The electric woman : a memoir in death-defying acts

In the midst of losing her mother to strokes, Fontaine found herself out on the road with the World of Wonders, America's last traveling sideshow. Transformed into an escape artist, a snake charmer, and a high-voltage Electra, she witnessed the marvels of carnival life: intense camaraderie and heartbreak, the guilty thrill of hard-earned cash exchanged for a peek into the impossible, and, most marvelous of all, the stories carnival folks tell about themselves. Fontaine trained her body to ignore fear-- and learned how to keep her heart open in the face of loss. -- adapted from jacket and amazon.com info.;"Follows the author on a life-affirming journey of loss and self-discovery through her time on the road with the last traveling American sideshow and her relationship with an adventurous, spirited mother"--Amazon.com.;Prologue: The trick is there is no trick -- The architecture of a wave -- The snake charmer -- Human history -- Open the gates -- The dragon -- Snickers T. Clown -- Cake -- Hair ingredients -- Let's us have fun -- The moon is apple pie -- The softest skin of anyone in the entire world -- Daughters -- Mud -- And the low sky opens -- The departure -- Emergency -- Fresh meat -- The Titanic was child's play -- Monsters -- Premium footlong corn dogs -- Where your name is writ -- Cash money -- Wildewoman -- The sword swallower -- The animal undone -- Sounds past the noises -- Behind the night's dress -- Christmas fish -- Dr. Frankenstein's hushed blood love song -- Normalaphobia -- Invisibilia -- Bloodlust -- The heroes -- Electricity -- By ship into the sea -- Twinklers -- The great reveal -- Out of the mist -- Epilogue: Where you will float electric.

A New York Times Editors' Choice; A Southern Living Best Book of 2018; An Amazon Editors' Best Book of 2018; A Refinery29 Best Book of 2018; A New York Post Most Unforgettable Book of 2018

"Fascinating." —Vogue

“This is the story of a daughter and her mother. It’s also a memoir, a love story, and a tale of high-flying stunts . . . An adventure toward and through fear.” —Southern Living

Tessa Fontaine’s astonishing memoir of pushing past fear, The Electric Woman, follows the author on a life-affirming journey of loss and self-discovery—through her time on the road with the last traveling American sideshow and her relationship with an adventurous, spirited mother.

Turns out, one lesson applies to living through illness, keeping the show on the road, letting go of the person you love most, and eating fire:

The trick is there is no trick.
You eat fire by eating fire.

Two journeys—a daughter’s and a mother’s—bear witness to this lesson in The Electric Woman.

For three years Tessa Fontaine lived in a constant state of emergency as her mother battled stroke after stroke. But hospitals, wheelchairs, and loss of language couldn’t hold back such a woman; she and her husband would see Italy together, come what may. Thus Fontaine became free to follow her own piper, a literal giant inviting her to “come play” in the World of Wonders, America’s last traveling sideshow. How could she resist?

Transformed into an escape artist, a snake charmer, and a high-voltage Electra, Fontaine witnessed the marvels of carnival life: intense camaraderie and heartbreak, the guilty thrill of hard-earned cash exchanged for a peek into the impossible, and, most marvelous of all, the stories carnival folks tell about themselves. Through these, Fontaine trained her body to ignore fear and learned how to keep her heart open in the face of loss.

A story for anyone who has ever imagined running away with the circus, wanted to be someone else, or wanted a loved one to live forever, The Electric Woman is ultimately about death-defying acts of all kinds, especially that ever constant: good old-fashioned unconditional love.

