Oct 21, 2011

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen


Title: Water for Elephants
Author: Sara Gruen
Pages: Paperback 335 pages
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Date Published: April 9th 2006
Genre: Literature, Historical Fiction, Romance
My Rating: 








Goodreads

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.

My Review

A ninety-something year old remembering his days working for a circus during The Great Depression.  Doesn’t sound as interesting? Yeah that is what I thought until I read it and it was more than just a book to me.
This book has joined My Favorites list. I was not expecting much from this book; actually I expected to not like it. I only read it because the movie was coming out but I seriously fell in love with it. A well-written and well-researched book. Very unique and I really enjoy knowing that I learned a couple of things from it since it is based on true historic events and I will admit I am not a big history fan so this helped me get into it.

I recommend this book to everyone, it is definitely a must read!

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