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

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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Jul 08, 2012 Ellen Librarian rated it liked it

This could have been a really great book. Instead it was a mediocre one with a lot of plot but not much depth or ultimate meaning. Except for the narrator and one of the nurses at his old age home, all the characters seemed like caricatures. The big love interest, Marlena, was dull and it was hard to know what the narrator saw in her other than good looks, a love for animals and victimization by her cruel, mentally-ill husband.

Still, it was an engrossing, easy-to-read story with an interesting b ...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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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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Jun 15, 2011 Karen rated it liked it

decent novel but not a "must read"; take it or leave it friends ...more

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Mar 10, 2009 Bethany S rated it liked it

Interesting storyline to say the least! The style reminded me of The Notebook...old people reminiscing about their past, the story jumps back and forth to the past, then to the present. The first chapter really draws you in, it brings you right into the middle of the book during the most outrageous scene, then clips you off and starts back at the beginning. Too late! You're hooked and must read on to find out what happens! ...more

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