Water for Elephants

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Literature

Just as Jacob Jankowski is to sit his final veterinary exams at Cornell, he learns that his parents have been killed and he is penniless. He jumps aboard a passing train and finds himself in the circus world. The time period is the 1930s and it is a time of struggle. The circus rolls into town, sets up and goes on to the next town. It is a place for misfits, drifters, freaks and people who don't fit in.

Jacob soon becomes the circus vet and the circus soon becomes the proud owner of Rosie, an elephant. Rosie unfortunately is untrainable until Jacob happens upon the method to get her to perform.

There are many wonderful characters in this book. Marlena, the beautiful horse back rider is married to August, the animal trainer. August has severe anger issues and everyone is afraid of him. There is Walter, the midget whom Jacob gets to bunk with.

This is a great book about love, love for another human and a love of animals. It is wonderfully written and a very compelling read.

First Line: "Only three people were left under the red and white awning of the grease joint: Grady, me and the fry cook."

Rating:

(4.5/5)

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Fiction/Literature

When Jacob learns that his parents were killed in an automobile accident, he can no longer focus on finishing his final exams at Cornell to become a vet. Instead, Jacob jumps on a train wanting to escape and winds up on a travelling circus train and experiences the travelling circus live in the 1930s. Jacob soon becomes the vet for the show and learns all about how the circus operates, friendship, and love.

The story is seamlessly told between past and present, as Jacob remembers his life in the circus when the circus starts across the street from his retirement home. He talks about Marlena, his love, and his "bull" (elephant) Rosie, which is a different tale of love and is just as endearing.

As soon as I started this book I couldn't put it down. The characters and animals grabbed me and the tale of living on a train was enchanting. This is one of the better books I've read this year and I've already recommended it to people!

First Line: "Only three people were left under the red and white awning of the grease joint: Grady, me, and the fry cook."

Rating:

(4.5/5)