Book Reviews of Water for Elephants

Believe the hype you have heard about this book. Gruen's characters leap off the page and into your mind they are so well concieved. Almost every element you could want in a book is here - humor, a bit of a mystery, drama, angst, terror, compassion. It is about relationships; human to human; human and animal. It's about falling in love in an instant. It's about history. It's about life with a traveling circus and all the various personalities that make up a community.

The only word of caution I have is that there are elements of animal cruelty portrayed if that makes you squeemish.

A wonderful story of a young man's life turned upside down. A split-second decision lands him a job with a traveling cirus. The author does an amazingly thorough job, describing the intricacies of circus life in a realistic and gritty manor. The man's circus life story is told in flashbacks, with the majority taking place during the era of Prohibition, and is done with a great deal of love and affection.

With the story set in the circus world, I expected a huge menagerie of characters that would be difficult to keep track of. On the contrary, while there are several well fleshed-out characters, it's not overwhelming. The main character has quite a compelling story to tell, and he's easily likeable.

Highly recommended. A thoroughly enjoyable tale.

I almost didn't read this book because of the wait list (over 900 people!) and because my TBR pile is now a TBR mountain. I'm glad I did read it. Knocked it out in two nights. Memorable read.

Life was hard in the 1930's, there was no work, the stock market crashed. The romance and excitement of the traveling circus was the television of that time. Of course, the circus life itself was hard, gritty, and terrible. And always, underneath it all, one finds compassion.

This is a love story, between a man and a woman, between a man and himself.

OK, First I must tell you that I don't really like circuses - at least the old fashioned kind. That's primarily because I had always heard that they mistreated their animals. This book did nothing but reinforce that opinion.

Even given that though, this is a VERY good book. Well researched with fascinating insight into the life of a 3rd rate travelling circus in during the Depression. The story and the action never slows down until the dramatic and surprising conclusion. And even though many of the characters were, frankly, nasty, the goodness and morality of the main character and others gives you hope.

Highly recommended. 4.5* (It would have been 5* if I had been a circus fan.)

Great book! I really wasn't all into it at first because I was not interested in Depression-era circus life. But I am telling you, as little as this interests you, this book is great and it will MAKE you interested in circus life. It's told by the main character when he is near the end of his days in a nursing home which makes it interesting since he is telling a story of his past.

Brilliant is an understatement - wonderfully plotted, well paced, characters with depth (both human and non). You can taste the popcorn and smell the hay. You worry throughout the book that things will turn out badly, but you know they simply can't. There should be more than 5 stars available.

I really enjoyed this book. The character development is superb! The story line is very different. However, if you have difficulty imagining animals being mistreated, you may want to think twice. Some violence involving animals. It pushed me to the limit in this way, but the book was definitely worth it.

A really great read! Sucks you right in and you won't put it down. This is not YA, and there are refs to sex in it (nothing terribly explicit), but it is a reasonable read for a mature teenager. My 15-year old niece adored this book--she carried it everywhere with her (up the stairs, in the car) until she finished it, and said it was one of the best books she ever read.

It is fun and fascinating and a terrifically absorbing and satisfying book.

I picked this up after it was recommended to me. From the prologue to the very end, it had me captivated. I also liked it because it gave me a glimpse into the 1930's, a decade I don't know too much about.

This book provided something very different from anything else I've ever read, and I enjoyed it tremendously. I felt drawn into the time period and a lifestyle that I've never imagined. Very well written. For me the love story aspect took a back seat to the other relationships Jacob developed during his early days with the Circus, both with humans and animals.

The author does a good job moving from chapters between the life of a now 90 some year old man, Jacob Jankowski, and his life as a young man working for the Circus. The chapters of Jacob as an old man are humorous as he gets his dander up with other nursing home residents. The chapters of his experiences of love and life in the circus, bring on humor and pain side by side. Just when your heart is breaking, regarding the treatment of circus staff and animals and you don't think you can bear to read on, the book quickly moves to something amusing and endearing. I loved the fact that the author did allot of research into the circus life during that period. It was a culture and a lifestyle I had no idea existed, and I found it compelling.

Excellent book. It kept my interest from cover to cover. However, I found the discriptions of animal abuse very disturbing... especially the abuse of Rosie the elephant. Even though this book was a work of fiction, I know that much of it was based on fact. The characters were all very well developed and did bring some humor to the dismal lives of so many on the circus train.

Probably one of the best books I've read in 2008!

