Water for Elephants in Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge

Nov 07, 2007 Kelly rated it really liked it

Shelves: adult, historical-fiction

Jacob Jankowski's life takes a sharp left turn when he is interrupted during one of his veterinarian classes. Both of his parents are fatalities of a car accident, leaving Jacob both homeless and penniless. During the Depression years, his father has fallen into debt taking care of farm animals even when their owners couldn't pay.

With this news, a dazed Jacob takes off, headed for anywhere. He hops onto a train hoping for a free ride. Then he finds out that he's hoped onto a car of the Benzini B Jacob Jankowski's life takes a sharp left turn when he is interrupted during one of his veterinarian classes. Both of his parents are fatalities of a car accident, leaving Jacob both homeless and penniless. During the Depression years, his father has fallen into debt taking care of farm animals even when their owners couldn't pay.

With this news, a dazed Jacob takes off, headed for anywhere. He hops onto a train hoping for a free ride. Then he finds out that he's hoped onto a car of the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. It is here, while working as the show's vet, that he meets the beautiful and talented Marlena and her cruel husband August.

Though some will complain that the plot is predictable, it is the journey that will make the reading of this book pleasurable. Gruen creates some very memorable characters. I especially enjoyed every vignette involving Jacob's reluctant bunkmate Walter. Any animal lover will thoroughly enjoy the passages with Rosie, the Polish-speaking elephant who is one of the most intelligent performers with the Benzini Brother's show.

That said I have a few minor reservations in recommending this light, pleasurable read.

The main female character and Jacob's object of affection, Marlena, is obviously a beautiful and talented performer, it's not clear why she inspires such devotion in Jacob. With a man as intelligent as Jacob, you would expect the relationship to be based on something beyond superficial trappings. If it was, we didn't read about it.

Also, the passages with Jacob as an old man, trapped inside a nursing home, were boring and jarring. It was hard to reconcile the kind, energetic, friendly, young Jacob with the cranky, lonely, old version. Now in the end, the passages paid off, but there were too many passages of old Jacob complaining about the quality of his nursing home food.

I would recommend this book to someone looking for a light, fun read. It is the perfect book for a vacation. I wouldn't recommend this book to someone who is a fan of circus freak fiction like Geek Love without some reservation. The book is more of a romance than a foray into the gritty underbelly of circus life during the Depression. ...more

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Aug 19, 2009 Jen Peters rated it really liked it

Shelves: drama

What a good book! I wasn't sure how it would all end, who Jacob's wife and the mother of his children is. I liked the story of Jacob's past much more than his present, however it was nice that it was told that way. I did like seeing how he turned out, as depressing as his nursing home story was. Jacob was a strong character, making it easy for me to feel for him. Many weird, interesting, and crazy parts, but what else would you expect in a story about the circus :) ...more

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Aug 20, 2009 Rachel rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-fiction, best-sellers

“I meant what I said and I said what I meant; an elephant's faithful, 100 percent!” - Dr. Seuss

I LOVED this book! I got through it in about 4 days when a 300-page book usually takes me a month because I am a very casual reader. However with this one, I found myself in bed extra early to allow for lots of reading time. I love the characters and the historical setting. I have been to the Ringling Museum in Sarasota and was fascinated by that as well so this story really resonated with me, bringing ...more

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Jun 28, 2007 stephanie added it

Shelves: stalled

i don't know. i can't really get into it . . . perhaps because my mind isn't willing to think about something that isn't about history or psych right now, or because i'm really disappointed the main character is male - which sounds totally obnoxious, but i loved her female characters in her other books, and i really wanted that combination of strong-fucked-up-stubborn-vulnerable-ness that gruen does so well. maybe she does, maybe jacob turns somewhat sympathetic without being pitying, but right ...more

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Apr 02, 2007 Alison rated it really liked it

What a fantastic book! Besides the fact that the narrator was a vet and that was enough to draw me in, the author does an amazing job of drawing you into both an old man's life and his rememberings about his youth. I could not put this book down- I finished it in 2 days! I highly recommend it. ...more

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Sep 14, 2007 Amy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook

I LOVED this book. The narrator(s) were wonderful, extremely engaging and completely appropriate for the characters. The story was extremely well told, entertaining and not one that had immediate "so this is what's going to happen" type themes. I really, really enjoyed this novel. ...more

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Mar 29, 2007 Lori rated it it was amazing

Very sensitive. Haven't read anything like it before. Takes you to another place and time. It was in the library of our retirement facility, selected by our seniors! The photos of old circus troupes were really great at the beginning of each chapter. ...more

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Jan 21, 2008 Shauna rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ihavereadthesebooks

I loved this book. It was American Historical fiction on a subject I had never explored before--the traveling circus. Very interesting perspective from a vet that worked most of his life in circuses and zoos. I loved the ending.

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Jul 15, 2007 Christina, Join Me on Storygraph! rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-recommend, 2008

I really enjoyed this book. I had really no idea what I was in for, but had heard so many rave reviews of this book I had to read it too. It was fantastic; such beautiful imagery and the cast of characters is intriguing too.

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May 27, 2008 Grumpy72 rated it really liked it

I totally didn't expect to enjoy this book but it was a good read. Interesting story about the train circus in the 1930's. Murder, intrigue. Loved it! ...more

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