Promo: Circus Bim Bom by Cliff Lovette
Today, I'm delighted to welcome US author Cliff Lovette to Ruins & Reading. We're sharing an intriguing excerpt from his riveting cold-war novel, Circus Bim Bom. Check it out!
Circus Bim Bom is currently on blog tour with Yarde Book Promotions. Find other fascinating posts HERE!
Circus Bim Bom: A Cold War Adventure
"Tear Down This Wall"
November 9, 1989—The Chelnokov's Apartment, Moscow
Back at the apartment, crisp November air carried the scent of wood smoke through the drafty window sash, accompanied by the sounds of a whistling steam radiator. The amber glow of the table lamp cast long shadows in the dimly lit dining room, reflecting off the glass of Falke's framed picture.
After Anton, Josef, and Gladia turned in, Nikolai poured himself a vodka and sat at the dining table. His eyes still stung from unshed tears. He threw back his shot, wincing at the burn, and poured another.
He remembered the tape Falke had sent him of Reagan's speech and fumbled through the sideboard drawer for his cassette player and Falke's envelope. Falke had written on the outside:
"Reagan Speech—June 12th, 1987, at Brandenburg Gate."
Nikolai pushed play and closed his eyes, imagining the scene. President Reagan stood at a podium on a large riser, festooned with American and West German flags, the imposing Brandenburg Gate looming behind him. The monument, majestic yet scarred, embodied Berlin's tumultuous history.
Reagan stood tall. His distinctive, combed-back dark hair framed his ruddy complexion, warm, reassuring smile, and deeply etched lines that spoke of decades of humor and experience. Despite his seventy-six years, his voice remained firm and determined, his blue eyes sharp as he gazed over the crowd. He was "The Great Communicator," and this was his most famous speech.
A floorboard creaked. Anton and Josef stood in the doorway, curiosity overcoming their earlier decision to go to bed.
"Papa?" Anton's voice wavered.
Nikolai looked up, his eyes softening. "Come, boys, sit," he said, gesturing to the chairs. "You should hear this, too."
The boys exchanged wary glances before approaching the table. As they settled in, Gladia appeared with a tray of tea and cookies, having sensed the moment's importance.
Reagan's voice, tinged with static, crackled through the speaker: "Behind me stands a wall that encircles the free sectors of this city, part of a vast system of barriers that divides the entire continent of Europe … "
"But Papa, we learned the wall protected people from Western aggression."
Nikolai paused the tape with a bitter laugh. "Is that what they're teaching you now?" He shook his head. "No, my boy. It's a prison wall, keeping people in, not out. It tore families apart, separated friends."
"Like Falke?" Josef asked quietly.
Nikolai nodded, his eyes distant. "Yes, like Falke. And so many others."
Gladia placed a hand on Josef's shoulder. "The wall went up quickly, you know, in 1961. President Kennedy visited Berlin two years later. Kennedy proclaimed, 'Ich bin ein Berliner'—'I am a Berliner.' It was his way of showing solidarity. His speech gave the Germans a glimmer of hope."
"Did it help?" Anton asked.
"Words have power," Nikolai said, his tone grave, "but sometimes it takes more than words."
"But how did Reagan know the wall would fall?" Josef asked, twirling his teaspoon. The soft, rhythmic clink of the cup betrayed his nerves. Anton shot him a pointed look, and Josef sheepishly set the spoon down.
"He didn't," Gladia said softly. "But he believed in the power of reason, the power of words."
Nikolai fast-forwarded the tape with a whir, stopping at another section. "Listen to this part."
"… we must remember a crucial fact: East and West do not mistrust each other because we are armed; we are armed because we mistrust each other. And our differences are not about weapons but about liberty."
A heavy silence fell as the words sank in. Anton broke the silence. "It's about liberty?"
Nikolai sighed, lost in memories of late-night political and philosophical discussions with Falke. But Reagan's black-and-white view of liberty didn't match the complex reality he knew.