Gruen's writing style makes the depression era circus come to startling life. I was hooked from the first page and felt instantly sympathetic with the main character Jacob. I loved all the crazy and at times shocking details of life on the circus train. Well written, great chracters and great plot. Of course I can't write this review without mentioning the fascinating and realistic detail given to all of the animal "characters" as well especially Rosie the bull elephant. Don't want to give anything away but the ending was fantastic. I dount you will be dissapointed if you give this book a chance.

This was a book that I truly did not think I’d like. Not a big fan of circuses, I just didn’t think it would interest me. Boy, was I ever wrong! This book thrust me into its story from the very first page, and left me wanting more. The ending is wonderful – perfect and satisfying. While I am very leary of any book that contains abuse to animals, I found that I could endure the occasional abuses described somehow. I was so completely enthralled by the characters of this book, and could see the whole story in my mind’s eye as I read. The author does say in an interview that the elephant, Rosie, was based on a real elephant (two, actually) she discovered when doing the research for this book. I often felt like I needed a shower while reading the book because it is so atmospheric and real that I felt like I’d been riding on the train without a good wash! At the same time, I felt I was a resident of the nursing home depicted in the book and wanted to have a good meal myself. Excellent book, one of the best reads of my adult life. It will definitely stay with me a long time.

This was a very entertaining book! A fascinating look into the lives of circus people, and the clear class lines among them. Told through the eyes and voice of a 93 year old man, which brings another agenda of life into the plot. Viewers on the back page say: compelling...vivid...rich...emotional...delightful...endlessly surprising...riveting...and they are right.

If I'd had time to sit and read this book straight through, I would have - it was that good. I found myself laughing at the humorous accounts of 'old Jacob' and nearly crying over some of the other events. As far as the animal abuse goes, I didn't find it too shockingly descriptive (and this is coming from someone who cries when ASPCA commercials come on!). For me personally though, the one thing that made this just a good read and not a keeper was the several descriptions of sexual encounters. I could have done without those parts, and that's why I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5. Overall though, I loved this book and will probably read it again sometime.

I absolutely loved this book. Unfortunately I stayed up most of the night reading it! Different from any other novel I have read. I think both men and women would equally enjoy.

The story is predominately about a young man who loses both his parents in an accident, quits college, hops a train that turns out to be a circus train. It is set in the depression, so he stays with the circus in order to feed himself. The story is narrated by the man at 90 (or 93) years old from his assisted living home and moves back and forth between these 2 stages of his life.

Really makes you think about your life up onto this point and what it will be like when you are old and dependant on others. However, it is not terribly depressing.

I didn't order this book for a long time becuase I wasn't too interested in a circus story, but this book is much, much more than that. Give it a try.

REally enjoyed this book! It went seamlessly from the past to the present and back and actually added top the story. Gruen depicted the elder Jacob so well, the reader really feels for him, and the younger pulls you through his circus adventures as if you were there. I love how history was woven through as well.

I really did love this book. It takes you to a different world, one where you're sucked into the character's lives and not let go until the very end. Gruen sure did her research, and it paid. Her book was filled with some true stories that she had actually read during her research. Bottom line is--this is a compelling and fascinating book.

I was not into this book as much as I anticipated from all the reviews. I did not think enjoy the ending. It did give me an idea of the circus life at that period and some unforgettable glimpses of the hard lives of the workers, but not a favorite of mine.

I enjoyed this book - it was recommended by a friend and I was not disappointed. I take the train to and from the city and so I do most of my reading on my commute. This is one of those books that was hard to put down - I hated when we pulled into my station because I was so involved in the story. Then I could not wait til I got back on the train to finish the story.

It is a moving story of a man who reflects on his time in the circus - it is visual, gritty and sensual and truly transports the reader into another time.

I enjoyed the book a lot! My only complaint was a few 'crude' moments in the book that seemed unnecessary. Otherwise, was very interesting, and a completely original read!

This is the first book I've ever read that had something to do with a circus, and that was intriguing enough!

I was totally caught off guard by this book. I expected it to be a "heavy read" like some of the NYT bestsellers but it was enchanting. I read it cover to cover in an evening. It completely engrosses the reader in a culture that not many of us would know anything about but the themes of grief, love, desperation, jealousy etc we all can relate to . A great book. I think this would suit readers of many differenct tastes.

The backdrop of this book, the circus, made it a different kind of book for me. Not a book I fell in love with, but ok.

Truly captivating - one of the best books I've read all year. Fast paced with a lot of heart, I loved the main character's journey. Being an animal lover, the book was occasionally almost too much for me to bear, but I'm very glad I stuck with it. Highly reccomended. 4*.

I LOVED this book. It was captivating. One of the best books I've read this year.

