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	02/25 MelissaS is currently reading: Into the Wild (Paperback) by Jon Krakauer bookshelves: currently-reading	my rating:
	read in February, 2008 see all 2 comments

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March 20

New comment on Kristen's review of Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia

MelissaS wrote: "Kristen, here at goodreads you are entitled to your review...I am not here to defend my reviews- the...more "

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New comment on MelissaS's review of Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia

MelissaS wrote: "Kristen, here at goodreads you are entitled to your review...I am not here to defend my reviews- the...more "

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March 01

MelissaS made a comment on Chris's profile:

MelissaS wrote: "Hope all is well. Thinking of you. Hugs, M "

February 29

MelissaS made a comment on Colleen's profile:

MelissaS wrote: "Mrs. Tanner, It was so good to see you too. You always look the same to me, you never get older. I h...more "

MelissaS made a comment on Jean's profile:

MelissaS wrote: "It wasn't hard to leave a review for "Water for Elephants" as I had to skip over some part...more "

MelissaS gave

to:
Water for Elephants (Paperback)
by Sara Gruen

my rating:

read in October, 2007

MelissaS said: "Jacob Jankowski is 90 or 93, he can't remember, and he is living in a skilled nursing facility. One day, the circus comes to town. This triggers a flood of memories, because when both his parents were killed in an automobile accident, he fled his sen...more Jacob Jankowski is 90 or 93, he can't remember, and he is living in a skilled nursing facility. One day, the circus comes to town. This triggers a flood of memories, because when both his parents were killed in an automobile accident, he fled his senior year as a vet student at Cornell and hopped a train for anywhere. It just happened to be the train carrying the equipment, performers, and beasts of the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth.

Ms. Gruen was thorough in her research, so the reader does get some feeling for the gritty world of the train circus, yet I felt when I finished the book that I had no clear sense of who the characters were. The author introduced too many characters too quickly, and only after reading on for awhile do you sort them out. The owner of this circus finds out Jacob is practically a vet and signs him up. Thus positioned, Jacob observes how property, animals, and people are treated in this circus life. Because of her research, I learned a little something about the topic.

In the book, there was a clear distinction between the good and the bad. I am strongly against the abuse of animals in circuses, however as hard as it was to get through, Ms. Gruen did share the awful truth about animal abuse. What I think she should have cut OUT is the gratuitous details about sex and the tent. That was tacked on and unnecessary. I'd rate this book R for the explicit references to sex. If you don't like violence or scenes with sexual content, you should probably stay away- I do not enjoy these types of reads so it was hard getting through parts of this book, in fact I tore out a few pages, and skipped over many- so unnecessary! At times I just wanted to stop reading the book, however I wanted to know, the end. That is a good and bad habit of mine. So this in part is not a full review of the book in it's entirety.

I kept reading, the parts that were fitting, and personally, my favorite parts of the story were the scenes featuring Jacob as an old man reminiscing about times gone by. I was expecting Jacob to develop a very deep understanding of at least the elephant, leading to a very strong bond, etc. He goes through the motions, but I never believe he really understands the elephant, and this is one of the most important parts of the story. I was left a bit depressed by this story even though there was a slightly upbeat ending. I really prefer stories that leave me feeling better about myself and the world. The big themes for book club discussions? Aging, the exploitation of circus animals, and the exploitation of people.

This may be a great read for some- I could have done without, it gave me very little of what I look for in a book. Why did I read the book? It was suggested by a dear friend.

...less "

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February 28

MelissaS gave

to:
If Life Were Easy, It Wouldn't Be Hard: And Other Reassuring Truths (Hardcover)
by Sheri L. Dew

my rating:

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MelissaS gave

to:
God Wants a Powerful People (Audio CD)
by Sheri L. Dew

my rating:

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February 25

MelissaS is currently reading:
Into the Wild (Paperback)
by Jon Krakauer
bookshelves: currently-reading

my rating:

read in February, 2008

see all 2 comments

MelissaS gave

to:
Buddha Is as Buddha Does: The Ten Original Practices for Enlightened Living (Hardcover)
by Lama Surya Das

my rating:

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