From the Bookshelf of Romance Readers Reading Challenges…

Water for Elephants

Sara Gruen

Finish date: December 19, 2010

Discussion: Monthly Challenges

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What Members Thought

Oct 10, 2017 Carrie rated it it was ok

Shelves: annoying-characters, animals, historical-fiction, male-pov, circus

So much of this book I did not like. The characters were not enjoyable. It had moments that got me, there where moments that I thought why am I reading this?. I enjoyed the older Jacob more then younger Jacob at times. But the whole 90 er 93 thing got OLD FAST!

The best part of the book was the end. The last say 15% or so of the novel was what made me give it not under 2 stars. It was for a challenge that me not DNF the book.

2.5 stars

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Jan 02, 2012 Michelle rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: forpleasure, e-books

I read this book on my kindle a week after watching the movie and I have to say I enjoyed the movie a lot more. They did a number of adaptations for the screenplay that made it work better. Like August was the owner in the movie, but in the book he wasn't but he was in charge of the animals and Uncle Al was the owner. At any rate, the movie was made for a PG-13 rating and though there were some mild situations and language, it was tolerable, vs. the book, where there was a lot of swearing and a ...more

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Jun 13, 2009 Stormy rated it really liked it

Shelves: at-the-library, challenge-books, contemporary-fiction

Sometimes I wonder if I'm damaged. I have read a number of unappealing books in the last 4 months. I start to think that my taste is very narrow and I am quite judgmental. Maybe unfairly so.

And then I encounter a book like Water for Elephants. The book grabbed me from the first page and the end was wonderful. It is wholly different than anything I've read in the last decade. And I loved it.

I recently complained about foreshadowing - this is the first time I can remember that it was used well. I ...more

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Oct 02, 2010 Ruth rated it really liked it

very good. its interesting how this book gets so many high and low reviews. I thought it was very well written ( at least it came over very well as an audio book,)

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May 04, 2010 Dawnie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

I love a story that you can get lost it. This book just flew by for me and had a great ending! I had read a romance a few months back that dealt with a girl having to learn to live in a modern day circus and there were a lot of similarities in this story. I am intrigued and will most likely look for some more stories similar to this one.

Good pick TC!!!

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Nov 19, 2014 Krissy rated it liked it

Shelves: audiobook, book2film, pgs-300-399, oops-i-m-pregnant, tagged-classics

**2015 Reading Challenge W/Josh: #34 A Book With A Love Triangle**

I enjoyed this book. A lot. But I wouldn't put it in the unputdownable category. Because of that I couldn't rate it 4 stars. I thought it was extremely well written and I will definitely be checking out this author again.

The story and characters were great(both the good and the bad). Sweet Rosie stole the show for me though. I adored her. I thought the ending was perfectly done. Kudos to the author for that.

Final rating: 3.5 Sta ...more

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Jun 29, 2008 Suzanne rated it really liked it

Shelves: love-story

It was a look into circus life. It was a shame about his parents' accident though. I was thinking -- didn't he have any relatives? He didn't even go to their funerals? But they didn't have money. What happened to their bodies? I guess that's what grief does to ya.
It was a good story. The circus life has to better than what he told, eh? Everybody has to look out for themselves? Watch your backs? I could go on but then I'd be giving out a lot of the story. ...more

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Jun 09, 2010 Larissa rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction

I would never have thought of reading this on my own. This is a perfect example of why I like goodreads. I am throughly enjoying the book and in two days am almost done with it.

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