false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170161179m/43641.jpg 43641 29 An atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of star-crossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932, by the bestselling author of <i>Riding Lessons</i>. When Jacob Jankowski, recently orphaned and suddenly adrift, jumps onto a passing train, he enters a world of freaks, grifters, and misfits, a second-rate circus struggling to survive during the Great Depression, making one-night stands in town after endless town. A veterinary student who almost earned his degree, Jacob is put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It is there that he meets Marlena, the beautiful young star of the equestrian act, who is married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. He also meets Rosie, an elephant who seems untrainable until he discovers a way to reach her. Beautifully written, <i>Water for Elephants</i> is illuminated by a wonderful sense of time and place. It tells a story of a love between two people that overcomes incredible odds in a world in which even love is a luxury that few can afford. 3441236 9 4 2006 Water for Elephants total:89870|5:30747|4:36261|3:16949|2:4438|1:1475| 89870 359977 125087 19033 1 69 false false Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007 Thu Dec 27 10:52:49 -0800 2007 Sat Dec 29 11:40:46 -0800 2007
I really wanted to like this book. I think my low opinion is partially my fault, because I drove into the story with high expectations due to rave reviews. I need to learn not to do that.

The beginning of this novel was excellent. A Ivy L...more...]]> 5 53 false false Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Sat Jun 09 22:43:46 -0700 2007 Thu Nov 15 23:29:21 -0800 2007 more...]]> 1 57 false false Thu Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Thu May 29 12:44:51 -0700 2008 Wed Jun 11 10:50:08 -0700 2008 more...]]> 2 26 false false Thu Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Wed Apr 02 10:18:24 -0700 2008 Wed Jul 02 13:02:25 -0700 2008
The glitz and grit, glam and sham of depression-era circus life limps along in Sara Gruen’s “Water for Elephants” with little aid from her shoddy prose, predictable plot and underdeveloped metaphor. Although the book has a flashy appearanc...more...]]> 5 27 false false Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007 Sun Jul 22 01:06:03 -0700 2007 Tue Oct 02 08:08:47 -0700 2007 more...]]> 2 26 false false Sat Apr 05 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Wed Jan 23 05:14:39 -0800 2008 Mon Apr 13 15:36:14 -0700 2009
First, th...more...]]> 3 19 false false Tue May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Fri May 25 13:20:58 -0700 2007 Fri May 25 14:03:48 -0700 2007 more...]]> 5 19 false false Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2006 Wed Jun 20 12:57:02 -0700 2007 Sat Feb 09 07:44:40 -0800 2008 Now THIS is a Good Book!
When I finished reading Water for Elephants, goose bumps covered my skin. Now this is a good book! Immediately engrossed, I had a hard time putting it down as I read the story of Jacob Jankowski and his reminiscence of days with the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Sho...more...]]> 4 22 false false Wed Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Tue Jul 15 09:48:54 -0700 2008 Fri Aug 08 09:26:14 -0700 2008 more...]]> 1 14 false false Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Thu Aug 23 14:39:51 -0700 2007 Sun Sep 16 15:50:54 -0700 2007 more...]]> 2 15 false false Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Sat Jul 21 07:16:05 -0700 2007 Sun Jul 29 19:24:54 -0700 2007
Why do I give this a boo rating? Mostly for the dialogue. The author tries to explain ...more...]]> 3 9 false false Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Thu Jul 12 14:02:52 -0700 2007 Thu Jul 12 14:02:55 -0700 2007 more...]]> 5 10 false false Thu Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Tue Jul 17 17:48:52 -0700 2007 Thu Aug 14 15:37:50 -0700 2008 5 8 false false Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Wed Oct 17 11:04:49 -0700 2007 Fri Oct 19 06:18:06 -0700 2007 more...]]> 5 7 false false Tue Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Sun Dec 02 21:15:08 -0800 2007 Tue Apr 15 12:36:32 -0700 2008
I could go on for days and days, but I am going to stop right now so you...more...]]> 5 5 false true Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Wed Mar 05 19:28:22 -0800 2008 Wed Mar 05 19:28:22 -0800 2008 more...]]> 3 5 false false Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Thu Aug 16 07:11:26 -0700 2007 Sat Aug 18 22:22:31 -0700 2007 ...more...]]> 4 5 false false Fri Jun 29 05:44:43 -0700 2007 Fri Jun 29 05:57:51 -0700 2007 more...]]> 1 11 false false Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007 Tue Sep 25 21:08:38 -0700 2007 Tue Sep 25 21:23:14 -0700 2007
Seriously. Don't buy this book. I know the cover ...more...]]> 0 5 false false Wed Jan 23 16:53:17 -0800 2008 Wed Jan 23 16:53:22 -0800 2008 more...]]> http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=43641