I borrowed this book from a great friend with the recommendation that it was one of the best novels she had ever read - and I agree that it is super-awesome. The world of the book is fantastically realized and the characters feel like real people. It runs the gamut of emotion and stays with you after you've finished.
you should read it.

Going in, I had a feeling this book would contain some stuff that would make me a little uncomfortable, and I was right. But isn't that what a good book does ... challenge our emotions, our views, our experiences? As it turns out, this is one of the best books I've read in a long time. Absorbing, thought-provoking and highly entertaining, it kept me involved to the very end and left me with a great feeling and a better understanding of what it's like to live life in a Depression-era circus and the indignities of growing old. I highly recommend reading this book. I'll likely read it again myself.

Beautifully written, touching story about an unusual and interesting subject. I loved this book and so did my husband. I've always loved elephants and was delighted to learn more about these intelligent, fascinating creatures. This book gets into the heart of both people and animals.

There is humor, pathos, love, mystery, action, and more, much more. The book gives you great insight into the workings of circuses, which until now, have been a mystery to many of us.

It is quite a while since I've read it, but I find thoughts about the story and the characters coming to mind every now and then. Do yourself a big favor, and read it. You'll be very happy you did.

I actually didn't enjoy this book....And am probably one of few. I just don't see the hype in this book. There was nothing that made me want to keep reading it. It was a struggle for me to get through.
I do believe my favorite part was the end.
That stated, I wouldn't reccomend this to anyone.

If you have not read thisyet, then you need to. It is a very engaging story that leaps off the pages, and keeps you interested until you finish. The treatment of the animals and the low end workers was horrible!! The whole account was researched expertly by the author, and she adds true life occurences of which she weaves into her novel. Don't miss this one, folks!

I was hesitant to read this book at first. My usual genres are women's fiction, with a very heavy emphasis on chick lit. When a friend recommended this book to me, my first thought was "You want me to read about circuses? In the Depression era? Ummmm, no, I don't think so." I honestly thought this book was SO not my thing.

But she persisted, insisting that I MUST read this book. So I decided to give it a try, if only to get her off my back. :) I am SO glad I did. It was awesome! I was hooked from the first few pages. If I had to put the book down, I was thinking about when I could get back to read it again. It grabbed me and wouldn't let go (as trite as that sounds, it was true).

It was a quick read, and the writing was lively and tight. It never bogged down, the plot was exciting and kept the book moving forward at a rapid pace.

I highly recommend this book. Even if you think you WON'T like it, give it a try anyway. It's that good!

Love It Love It Love IT!

This book was amzing from page 1 to the last page. I couldn't put this book down. The author did a great job pulling the reader into this book ank keeping your attention through out the entire thing. Sara Gruen does a wonderful job painting a picture of circuse life; the glamouors part and the rought parts of circus life. There are so many different charcters in this book that bring so much color to the story. My favorites were Kinko (aka Walter) and Rosie. Marlena was a ittle too helpless in my opionion, but I guess for the time period that was normal. I would reccomend this book too anyone. Get a copy of this book and add it to your to be read pile!!! This is worth the credit!

Enjoy!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book!!!!! I, too, wasn't quite sure what to expect... it's not the normal type of book I usually read, but once I started reading it, I got so caught up that I didn't want to put it down. When I finished it, I immediately went to a friend at work to tell her that she HAD to read it and she said "OMG! I read it about 4 months ago. Isn't it amazing?!"

I highly recommend this book and it's definitely on my top favorite list of all time favorite books! :)

A wonderful story of the trials and tribulations of a traveling circus during the Great Depression. The author's richly developed characters, both human and otherwise, will keep you turning the pages. You'll never look at a circus the same way again.

Really good. gives a nice portrayal of circus life in America. Also features an elephant that only understands Polish. And since I'm Polish it scored some extra points.

I had high expectations for this book--and it definitely delivered! Very satisfying, engaging novel about a third-rate Depression-era circus.

Given the topic, I think I would normally have overlooked this title, but I really enjoyed it. The fascinating historical world of the circus is mesmerizing and Gruen has done a nice job at helping us feel immersed in the culture -- we learn slang, the pecking order, the real grittiness of the lifestyle, etc. While there are plenty of dark moments here, and parts are not for those with soft stomachs, it was a very quick and enjoyable read, as it was easy to become engrossed in the story, with an ending better than I'd hoped for. Highly recommended.

I loved this book. Fantastically written, will keep you on the edge of your seat wanting to know what happnes next.

Makes you want to run away with the circus and what a delightful ending! Highly recommend

Loved it! An authentic "feel" for the circus and it's personnel. Happy ending didn't hurt.

Engrossing historical fiction with lots of great detail about depression-era circumstances. Loved the ending.