A New York Times Editors' Choice; A Southern Living Best Book of 2018; An Amazon Editors' Best Book of 2018; A Refinery29 Best Book of 2018; A New York Post Most Unforgettable Book of 2018 "Fascinating." — Vogue "This is the story of a daughter and her mother. It's also a memoir, a love story, and a tale of high-flying stunts . . . An adventure toward and through fear." — Southern Living Tessa Fontaine's astonishing memoir of pushing past fear, The Electric Woman , follows the author on a life-affirming journey of loss and self-discovery—through her time on the road with the last traveling American sideshow and her relationship with an adventurous, spirited mother. Turns out, one lesson applies to living through illness, keeping the show on the road, letting go of the person you love most, and eating fire: The trick is there is no trick. You eat fire by eating fire. Two journeys—a daughter's and a mother's—bear witness to this lesson in The Electric Woman . For three years Tessa Fontaine lived in a constant state of emergency as her mother battled stroke after stroke. But hospitals, wheelchairs, and loss of language couldn't hold back such a woman; she and her husband would see Italy together, come what may. Thus Fontaine became free to follow her own piper, a literal giant inviting her to "come play" in the World of Wonders, America's last traveling sideshow. How could she resist? Transformed into an escape artist, a snake charmer, and a high-voltage Electra, Fontaine witnessed the marvels of carnival life: intense camaraderie and heartbreak, the guilty thrill of hard-earned cash exchanged for a peek into the impossible, and, most marvelous of all, the stories carnival folks tell about themselves. Through these, Fontaine trained her body to ignore fear and learned how to keep her heart open in the face of loss. A story for anyone who has ever imagined running away with the circus, wanted to be someone else, or wanted a loved one to live forever, The Electric Woman is ultimately about death-defying acts of all kinds, especially that ever constant: good old-fashioned unconditional love. Tessa Fontaine's astonishing memoir of pushing past fear, The Electric Woman , follows the author on a life-affirming journey of loss and self-discovery? through her time on the road with the last traveling American sideshow and her relationship with an adventurous, spirited mother. Turns out, one lesson applies to living through illness, keeping the show on the road, letting go of the person you love most, and eating fire: The trick is there is no trick. You eat fire by eating fire. Two journeys?a daughter's and a mother's?bear witness to this lesson in The Electric Woman . For three years Tessa Fontaine lived in a constant state of emergency as her mother battled stroke after stroke. But hospitals, wheelchairs, and loss of language couldn't hold back such a woman; she and her husband would see Italy together, come what may. Thus Fontaine became free to follow her own piper, a literal giant inviting her to "come play" in the World of Wonders, America's last traveling sideshow. How could she resist? Transformed into an escape artist, a snake charmer, and a high-voltage Electra, Fontaine witnessed the marvels of carnival life: intense camaraderie and heartbreak, the guilty thrill of hard-earned cash exchanged for a peek into the impossible, and, most marvelous of all, the stories carnival folks tell about themselves. Through these, Fontaine trained her body to ignore fear and learned how to keep her heart open in the face of loss. A story for anyone who has ever imagined running away with the circus, wanted to be someone else, or wanted a loved one to live forever, The Electric Woman is ultimately about death-defying acts of all kinds, especially that ever constant: good old-fashioned unconditional love A daughters astonishing memoir of pushing past fear, through life in a traveling sideshow and her mothers illness Turns out, one lesson applies to living through illness, keeping the show on the road, letting go of the person you love most, and eating fire: The trick is there is no trick. You eat fire by eating fire. Two journeysa daughters and a mothersbear witness to this lesson in The Electric Woman . For three years Tessa Fontaine lived in a constant state of emergency as her mother battled stroke after stroke. But hospitals, wheelchairs, and loss of language couldnt hold back such a woman; she and her husband would see Italy together, come what may. Thus Fontaine became free to follow her own piper, a literal giant inviting her to come play in the World of Wonders, Americas last traveling sideshow. How could she resist? Transformed into an escape artist, a snake charmer, and a high-voltage Electra, Fontaine witnessed the marvels of carnival life: intense camaraderie and heartbreak, the guilty thrill of hard-earned cash exchanged for a peek into the impossible, and, most marvelous of all, the stories carnival folks tell about themselves. Through these, Fontaine trained her body to ignore fear and learned how to keep her heart open in the face of loss. A story for anyone who has ever imagined running away with the circus, wanted to be someone else, or wanted a loved one to live forever, The Electric Woman is ultimately about death-defying acts of all kinds, especially that ever constant: good old-fashioned unconditional love. Follows The Author On A Life-affirming Journey Of Loss And Self-discovery Through Her Time On The Road With The Last Traveling American Sideshow And Her Relationship With An Adventurous, Spirited Mother--amazon.com. Prologue: The Trick Is There Is No Trick -- The Architecture Of A Wave -- The Snake Charmer -- Human History -- Open The Gates -- The Dragon -- Snickers T. Clown -- Cake -- Hair Ingredients -- Let's Us Have Fun -- The Moon Is Apple Pie -- The Softest Skin Of Anyone In The Entire World -- Daughters -- Mud -- And The Low Sky Opens -- The Departure -- Emergency -- Fresh Meat -- The Titanic Was Child's Play -- Monsters -- Premium Footlong Corn Dogs -- Where Your Name Is Writ -- Cash Money -- Wildewoman -- The Sword Swallower -- The Animal Undone -- Sounds Past The Noises -- Behind The Night's Dress -- Christmas Fish -- Dr. Frankenstein's Hushed Blood Love Song -- Normalaphobia -- Invisibilia -- Bloodlust -- The Heroes -- Electricity -- By Ship Into The Sea -- Twinklers -- The Great Reveal -- Out Of The Mist -- Epilogue: Where You Will Float Electric. Tessa Fontaine. Tessa Fontaine's astonishing memoir of pushing past fear, The Electric Woman , follows the author on an autobiographical, life-affirming journey through loss and self-discovery after running away to join the circus. Turns out, one lesson applies to living through illness, keeping the show on the road, letting go of the person you love most, and eating fire: The trick is there is no trick. You eat fire by eating fire. Two journeys—a daughter's and a mother's—bear witness to this lesson in The Electric Woman . For three years Tessa Fontaine lived in a constant state of emergency as her mother battled stroke after stroke. But hospitals, wheelchairs, and loss of language couldn't hold back such a woman; she and her husband would see Italy together, come what may. Thus Fontaine became free to follow her own piper, a literal giant inviting her to "come play" in the World of Wonders, America's last traveling...