"It's not that simple, Anton. The state has provided for us—given us opportunities. The Soviets revere our circuses as cultural gems, not mere entertainment. Unlike in America, where circuses are family diversions, we elevate them as high art, a testament to the strength and creativity of the Soviet people."
"But at a cost," Gladia added. "Remember how angry you were when Aleksandrovich wouldn't let us audition for Cirque du Soleil—and sent us off to Siberia?"
Nikolai's face clouded with anger. "Yes. Aleksandrovich said we belonged to the state, that our talents weren't ours to share as we pleased."
"Is that why Falke tried to escape?" Josef asked.
Gladia nodded. "Partly. The BCU was fighting with SoyuzGostcirk over their star performers. His circus folded and he couldn't find work, but the BCA barred him from seeking work in Moscow. He found himself trapped, with no way out."
"But they killed him," Anton murmured.
"Yes," Nikolai said, his voice thick, eyes steeled. "They murdered him for seeking the freedom to perform."
"Did he know the risks?" Josef asked.
Nikolai nodded. "Freedom demands a price, boys. The question is whether you're willing to pay it."
He pressed play again, and Reagan's voice filled the silence:
"As the ancient Romans knew, 'Veritas filia temporis'—Truth is the daughter of time. And time has shown us that walls built on lies cannot stand forever. Now the Soviets themselves may, in a limited way, come to understand the importance of freedom. We hear much from Moscow about a new policy of reform and openness. Some political prisoners have been released. Certain foreign news broadcasts are no longer being jammed. Some economic enterprises can operate with greater freedom from state control."
"Are things really changing?" Anton asked.
"Yes," Gladia replied. "Gorbachev calls it Perestroika—restructuring. That's why we're touring as a private circus. And Glasnost—openness. We can practice religion … but change is never easy."
"Or simple." Nikolai paused the tape. "The West has its problems and its propaganda. But at least people there can speak freely about their issues."
Nikolai pushed play, and Reagan's voice echoed one last time:
"Yes, across Europe, this wall will fall, for it cannot withstand faith; it cannot withstand truth. The Wall cannot withstand freedom."
"General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate."
The boys leaned in, caught up in the mounting tension in Reagan's words.
"Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev—Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
Anton's eyes widened. "He actually said that to President Gorbachev?"
Nikolai stopped the tape, his eyes misty. "Falke believed that. He died for it." ²
Anton and Josef sat in awed silence. The weight of the night's revelations settled on their young shoulders.
"Falke wasn't foolish," Anton said, his voice firm. "He was brave."
Josef nodded in agreement.
Gladia smiled, squeezing Nikolai's hand. "Yes, boys. And tonight, his dream came true, even if he's not here to see it. But remember, freedom isn't just about tearing down walls. It's about what you build in their place."
As they sat there, the first light of dawn crept through the windows, and each of them felt the shift. The future stretched before them with all its uncertainties and possibilities, as promising as the wall had been imposing and grim.
Nikolai looked at his extended family, a mix of pride and hope swelling in his chest. Whatever came next, they would face it together, armed with the truth and the courage to choose their own path.
_______________
² Watch President Reagan's Address at the Brandenburg
Gate
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✨ Previews of historical curiosities about Soviet circus life that didn't make it into the book
✨ Exclusive "Rabbit Hole" bonus stories and other literary surprises
✨ A front-row seat to the book's development and launch
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YouTube Link to Book Club: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fafpTaJLD84
What Makes This Novel Different
Circus Bim Bom offers an innovative multimedia reading experience. The novel includes 45+ YouTube links to period music, historical speeches, and cultural moments embedded throughout—readers can listen to the actual songs characters dance to as they waltz, and watch Reagan's Brandenburg Gate speech as it's referenced in the text.
The companion website (www.bimbombookclub.com) extends the story beyond the page:
- Character Avatars: 25+ talking video introductions where characters speak directly to readers
- Re-Imagined Circus Posters
- Book Club Experience: Interactive forums, live chat, and community discussions
- Historians Room (under construction): A space for Cold War history buffs to fact-check the novel, explore primary sources, and debate historical accuracy
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