This book will grab you and not let you go. Probably the best books I've read in the last six months.

A fantastic read. I devoured this book in 2 days. Very sad story and have thought about it for days.

An arresting new novel....with a showman's expert timimg, Gruen saves a terrific revelation for the final pages, transforming a glimpse of Americana into an enchanting escapist fairy tale. NY Times Book Review

Wonderful, engaging story written in seamless flashback. A surprise ending that couldn't be better deserved! I loved the insider's view of the complex workings within a 1930's train circus and its cast of very colorful characters...

What a page turner--I read this in about three days. Started off slow, but really picks in the middle. Completely transported this "rube" (circus lingo for civilian) into the world under the big top in the 1930s.

Probably one of the best books I've read in a long time. It takes about two chapters, but after that you will be swept away by the imagery, the degradations, the triumphs and sorrows of this second rate circus and the people that make it happen. then there's the elephant...a must read.

I thought the circus story was fascinating! I knew that it was a hard-scrabble, gritty world, but not to the extreme portrayed here, but then, Benzini Bros must have been a Grade C circus. The individual characters were developed and compelling. The relationships between the animal characters and their "people" were also well developed and compelling. The romantic angle was the only plot element I found predictable and, in a way, out of place in the story. ***SPOILER***Both "stories", past and present, had endings that were just too tidy, especially the transition that Jacob the Elder made; it just seemed too good to be true.

This is right at the top of my list of favorite books - and I read a lot! It's a touching story about a young man on the brink of starting his life after college who is dealt a tragic blow. How he chooses to deal with it is unusual but seems to be the perfect choice for him. I didn't know a lot about circus life before reading this book so if you're one of those people who loves learning bits of history presented in interesting ways, this book will do it! A wonderful, heart wrenching story that left me feeling both wistful and thoughtful.

Water for Elephants is captivating in a cotton-candy sort of way. It dissapears quickly and you can't put it down, but when you're done, you realize it had no substance and you feel kind of ill.

The plot is predictable, if you have ever read a romance novel with pretentions of literary merit, and you will recognize the characters from any number of other novels. As many other reviews have mentioned, animals are treated badly, and there is plenty of nastiness directed at humans as well.

The one redeeming feature of this book, and the reason I found it compelling, is the lovingly researched, detailed account of life with a circus during the depression. I can't say I had any interest in the subject before reading this book, but it is a fascinating glimpse into another time and place.

Personally, I felt cheated when the "mystery" was revealed, and I found the ending flatly ridiculous.

The world that these characters live in is so full of crazy and interesting stuff! The mobile circus provides an intricate and fascinating background for a cast of characters that will tug at your heart.

Nothing about the topics interested me: not circuses,not elephants, nothing. The book, nonetheless, was captivating. Definitely a book that stands out from the masses and that I will remember long after a lot of other books have run together.

Water for elephants is a great story about an elderly man who is re-living his past. His story is good, and I almost hated to see him "return" to his life in the nursing home when his musings were finished. My heart went out to him, and the author really made him come to life. It was a good reminder that the elderly get very lonely and long for the days when they could get up and run...

Word of caution: This book contained a few scenes of sexuality that were more graphic than I am comfortable with.

I could not put this book down. I loved the references to Norwich, Ithaca and surrounding areas near my home town and the behind the scenes look at circus life was intriguing. The whole book reminded me of the stories my husband's grandfather would tell of jumping on trains during the Depression, just to see where they would take him...it was like the story of HIS life.

I almost didn't read this book due to all the hype...Oprah, Book Club recommendations, etc. that tend to lean towards message heavy and depressing. With that said, I came across this book in a thrift store and thought I'd give it a chance. So very glad I did!! This is easily one of the best books I've ever read and will be a favorite for a long time. Believe everything you hear about this book - the characters DO jump off the page at you, you will become emotionally attached to the characters and animals and you will hate it when the story ends. Can't recommend this book enough!

I didn't know what to expect from this book, other than 2 of my friends had enjoyed it! This was an exciting tale about life on a circus train in the 1930s. While it portrayed the life of the circus, the heart of it lay in the story of the workers and performers; their interactions and relationships. The story is "told" by a man in his 90's, who is now a resident in a nursing home. A circus has come to town and is setting up the tent near his resident home. It spurs his memories of his life as a circus veteranarian. The story SEAMLESSLY goes b/t his current life and his memories. It didn't have the "choppiness" that books sometimes have when the go from past to present.

The story grabbed me on the first page and didn't let go! It is filled with humor, emotion and surprises! I loved it! It is one of the most entertaining and surprising books I have read in awhile! I hope you try it and enjoy it as well!

