Water for Elephants
Sara Gruen
This is a great, glorious, big-hearted novel set in a travelling circus touring the backblocks of America during the Great Depression of the early 1930s. It's a story of love and hate, trains and circuses, dwarves and fat ladies, horses and elephants - or to be more specific, one elephant, Rosie, star of Benzini Bros Most Spectacular Show on Earth...
When Jacob Jankowski, recently orphaned and suddenly adrift, jumps onto a passing train, he enters a world of freaks, swindlers and misfits in a second-rate circus struggling to survive during the Great Depression.
A veterinary student who almost earned his degree, Jacob is put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It is there that Jacob meets Marlena, the beautiful equestrienne who is married to August, a charismatic but violently unpredictable animal trainer. Jacob also meets Rosie, an elephant who seems unmanageable until he discovers an unusual way to reach her.
Water for Elephants is a story that has it all - warmth, humour, poignancy and passion. It has an energy and spirit like the feeling under a big top when the show is about to begin. It is a novel that will win your heart.
I read this in a day, just couldn't put it down. It was one of the most sad, funny, thought-provoking stories I've read in a long time.
ReplyDeleteThe symbolism of water came up all through the novel.
I loved it!
The book only took me a day to read too Megan! I thought it was a great story and was hooked the momment I picked up the book. I also agree with Meagn - that it was one of the best novels I have read in a while.
ReplyDeleteI loved the book totally different to what I expected. You could really understand the the people and what they were feeling. Great choice. Thanks Micheala.
ReplyDeleteI also thought the book was fantastic!! Very well written and easy to read, I couldn't put it down, I agree one of the best books that I have read in a while.
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