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Water for Elephants

Sara Gruen

Start date: February 1, 2012

Finish date: February 29, 2012

Discussion: Former Group Reads

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Former Group Reads

* Reckless by Amanda Quick (September 2013 Group Read)
By Rea , Ghost · 9 posts · 20 views

last updated Oct 26, 2013 12:24PM

* Beauty and the Bounty Hunter by Lori Austin (September 2013 Group Read)
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last updated Sep 01, 2013 07:24AM

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What Members Thought

Jan 01, 2012 Andre T rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Easily my favorite book from the books I read in 2011.

What I liked about this book is that the setting was unusual, the plot evolving against the backdrop of the 1930s circus scene in the US just right after the depression. As the circus travels from town to town you can see how something like a circus, with it's surreal exhibitions and death-defying feats, could give joy, or at least a moment of escapism, to the people living in those desparate times.

A perfect backdrop for the story about a yo Easily my favorite book from the books I read in 2011.

What I liked about this book is that the setting was unusual, the plot evolving against the backdrop of the 1930s circus scene in the US just right after the depression. As the circus travels from town to town you can see how something like a circus, with it's surreal exhibitions and death-defying feats, could give joy, or at least a moment of escapism, to the people living in those desparate times.

A perfect backdrop for the story about a young Ivy-league college boy, born to middle class Polish immigrants who, via a family tragedy, is now homeless and without a family, and who literally has the circus come rushing through his life (on a train) as a possible answer for his life's problems.

I liked the attention to historical detail, like the terminology of the "kinkers" or circus performers" and of the everyday dialogue of the "roustabouts", the working men of the circus, as the author, Gruen, explains in the bonus chapters, that she did a lot of researching about circus life in the US and how it was difficult at first to penetrate the inner circle of actual Circus performers who are very wary of the public and media.

Perhaps what I liked most, however, was actually not the young version of the protagonist, Jacob Jankowski, but the older canterkerous version, the one who is reliving his tale in his 90-year-old mind -- or it is 93-year-old mind? -- as Jacob himself cannot remember his true age, one example of his humor, despite his curmedgeon ways, which adds a lot of modern-day levity as a counterpoint to the fairytale story of his youth. His interactions with the nurses and his rebellious actions, like demanding real apples instead of fruit substitutes like Jell-O, which are safe for his toothless fellow nursing home companions, but he still has teeth, dammit, and can chew real food!, or refering to the 80-year-old women in his home as children, ten years his lesser, are both endearing and also sad as he knows that life is ending for him, but not in the way he had hoped.

My one criticism is that while the book does a very good job of developing interesting characters, from the enigmatic animal trainer August, to the small-sized and tough but big-hearted Kinko the "dwarf", I found Marlena, the object of Jankowski's romance, to be lacking a bit in comparison. Not enough to lessen the book, and the impact of Jsnkwski's relationship with her which is central to the plot, but I felt her character needed something more. Interestingly, when watching the (mediocre) movie adaptation of the film, this fact was further emphasized as I felt a lack of chemistry between Jankowski(Robert Pattinson) and Marlena (Reese Witherspoon), and mainly I fault that with Witherspoon's performance, some of which may have been due to the source material, and I, surprisngly, found Pattinson's (of "Twilight" movie fame) overall performance to be quite good.

I admit I was initially turned off by the book as the cover of the movie adaption and the title of the book led me to believe this may be a chick-lit book, but it's far from it. In fact I think one of the reasons I like the book is because I like science fiction books. While there is nothing science fiction about the book, it is set largely on a moving home, a train, as it speeds from town to town, much like a spaceship would as it travels in intergalatic space. I love that sense of always moving, and the freedon of going anywhere via a ship, or in this case, a coal engine-powered train.

I definitely would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read.

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May 16, 2011 Lorena Bathey rated it it was amazing

I read this book in a day. With the recent trailer of the movie I usually like have read the book before I see the movie. My daughter brought the book home from high school and I picked it up yesterday and began reading. It was one I couldn't put down.

The story was effectively told by the narrator who was flashing back at his life in the circus and his love for a woman. I was interested to learn about the circus life which is so different from the display it sells.

I am now anticipating the movi ...more

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Sep 03, 2011 Dierdra McGill rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, authors-i-want-to-read-again, favorites

I am not real sure what I expected going into this book, more of a romance "chick" book I guess. I don't really like romance books all that much so it was awhile before I actually read this book but wishing now I had read it sooner! It was NOTHING like I thought it was going to be at all!
This book is about a 93 year old man in a assistant living home that is recalling the time he spent in the circus as a young man after his parents got killed in a car accident. I was really expecting it to be mo ...more

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Jun 12, 2011 Alice Heiserman rated it really liked it

Outside of the AntiSemitism in the book, it was a good read. Treatment of older protagonist was well handled.

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Feb 26, 2013 Lisa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Totally amazing, I so so loved this book, it will go down as one of my fav of all time.

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Apr 21, 2011 Debra Anastasia rated it it was amazing

Absolutely excellent. So different, perfectly told. This book is a journey I won't forget. ...more

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Feb 12, 2011 Kimberly rated it it was amazing

Loved this book! I would definitely read it again, and I can't wait for the movie! I'm glad I read the book first, b/c I'm sure the movie won't do it justice, but we shall see! ...more

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