From the Bookshelf of The Perks Of Being A Book Addict…

Water for Elephants

Sara Gruen

Start date: October 1, 2023

Finish date: October 31, 2023

Discussion: Group Books of the Month (BotM)

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What Members Thought

May 04, 2007 Natalie Pietro rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own, signed, favorites, elephants

This is the best book I ever read. I just love the love story between the elephant and the girl. Made you feel like you were right on the curise train with them. A must read for anyone.

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Aug 04, 2011 Cindy rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Before I picked this much talked about book, particularly since the film came out, I heard from a few friends that they couldn't read it because of the animal abuse. When I thought that's what the book was about, I actually didn't want to read it either not because I care so much but because I'm not quite as impassioned on the topic. It's not that I'm heartless or ignorant of that. It's just that I don't need to read anything about that topic to make me "feel" the injustice. But, with the hype a ...more

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Mar 23, 2011 Falling for Books (Tia) rated it it was amazing

First Line: Only three people were left under the red and white awning of the grease joint: Grady, me, and the fry cook.

Favorite Quote: "I'm ninety. Or ninety-three. One or the other."

My thoughts: This is one of the best adult books I’ve read in a while. I was drawn into the story from the beginning. I loved reading about the circus, all of the great animals, even Rosie the elephant. The story takes place during the Depression. The main character Jacob falls in love with a woman which he canno ...more

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Apr 27, 2008 Julie rated it it was amazing

I don't even know how to explain this book -- everything was wonderful and mesmerizing from the first sentence. The entire story was an adventure you take along with the narrator and I LOVED learning the behind-the-scenes aspects of a circus, especially during the 1920s and 30s. You could tell how much research Gruen went through for this book, describing these scenes, characters and events to the fullest detail that it seems as if you're living in that period. I don't usually think this about b ...more

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May 17, 2007 Rachel rated it liked it

Shelves: fiction

I liked this a lot. I didn't really know what to expect when I got it from the library, but it was good. The ending surprised me; however, some of the characterization was very stereotypical. Great storytelling. ...more

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