Bookclub-in-a-Box Discusses Sara Gruen's novel, Water For Elephants: The complete guide for readers and leaders

by Marilyn Herbert

Running away with the circus is one of the world's most enduring and romantic ideas. However, the reality of circus life during the Depression era was that it was hard and painful. Jacob Jankowski, now over ninety years old, looks back on that time of desperation, cruelty and prejudice, but at the same time, he recalls a magical atmosphere with the animals, the larger-than-life circus population, love, and, of course, a special elephant named Rosie. Sara Gruen depicts the juxtaposed truths of the circus and the nursing home. Gruen's masterful story-telling techniques show how the worlds of aging and circus adventure intersect. Among other things, the Bookclub-in-a-Box discussion guide for this marvelous novel will discuss surprising facts about circus life and elephants, and will certainly uncover the mystery of how to carry water for elephants. Every Bookclub-in-a-Box discussion guide includes complete coverage of the themes and symbols, writing style and interesting background information on the novel and the author.

Genres: Fiction, Historical

90 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 17, 2007

About the author

As an educator, school librarian, writer, book-talk presenter and facilitator, Marilyn loves to read and talk about books. Her enthusiasm for reading and sharing led her to unite her two favorite things: people and pages. In turn, this led to the creation of Bookclub-in-a-Box, the ultimate discussion companion for contemporary works of literary fiction. Marilyn is always looking for a great debate about books and welcomes all feedback.

Reviews

[Arebella · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly rare find - a novel that had me from the first line: "I am ninety. Or nintey-three. One or the other." I was immediatley engrossed in Jacob's lives - one at twenty three, as the veterinarian for a traveling circus; the other as an old man in a nursing home, facing the end of his life. In most cases, switiching back and forth between these "Jacobs", would be merely a literary device and quite distracting to the reader. In this case, it's a brilliant use of a literary device to anchor the reader to Jacob's story without resorting to a lot of needless narrative to wade through. It works because we "see" Young Jacob's actions and viewpoint, then we connect the consequences of his actions to the end of his life through "Old Jacob's" point of view.

I found the writing to be both colorful and succinct - again, a rare find in today's literature. The subtle nuances of Gruen's descriptions of the prejudices of working men vs performers, town "rubes" vs circus people, and "Ivy League" educations vs the unwashed, uneducated roustabouts brought into clear focus the artifical divisions that unchecked prejudice produces, even among those confined together on a common mission surviving the Great Depression.

An amazing read that I recommend highly. These images will stick in your mind for a long time.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great! I could not put it down and literally read it in one day. It was adventurous, fun, suspenseful, and also sad at times. But it was a great, easy read and I will definitely look for other books by this author.

[Jillaine]

I tead this book when it first came out. Apparentlu I am one of the few that did not like this book. I found the treatment of the animals offensive and the story line just plain sad. One of my nurse friends agreed. l see this stuff all day at work and do not find it entertaining

[Dawn Hartfelder]

Such a cool book! Loved it! Nothing i would have normally picked up, but it was selected by a book club. Learned "Don't judge a book by its cover". This was great.

[Helen]

riveting story, unusual and historically interesting setting, great character development, beautifully written...

[Joan Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasnt too sure when I first started this book but as I got into it I couldn't put it down. The ending is just perfect for this book. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys reading.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! Been a long time since I stayed up too late because I was reading. Cover to cover in two sittings.

[Jennibeemine · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, the book has flawless characterization. The writing stays true to the world and the characters inside it; everything everyone does down to the last detail feels incredibly real and human.

This concept is driven even deeper home with the excellent voice actors (if you listen to the audio book) used to narrate the story. It was almost the equivalent of watching their lives through an open window – I could see and hear everything, though I was only an active observer rather than a participant.

However, just because something is human doesn’t mean it’ll be pretty – wrapped up in a neat bow with all the dust swept under the rug, so to speak. In fact, this was probably the most violent, most sexual, most gritty book I’ve ever read. It is no walk in the park, and at several times, I was tempted to give up on it simply because I doubted whether I could stomach it all.

Yet the voices captured my attention, and the characters with their unfortunate yet fascinating lives kept me listening even when their lifestyles were in conflict with my own personal beliefs. While I disagreed with the choices they made, I felt any other action they took would have been outside their character and would have cheapened the story.

The characters drove the plot forward, bringing it to a gruesome and tense yet exciting climax, and then bringing it back down to a satisfying finish. It was the characters, rather than the plot itself, that kept me reading – I had to know what they were going to do next, not because they were unpredictable, but simply because they embodied human nature.

