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

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What Members Thought

Jan 23, 2009 The Sassy Bookworm rated it it was amazing

I wasn't really sure what to expect from this book when I first heard about it it didn't sound like something I would be interested in, but I kept hearing how amazing it was, so I thought I would give it a try and I am SO glad that I did! This was just an amazingly good read, rich in details, gritty, humorous, I basically finished it in two days! I was also very pleased to read that many of the events in the novel are based on real happenings, this made the book all that more enjoyable for me. I ...more

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Dec 30, 2008 Barbara rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, animals-dogs-cats-horses-other

I loved this book. I didn't pick it up for the longest time because I didn't think I would like reading about the circus. I was wrong! I got it because there were so many rave reviews. I love this book and will miss reading about all the characters in the book. You get so involved it makes you feel like you are there with them, feeling their pains, ups and downs. I loved how the story went back and forth from old Jacob in the nursing home to younger Jacob remembering his days with the circus. I ...more

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Jul 03, 2008 Kerry rated it really liked it

Fannnnntastico! That's spanish for this book was damn good. Ok, I hate circuses...mainly bc I love animals and it bothers me to see animals poked and prodded for the benefit of human entertainment. Orrrr...that one of my first jobs was working at the Lowell Memorial Auditoruim. YOU try to enjoy circuses after working at one all weekend long for 10 hours a day in a sweaty Lowell pit.

So...moving on from my rant on circuses (that and clowns are creepy. And it's not just because I read Stephen King' ...more

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Feb 28, 2009 Susan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: to-re-read, own-in-book-format, family-relationships, fiction, remarkable-reads, animals, history, health, coming-of-age, friendship

Let me just say that I loved this book! I wanted to read it beore seeing the movie and I am so glad I finally picked it up. Of the 20-odd books I've read so far this year, Water for Elephants has been my absolute favorite (not including Watership Down, of course.)

The characters are so incredibly life-like and colorful, from the lowest roustabout to the most lofty performer - even the animals were fantastically realistic with amazing personalities all their own. Sara Gruen put me in the circus wh ...more

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Dec 19, 2012 Gina rated it it was ok

Good ending but to get there you had to read the whole story which was descriptive and vivid with animal abuse. After a while I just skipped over those parts because it was all too hard to read.

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Feb 22, 2010 Blessedutopia rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Fabulous story, heartbreaking account of the cruelty to animals but also the cruelty to mis-understood humans. Every bookworm should read this one...the story is just too magnificent

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Feb 17, 2012 Amy Rosa rated it it was amazing

I was blown away by this book. I'm really glad I finally decided to read it. Your heart goes out to all the animals in the circus especially the elephant. Best of all the ending was heartwarming and powerful. ...more

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