Book: Water for Elephants
Author: Sara Gruen
Though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski's ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell.
Jacob was there because his luck had run out - orphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on this locomotive 'ship of fools'. It was the early part of the Great Depression, and everyone in this third-rate circus was lucky to have any job at all. Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, was there because she fell in love with the wrong man, a handsome circus boss with a wide mean streak. And Rosie the elephant was there because she was the great gray hope, the new act that was going to be the salvation of the circus; the only problem was, Rosie didn't have an act - in fact, she couldn't even follow instructions. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.
Jacob was there because his luck had run out - orphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on this locomotive 'ship of fools'. It was the early part of the Great Depression, and everyone in this third-rate circus was lucky to have any job at all. Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, was there because she fell in love with the wrong man, a handsome circus boss with a wide mean streak. And Rosie the elephant was there because she was the great gray hope, the new act that was going to be the salvation of the circus; the only problem was, Rosie didn't have an act - in fact, she couldn't even follow instructions. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.
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I've heard so much about the book.
am still waiting to see the movie (I like to read a book before I see the movie. Let my imagination have first dibs)
I wasnt disappointed in the hype of the book.
I loved hearing Jacob in his "old state" & seeing what happened to him ... where he ended up... & the story of how he got there... the circus.
I couldnt help but envision Robert Pattison & Reese Witherspoon since I do know they are the lead movie characters... but it suited the characters I grew to know in the book.
I literally cried at parts of animal abuse... I teared up at the relationship of Walter & his dog, Queenie... I got chills at how badly Jacob wanted to help Marlena... & I rooted for Rosie when she got to take revenge for all the abuse she had to endure.
The story of the back side of a circus is another view. Dirty, grungy, sneaky, nasty... but full of people who have hearts... & those who dont.
I could have done without a lot of the graphic details & story lines that really didnt need to be there (in my opinion) but I guess I'm just jaded from reading too many Christian novels.
I did enjoy the book though... now off to see the movie :)
My Rating: 4 Skeins
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