Water For Elephants
The Low Down
Title: Water For Elephants
Author: Sara Gruen
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Date: 2006
Main Components: Love, Murder and trying to survive when all odds are against you.
Interesting Detail: The book is filled with actual pictures of the circus
Sara Gruen’s recent novel, Water For Elephants, is a tale about a 23 year old man named Jacob Jankowski who unintentionally joins the circus after being told that not only is he an orphan, but he is also penniless...ouch! In an attempt to run away, he hops on the closest train only to find himself caught up in a world of murder, misfits and famous freaks. Jacob uses his veterinary skills to find himself a home among the animal performers, most notably a mischievous elephant named Rosie. Jacob finds himself trapped in a love triangle between the captivating performer Marlena and her charismatic but cruel animal training husband August. His only hope of survival is a murderous secret that could bring down the Big Top and all in it.
The novel, aimed towards adult readers, successfully immerses the reader in the world of the Benzini Bros Most Spectacular Show on Earth. The imagery in this book makes you feel as if you’re actually standing by Jacob’s side in the center of the circus with freaks, animals, high maintenance performers and common workers running around you. This book is like one giant flashback, every few chapters returning to present-Jacob as a trouble causing, rambunctious ninety-three year old man trying to stay sane in a nursing home. This book has everything a reader could want: murder, mystery, comedy, witty dialogue and even love. Gruen does a great job of creating captivating character that you just love or love to hate. Jacob Jankowski is a sarcastic and caring man even in old age, causing turmoil in the nursing home he hates that is filled with “slack-jaw dimwits” as he loves to call them. Marlena is a passionate woman who is stuck with her husband August, a man that if I could, would personally beat up. Now I don’t say that because his character was badly formed, on the contrary, he is so well developed that every move he makes wants you to scream out in frustration and wring his neck. But fear not, for there are many entertaining characters such as Walter, a defensive man that doesn’t seem fit for his job, a clown. There is also Rosie the elephant who you can’t help crack a smile at when you read about the newest problems she is causing for Mr. I-Am-Going-To-Beat-Animals-Because-Even-They-Can-Sense-I-Am-Not- Worthy-Of-Respect August.
This 2007 Book Sense Book of the year winner has a few little annoyances like all books do. It takes a few transitions between old and young Jacob to no longer get thrown and confused when suddenly the 23 year old is 93. There are also a few times I had to go back and re-read a paragraph as Gruen could get a little confusing at times. This book was well researched which gives it authenticity but also causes its downfall. This is because often Gruen will use technical terms referring to places or objects in the Big Top that force you to go back to the beginning where it defines them in a limited and confusing paragraph.
I found myself captured by this book after reading the prologue, which is filled with so many details that you feel as if you are there. The ending of the book brings tears to your eyes and sense of contentment. Often I will read a book and can’t wait to pick up the next one. However, with this book I had it on my mind for days, specifically because the ending left no loose strings. This just shows you can’t judge a book by its cover, or more accurately in this case, its title. Even I raised an eyebrow when I saw the title as it was presented to me at Christmas by my over-excited mom.
I rate this book 3.5 late nights out of 5.
The reason? As good as it was, I was able to put it down without too much difficulty to return to my dreaded units. However, the second I could, I came running right back to it trying to figure out what the big secret is. Trust me, the ending makes the occasional confusion and blasted character August all worth it.
Other Fancy Tidbits
Price: $16.50
Other books by Sara Gruen: Riding Lessons
Website: http://www.saragruen.com/
Sara Gruen was born in Canada and attended university in Ottawa. She is now living just outside of Chicago with her husband and three children. She travelled all across the country to different Big top museum and talked to many historians to have the novel as accurate as possible.
Title: Water For Elephants
Author: Sara Gruen
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Date: 2006
Main Components: Love, Murder and trying to survive when all odds are against you.
Interesting Detail: The book is filled with actual pictures of the circus
Sara Gruen’s recent novel, Water For Elephants, is a tale about a 23 year old man named Jacob Jankowski who unintentionally joins the circus after being told that not only is he an orphan, but he is also penniless...ouch! In an attempt to run away, he hops on the closest train only to find himself caught up in a world of murder, misfits and famous freaks. Jacob uses his veterinary skills to find himself a home among the animal performers, most notably a mischievous elephant named Rosie. Jacob finds himself trapped in a love triangle between the captivating performer Marlena and her charismatic but cruel animal training husband August. His only hope of survival is a murderous secret that could bring down the Big Top and all in it.
The novel, aimed towards adult readers, successfully immerses the reader in the world of the Benzini Bros Most Spectacular Show on Earth. The imagery in this book makes you feel as if you’re actually standing by Jacob’s side in the center of the circus with freaks, animals, high maintenance performers and common workers running around you. This book is like one giant flashback, every few chapters returning to present-Jacob as a trouble causing, rambunctious ninety-three year old man trying to stay sane in a nursing home. This book has everything a reader could want: murder, mystery, comedy, witty dialogue and even love. Gruen does a great job of creating captivating character that you just love or love to hate. Jacob Jankowski is a sarcastic and caring man even in old age, causing turmoil in the nursing home he hates that is filled with “slack-jaw dimwits” as he loves to call them. Marlena is a passionate woman who is stuck with her husband August, a man that if I could, would personally beat up. Now I don’t say that because his character was badly formed, on the contrary, he is so well developed that every move he makes wants you to scream out in frustration and wring his neck. But fear not, for there are many entertaining characters such as Walter, a defensive man that doesn’t seem fit for his job, a clown. There is also Rosie the elephant who you can’t help crack a smile at when you read about the newest problems she is causing for Mr. I-Am-Going-To-Beat-Animals-Because-Even-They-Can-Sense-I-Am-Not- Worthy-Of-Respect August.
This 2007 Book Sense Book of the year winner has a few little annoyances like all books do. It takes a few transitions between old and young Jacob to no longer get thrown and confused when suddenly the 23 year old is 93. There are also a few times I had to go back and re-read a paragraph as Gruen could get a little confusing at times. This book was well researched which gives it authenticity but also causes its downfall. This is because often Gruen will use technical terms referring to places or objects in the Big Top that force you to go back to the beginning where it defines them in a limited and confusing paragraph.
I found myself captured by this book after reading the prologue, which is filled with so many details that you feel as if you are there. The ending of the book brings tears to your eyes and sense of contentment. Often I will read a book and can’t wait to pick up the next one. However, with this book I had it on my mind for days, specifically because the ending left no loose strings. This just shows you can’t judge a book by its cover, or more accurately in this case, its title. Even I raised an eyebrow when I saw the title as it was presented to me at Christmas by my over-excited mom.
I rate this book 3.5 late nights out of 5.
The reason? As good as it was, I was able to put it down without too much difficulty to return to my dreaded units. However, the second I could, I came running right back to it trying to figure out what the big secret is. Trust me, the ending makes the occasional confusion and blasted character August all worth it.
Other Fancy Tidbits
Price: $16.50
Other books by Sara Gruen: Riding Lessons
Website: http://www.saragruen.com/
Sara Gruen was born in Canada and attended university in Ottawa. She is now living just outside of Chicago with her husband and three children. She travelled all across the country to different Big top museum and talked to many historians to have the novel as accurate as possible.
posted by Laura G at
7:29 PM
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