatest divisions.

I'm giving The Transformation of Bartholomew Fortuno by Ellen Bryson a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!