It’s a unique setting, too: a vet during the prohibition and depression finds himself in the middle of a circus menagerie. The time period was fascinating, and I had to brush up on my history a bit to make sense of some parts. The author clearly researched the time period and the uncensored lives of those who lived in the circus.

However, don’t let this high praise convince you to pick up the book just for the fun of it. It is not something to take lightly, especially if you are a younger reader or uncomfortable with sex, foul language, or violence. These concepts are not portrayed as glamorous, but they are described in a great amount of detail to feel real. While the story has a happy ending, you will feel like you got dragged through the mud and trampled by the elephant in order to get to that point.

banana stamp maybeWhile I feel like Water for the Elephants has something unique to offer, I also feel the good is counterbalanced with the not-so-good. This leaves my book scale sitting in the middle. I didn’t hate it enough to tell people not to read it, but I don’t love it enough to give it a full on recommendation.

So, I give this one a “maybe” and “with caution.”

[Brittany Woolard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first dramatic romance novel I have ever read and it wasnt so bad. I usually stick with fantasy fiction but found an in-between period where I couldnt find a series or book in my genre to read. This book was slow in some spots but I enjoyed the audio version- the readers switch back and forth because the story is told from the same man but at 2 different stages of his life. The young Jacob is read by a younger man and the older Jacob is read by an old man- very reflective of what's going on and I appreciate that tiny detail. I have never really enjoyed the circus because of treatment to the animals etc, but that didn't bother me in this book. Jacob is a good dude who stands up for all the animals and it's very sweet. The love story is so sweet and innocent too, I was hooked a few chapters in and was very pleased with it overall when I finished.

After reading they released a movie with Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon as the stars- I enjoyed the twist in the book. I feel like the movie just poured all the twists out on the table and there weren't many surprises. You could all tell or guess that something would happen between Robert and Reese's characters. I definitely prefer the book on this one, the way it's told is much better. I recommend it!

[Elly Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5* Incredible. Beautiful. This one hooked me and reeled me in. Sometimes I had tears in my eyes. Such harshness, cruelty, brutality, yet equal human decency and kindness, and a strong story. What would happen next? It is so well written and performed that when it finished I started it again -- and found I got more out of it the second time. Very impressive. I’ll be looking for more by Sara Gruen. Good one!

[Linda Harkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned more than I thought I ever needed to know about the circus! A well-written, enchanting, behind-the-scenes look at life in a traveling circus, Water for Elephants is set in Depressin-era America. Until I'd read this, I'd never considered the importance of an elephant to the circus menagerie.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I probably would not have read this if a movie had not been made. I have not seen the movie and probably wont because it would ruin the book. The story was great, going back and forth in time, flowed smoothly. It had a little of everything romance, mystery,evil versus good, and in the end a happy ending. My favorite kind of book.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really wasn't sure I'd like this book, because I had this thing about clowns after seeing Poltergeist when it first came out. I went ahead and started the book just to see, and I was hooked by the beginning of the first chapter! I have also seen the movie.I really think the book is so much better. Isn't that usually the case?I highly recommend it.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book for several reasons! I enjoyed how the story was told in both the past and the present. I also learned a great deal about the travelling circus and the history of them. The book was an easy read and flowed very well.

[Podaire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great history of Circus life in 1920's, 1930's, expecially during the depression. Different love story entiwined with the book. The protagonist is telling the story from a rest home @ 90 years of age. The writer does a great job thinking through what people might experience in a care center @ 90.

[JohnW · Rating 5 out of 5]

A page turner magnifique. Actually I did the audio book thing at bedtime to help get me to sleep After going through to 4 AM I decided to show more discipline the next day. Absolutely loved it despite the unpleasant places it took me at times.

[Emily Von pfahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I began this book, I was filled with some trepidation. A story set during the Great Depression about circus folk? I was convinced it was going to be sad. I'm so glad that I read it anyway. Funny, poignant, informative, and entertaining.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading (again) for book club.

[Sheree La Puma, Author · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved, loved, loved this book. It really captured my imagination. I read it before the movie came out and have to say the book, as usual, was much better.

[Ipek]

Such a great read. I read it within one day.. A beautiful love story and a boo of adventure and passion.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stupendous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Marcia Pace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, well written and researched. I miss this story now that I've finished it.

[Rauza Z · Rating 3 out of 5]

I preferred the part narrated by old man

[Julie Schuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this story