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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Sep 07, 2007 Heather rated it really liked it

Shelves: bookclub-book

So far I am really enjoying this book. I love the jumps from the present to the past. At about halfway through I have so many unanswered questions and a few guesses as to the answers. I hope the second half is as interesting as the first. I need to finish before Tuesday's bookclub meeting though.

Well, I was able to get it done this weekend and in time for bookclub Tuesday night. I really enjoyed this one. I loved how the book jumped back and forth from Jacob's life at the circus to his life as a ...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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Mar 03, 2008 Jennifer rated it really liked it

Shelves: own, bookclub

Read for my new book group.

Some of it bothered me... but I have to be honest. I loved it in the end. I read the entire book in one day, mostly while waiting for my car to pass its safety inspection, and while sitting at the DMV.

I didn't even mind the wait, the book was so entertaining. ...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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Sep 26, 2007 Maggie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audio, historical-fiction

We listened to this on various drives back and forth to Atlanta. I really liked it. I can't wait to actually read it. My husband even liked it a lot. ...more

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Jan 22, 2008 Julie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: realistic

I LOVED this book...the characters, the history, everything...even the ending. I would definitely read it again and recommend to all types of readers.

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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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