*Best Sellers* Book Club discussion
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Water for Elephants
Water for Elephants
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Water For Elephant
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I'm about half the way through, I love the commentary from the ninety or ninety three year old Jacob, its gold. We didn't get alot of this in the movie and I liked it in the movie as well. I found the movie quite confronting in some places so I will be interested to know if the book is the same. So far the movies seems to be sticking almost to the book, of course there are little differences but on the whole not a bad interpretation.
I am about a third of the way through the book and I am really enjoying it, I did not think I would as I often find it hard to get into a book if I have seen the movie first. I may be enjoying the book because I thought the movie was just OK. I like the contrast between Jacob in his 20s and in his 90's but especially as said above the 'commentary from his 90s.
I've never seen the movie but will hopefully watch it once I've finished the book. I really like older Jacob's narration too
I read the book about a year ago before the film came out. I didn't think it was all as awesome as people were claiming it to be. However, it was different from most books I've ever read in that it took place in the 20s (could have this wrong), and had the narration of an old man. Although now that I think about it, The Notebook went that way too. Ha. Anyway, I also liked that it was not a typical love story, even though a love story was within it, it had its own realistic twist to it. And of course, let's not forget the relationship between Jacob and the Elephant.As for the movie, it certainly didn't match up to the book. If I were to rate the book vs movie, it'd be a 9-7. But it wasn't horrible, and it definitely tried to stay honest to the real story.
I'm 25% through. I like the writing in the retirement home better. I almost stopped reading in the intro because the writing felt clunky and who in the world runs toward a stampede? It is funny and descriptive, though, it is feeling like a 4 star book to me. Here are my status updates:"This writer has really taken me into this world, I feel like I am on a circus crew in 1931."
"The circus descriptions are well done, but I am enjoying the scenes at the retirement home more, they move me to tears."
"We're still a long way from Joliet, and, alas, we're out of goats." ROTFLMAO
I have finished 'Water For Elephants' yesterday and am glad to say I really enjoyed it. I thought the ending was great.I am glad I watched the movie first and read the book second. I would have been very disappointed if I read the book first because I would have had high expectations of the movie and this would have been crushed. But with the movie first and the book second I did not have any great expectations about the book, but I was nicely surprised.
So for me it about and 5 out 10 for the movie and and 8 out of 10 for the book
For those of you who have seen the film, or at least know the actors in it, do you think the casting for the film was in line with the book? I haven't seen the film yet but I had an image in my mind of Marlena being perhaps a Catherine Zeta Jones type in terms of looks so was surprised when I saw Reese Witherspoon was in it...what did everyone else think?
I finished the book today and was pretty impressed with the last half of the book. I don't know if this thread is supposed to contain spoilers so I will comment on some of the other threads for that.I will say that very, very, very rarely will I see a movie for which I have read the book, and vice versa. I find they are different experiences and they spoil each other in my experience. For example, now that you have mentioned Reese Witherspoon, I have had to spend a few minutes striking her image from my mind so that the Marlena I read about is not compromised. Not sure if anyone else has this problem.
I loved the fact that the book made Jacob a stronger character he stood by his principles and protected the people he cared for. I felt that in the movie Jacob was portrayed as quite weak, this to me was the most disappointing part of the movie I just wanted him to grow some balls. I loved the book way way more thatn the movie which is usually the way it goes.
Stephanie wrote: "For those of you who have seen the film, or at least know the actors in it, do you think the casting for the film was in line with the book? I haven't seen the film yet but I had an image in my min..."Seeing the movie first and reading the book second, I was surprised to read about the actually colouring of the Marlena character being a dark haired beauty and my book cover showed presumably Marlena as a dark haired beauty. I imagine a young Elizabeth Taylor sort of a look, I suppose Catherine Zeta Jones may be the modern day equivalent.
When I saw the cover of the book and read the novel, it took me back to those old circus movies I have watched e.g. 'The Greatest On Earth' 1952 with Charlton Heston and James Stewart or the 'Trapeze' with Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis and Gina Lollabridga. I dare say I am showing my age. Even though Reese Witherspoon was cast with her pale, wan and blonde beauty, I think she captured the spirit of Marlena the ethreal quality and vulnerability.
I think Rob Pattinson did an OK job with the Jacob role, but I still think of him as the awkward character of Edward Cullen of the Twilight Saga.
Michael wrote: "I finished the book today and was pretty impressed with the last half of the book. I don't know if this thread is supposed to contain spoilers so I will comment on some of the other threads for th..."I think you show great restraint on only using one media to be aware of a story. Are you ever tempted?
I like to read the book and see the movie. I like to compare and constrast both versions. I like to imagine the story in my head and I like see the visual adaptation of the novel.
Susan wrote: I think you show great restraint on only using one media to be aware of a story. Are you ever tempted?..."LOL. Yes, I am tempted. I love movies, but the problem is that I am such a visual person that the film versions overpower the worlds I create for myself, and I have trouble remembering my original interpretation. As much as I love movies, I prefer to leave my imagination free to go where it will. In fact, I have gone cold turkey on music videos because the video ends up being the only thing running through my head when I hear the song again!
Your question was interesting though: "only using one media". I thought about that and what I have liked lately is finding books that mention songs throughout the narrative or have playlists included with them. I think that definitely enhances my awareness of the story and for some reason hearing the audio doesn't mess with my imagination in the same way. Maybe audiobooks would be similar but I've never really explored that.
What are your first impressions of the book?
Has anyone seen the film and what did you think of it?