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Water for Elephants

By Sara Gruen

(248)

| Hardcover | 9780002007771

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Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

While this is not a “new” book, it has recently garnered new interest because of the movie of the same name. I haven’t seen the movie, but this is an interesting book and one that while not “pure” romance, definitely has some romantic moments. It is ... (read full critics)

theromancereader published on Sat, 7 Jan 2012

Water for Elephants

Jacob Jankowski is pushing 90 and wallowing in a nursing home, abandoned by his family and surrounded by aged octogenarians who irk him with their senility. He has few pleasures in life --- an astute and friendly nurse named Rosemary and his vibrant ... (read full critics)

bookreporter published on Thu, 24 Nov 2011

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36 Reviews

5 people find this helpful

I love this book. It is one of those rare books that hook you from page one to the end by a superb plot, meticulous research, interesting characters and crisp dialogues.
Set in America in the 1930s, the story is about Jacob Jankowski, a prospective vet and a college drop-out who joined a seco ... (continue)

I love this book. It is one of those rare books that hook you from page one to the end by a superb plot, meticulous research, interesting characters and crisp dialogues.
Set in America in the 1930s, the story is about Jacob Jankowski, a prospective vet and a college drop-out who joined a second-rate travelling circus and met its beautiful starlet Marlena. Their relationship was doomed from the start as the two and their beloved elephant, Rosie, struggled under the yoke of Marlena's husband, the sadistic animal trainer, August.
What I like about the book is not their tumultous relationship. In fact, none of the main characters impressed me. Jacob was a coward. Everything he did was on impulse. He never had a plan and did things without thinking. I don't care what happened to him.
It was the other performers, workmen and animals of the circus and their anecdotes that were most mesmerising. Sara Gruen did a lot of research into the touring circuses of the early 20th century and how they survived the Great Depression. The tricks they played were vividly described, and their poor destiny was haunting. Some of the scenes would stay with you long after you have finished the book.
This book reminds me of the HBO TV series "Carnivale" (which was canned just after two seasons). The circus in "Water for Elephant" is even more fascinating than "Carnivale".
This book climbed up to the top-10 bestseller list steadily through word of mouth. Read it and you won't regret it.

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Tracy W said on Dec 2, 2007 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

1 person find this helpful

I confess. I just bought this book because I knew Robert Pattinson was in the cast of the movie.
So what?
It's not like you have to like something just because one of our favourite actors is a part of it. But this book is really really nice.
It's a very light reading, something you finish up in a f ... (continue)

I confess. I just bought this book because I knew Robert Pattinson was in the cast of the movie.
So what?
It's not like you have to like something just because one of our favourite actors is a part of it. But this book is really really nice.
It's a very light reading, something you finish up in a few days and, if you're not very familiar with it, like me, gives you an insight of everything that is behind a circus' curtain.
Even if I find that Jacob and Marlena's lovestory is a little bit rushed (the whole story takes place in a couple of months tops), there's so much more in this book than that. It's not a romance book. I'd say it's more like a personal journey of a young boy going through the motions of life and struggling to keep up with it.
So if you need a light read and you're up for The most spectacular show on earth..

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Elf said on Aug 18, 2010 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

1 person find this helpful

I have truly enjoyed this story. The characters are simply wonderful, including the mean ones.
Even if it's based in the difficult period of the Great Depression it's constant humour really makes reading it a pleasure.

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Niamh said on May 9, 2008 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

Great Spanish Language Version

Unlike my spanish version of Memoirs of a Geisha (which was terribly translated), Aqua Para Elefantes was well done. The translation was great, however the story was terribly cliched. It was an okay one-time-read, but I wouldn't reccommend it to anyone. If you like period melodrama you might like ... (continue)

Unlike my spanish version of Memoirs of a Geisha (which was terribly translated), Aqua Para Elefantes was well done. The translation was great, however the story was terribly cliched. It was an okay one-time-read, but I wouldn't reccommend it to anyone. If you like period melodrama you might like this.

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HotWolfie said on Dec 27, 2011 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

Very nice. The kind of exotic story that makes you suspend judgement and just enjoy the ride.

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LFrig said on Dec 20, 2011 about the Others edition | Add your feedback