Water for Elephants: A Novel

I have to admit that I wasn't initially excited to read this book. I kept hearing great things about it, but I just had no interest in reading about a circus. Then I saw the movie preview... and knew I wanted to read the book before seeing the movie (I'm rarely able to finish a book if I see the movie first). So I started reading, and had a hard time getting into it at first... I think this was mainly because I felt like I HAD to read the book... as if I was back in school! I eventually got past this and was able to get immersed into Water for Elephants.Usually, I rate books by how I feel while reading them, so my ratings are normally always subjective. In this case, I felt I had to give this book 5 stars based on the fantastic writing and the amazingly rich and unique backdrop of the train circus! It is obvious that the author did her research on circus culture and depression-era American history. She really dug into the down and dirty details of circus life. In the discussion after the last chapter you learn that many things in the story are based on true stories or anecdotes of the circus. The Bezini Brothers train circus is easily like another character in the book, flawed and deeply layered, like the characters themselves. I really liked how the story is told from Jacob's perspective as a spunky 93 year old man, having flashbacks of his life 70 year earlier. The altering perspectives (from young to old) effectively grounded the story and added another layer to his character.At times, this wasn't easy to read... It was sad to read about the indignities of being old, and I felt like Gruen's depiction was honest and very real. Though most of all, I had a really hard time reading some of the scenes with the animals. At one point I caught myself reading between my fingers, as if I was trying to block the scene from view as if it was a movie. I tried skipping over one but I had to go back and read it because I felt like it was important to the development of the characters and the story. It was, and they were. I just wish those scenes hadn't been seemingly timed to when I was getting ready to go to sleep.Seriously, I'm so glad I finally picked up this book. I highly recommend it!

Note on Kindle version: A number of minor glitches: Typos in some of the latter chapters and the author's note appeared twice; The first was joined to the last sentence, unseparated by any spacing (this one's pretty annoying, in fact). Other than that, reads beautifully, the images in between chapters appeared fine and crisp, dictionary functions well.Water for Elephants is one of those big, entertaining read that is packed with action and wonderful details, and, of course, a love story. From the first few pages there you get a clear sense that the story is just tailor made for the movies. The structure of the narration, the intricate period details as well as the classic twists and turn of the plot makes you feel like you are, quite literally, reading a movie. I could even hear faint soundtrack music in the background as I flipped through the pages!Jacob Jankowski, Ivy League vet science student, found himself on the road after his life is turned upside down by a freak accident. He made a fateful jump on a passing train, which turned out to a travelling circus. Soon after, he finds himself employed as the circus vet and falls head over heels for the star of the troupe, Marlena, who just happened to be the wife of the schizophrenic head of the menagerie. Then one day, an elephant joins the troupe and everything started to unravel.The love story itself is filled with cliches. Young man falls in love with a woman out of his reach, thinks his love in unrequited but can't help to yearn for her and therefore continues to woe her. And just when he thought his chances are gone, she confesses that the feeling's mutual. Aha, what about the evil, schizo husband? Well, they go through heaven and hell to escape him and that's basically it. The love story.And so it's not a surprise that the characters are not of great depth. Jacob is the naive, testosterone-bursting young fella who knows what or who he wants but doesn't have a clue how to get it. And is showered with luck and good friends to support him. Marlena, is the charming damsel in distress and her husband the wicked yet brilliant villain.But all those flaws, as great as they seem, are overridden by Gruen's superbly paced and gripping storytelling of a magical world of a bygone era. The world of the travelling circus in the 1930s she described just sucks you in. The lack of depth of the human character is replaced by the depth of character of their animal counterparts. Rex and Leo, the lions, Bobo the chimp and Rosie the Elephant. The story just came alive with all those great period details.Also, despite of the predictable outcome of the love story, it is the structure of the narration that keeps you glued until the last page. Gruen zooms back and forth between Jacob's old self, a miserable 93 yo in a nursing home, wifeless and seen as a mere duty to his family and his young self. The way old Jacob yearns for life is all too familiar and is echoed in the young Jacob's lust for life. Ultimately, you want to know what happens to both Jacobs: Will the young Jacob win his love, and will the old Jacob regains his peace of mind?Finally, this is not high literature. Like a circus show, Water for Elephants is entertaining, exhillirating, memorable, beautiful and therefore makes a great holiday read. Recommended.

i had never heard of this book before, by chance i watched the movie and got curious,books normally tell a more detailed story.the story is sad/sweet/ dramatic and happy at same time. for me it was a page turner, i finished the book in 2 daysi recommend it

What I liked: the beginning. The tragedy that is unfolding in Jacob’s life and how he deals with it. The circus and the things I’ve never seen with my eyes, behind the scenes of a train travelling circus.What I didn’t like: The uninteresting love story. The very predictable plot. The bits about him being ninety years old was boring.

This book really surprised me!I usually regard "bestsellers" skeptically and also the topic of this book held no particular interest to me.But I started reading it anyway and was pleasantly surprised.I can't even pinpoint exactly, what made it such a good read. I guess it was the entire concept.I fully recommend the book to anyone who likes a gripping read and a masterfully told story one doesn't forget so soon afterwards.

To be honjest, I was not prepared to be so engrossed by a 'circus story'. That said, from page one - Sara Gruen had me hooked. This story takes place in a sad era of America - the 'dirty thirties' and we do feel and experience the dirtiness and hopelessness through Ms. Gruen's excellent writing. She take us on a journey across America with a travelling circus and a wonderful lead character who is charming in his naievety, intelligence, determination and simple good naturedness. A love story that is chilling at times and simply beautiful at others. Unforgettabel villains capable of horrid cruely, kind and honest folks that bring tears to the eye and at the centre of it all - the most wonderful elephant ever. This story sickened me at moments then turned around and made me glad to be alive. The balance between beauty and sordidness is brilliantly captured in this book. Simply perfect read.

je lai lu sur mon kindle fire et c'etait tres bien ecrit ,c'esst un plaisir de lire se livre qui nous parle d'une periode de l'amerique en crise ,et qui montre que malgres toute la soufrance de cette crise il y as eut une tres belle histoire ,quand aurez vous la version française water for elephant,par contre j'ai un probleme car mon kindle fire m'as ete offert aux usa comment puis je avoir des livre numerique gratuit ou des film gratuits et jeux aussi en attendant de commander des livres qui me conviennent ,desolée de melager mes notation ,je ne sais pas a qui m'adresser merci mlle diop sylvaine