Water for Elephants: A Novel
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.
Surprising, poignant, and funny, Water for Elephants is that rare novel with a story so engrossing, one is reluctant to put it down; with characters so engaging, they continue to live long after the last page has been turned; with a world built of wonder, a world so real, one starts to breathe its air. more
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Smarter Choice
From the Publisher: An atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of star-crossed lovers, set in the circus world... |
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Water for Elephants (Books)
Historical - General Fiction - As a young man, Jacob Jankowski was tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home... |
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Water for Elephants
An atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of star-crossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932, by the... |
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Water for Elephants: A Novel
Pages: 335, Edition: Roughcut, Hardcover, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill |
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ProductReviews83/100 (100 Reviews)
Recent Reviews
- 5/5
- From: Amazon
- Posted: Oct-05-2009
- Consuming novel
This is one of those wonderful reads that consumes your days and life while you're engrossed in it. I didn't want it to end so I tried to savor each moment. I fell in love with Rosie and wanted to sit at the circus with Jacob just to...
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- 4/5
- From: Amazon
- Posted: Sep-30-2009
- It is a book that I am glad I did not quit reading
I bought this book because I ran out of things to read. I wandered around the store and noticed how much display this book was given to. I purchased it solely based on its popularity.I started reading it and had a bit of a hard time...
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- 5/5
- From: Amazon
- Posted: Sep-30-2009
- Words cannot describe-
I don't even know how to begin this review. This book is so wonderful, and so very different from anything that I've read, that I still can't believe it. Sara Gruen has written a book that is so carefully researched and so well-written...
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- 4/5
- From: Amazon
- Posted: Sep-28-2009
- Unique Setting + Good Writing = Fascinating Tale of Depression-Era Circus Train Life
Story OverviewJacob Jankowski is 90--or possibly 93. He's not really sure. "When you're five, you know your age down to the month. Even in your twenties you know how old you are. I'm twenty-three, you say, or maybe twenty-seven. But then...
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Selected Reviews
- 5/5
- From: Amazon
- Posted: Oct-05-2009
- Consuming novel
This is one of those wonderful reads that consumes your days and life while you're engrossed in it. I didn't want it to end so I tried to savor each moment. I fell in love with Rosie and wanted to sit at the circus with Jacob just to...
- read full review | report as inappropriate
- 3/5
- From: Amazon
- Posted: Aug-05-2009
- Not detailed enough...
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and her narration allowed me to feel like I was part of Jacob's life. Having been to various circus shows, I was enthralled to pick up this book and see what it has to offer, especially with the 4.5...
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- 2/5
- From: Amazon
- Posted: Feb-21-2009
- Cotton Candy
Why bother chiming in with review number 1,605? The verdict is in. Most readers (at least those who post reviews) love this book. Everybody who told me to read it (five or six reader friends) guaranteed enjoyment. I like those...
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