I picked up this book just to see what it was about and didn't put it down until it was finished. I liked it a lot. Though it is fiction, it includes a wealth of anecdotes about the time (depression) and the trade (Big Top), that actually happened. I enjoyed the author's character development and the introduction to something I knew nothing about. I fell in love with the protagonist on the first page. It would be a great book-club book and has book-club questions in the back of the book.

This was the book that brought me back to reading again. I had not enjoyed reading for a very long time. This book helped me share the adventure of reading again. I loved every sec. of it. in the middle of the book I found myself staying up until 5am just to finish one section. I give it 10 book markers!

A story that will capture your attention as you learn about circus life along with the main character, Jacob. While reading, look for similarities in the book to the biblical Jacob in the Book of Genesis. Absolutely enjoyed this story and Gruen's marvelous writing.

After several contemplations and reading of reviews, i finally got this book. I didn't think i'd care for the circus-scene...but i have to say it was interesting, and i really got to love Jacob (both young and old). I feel i learned a lot about how a circus operates and it was pretty interesting. I did not, however like the way the animals were treated, but that doesn't damper how i review this book, as Gruen was simply using her research to authenticate her circus portrayal. I believe the author, who before writing this book, had never even been to a a cicrus did a great job creating the atmoshpere and i like the inclusion of the pictures here and there. Overall, this was a great book about survival, love and "life under the big top"....and i loooove Rosie (the elephant!)

What a great book! I got mine at a store before I became a PBS member because it looked interesting and different. I wasn't disappointed. Like others have said, it's a real page turner and the ending is very satisfying.

Susan

I didn't really see what all the hoopla was about this book. It was a good read but not fantastic. I enjoyed the characters and the story. Working for the circus was an interesting topic.

Enthralling, captivating. This is one of the best books I've read recently and is highly recommended!

I liked this book a lot but thought it go weaker as it went along. It started off with such a bang and was completely engrossing. I loved the richness of detail too...got me very interested in circus history. But as it went on it got a bit more pat, and I thought the ending was too easy.

Warning: There is some horrible animal abuse in this book.

Wonderful book, it draws you right in, from the first paragraph. A facinating story about circus life, and love, from back then. Good read!

I really didn't want to read this book - I'm not a circus fan, and it just didn't look interesting. Boy was I wrong! I couldn't put it down.

You can read my complete review here.

Could not put this down! Great historical fiction about the circus during the depression. Wonderful, exotic, unusual characters. The elephant abuse was quite difficult to read, but she triumphs in the end.

beatifully written book. i loved the main characters and the story was different than i expected. as with all good books, i just wish it was longer!

Absolutely loved this book. Very well written, grabs you in the very beginning and transports you back to the time of circus trains and prohibition. I thought the ending couldn't have been better.

Excellent book. Only you probably will never want to go to a circus again.

Oh, my gosh! There are few stories published that will pull at your heartstrings as this one does. It has the heroine and the villain you love to hate. This fabulous book should be on everyone's to read list!

This was the most interesting story that involves love from afar, fending for oneself and compassion for animals. The main character led you through the story in a way that made you feel all the emotions. I have never been interested in life with a circus but thoroughly enjoyed this book. I wish I had read it sooner!

"Water for Elephants" was well written. It appears the author, Sara Gruen, researched her subject well. It is told through the eyes and memory of a 90 something gentleman. As other reviewers before me have mentioned, it is hard to read the stories of cruelty to animals and people alike. Although this is not my normal book genre, I would rate it as one of the best books I have ever read. Take a chance, and read this different story of a circus, and all that comes with it during the Great Depression.

Historical Ficiton. * * * *. The past comes to life as fate leads an aspiring college veterinarian to board a traveling circus train. Well researched novel brings you into the trials and tribulations of these nomadic entertainers, including a unique pachyderm.

this is a good book that kept my interest from start to finish

What a different type of story. Held my interest all the way through. I really enjoyed the characters and the story line. Does a good job switching from the present situation in a nursing home to the past working in a circus.

This book is phenomenal - absolutely amazing. I must admit it took me some time to decide to pick up this book and read it. I am so glad I did. It is the best book I have read all year and possibily longer than that.

Water for Elephants is well written. The author is wonderful with descriptions and dialogue. You feel like you are a part of the main character's life - and what a story he has to tell. The story will be with me for days to come. I wish it didn't have to end. I eagerly await the authors next book.

A captivating tale of a college drop-out turned circus veterinarian, as told by the vet himself, now 90 years old bored to tears in a nursing home. He recounts his travels aboard the circus train, friends and enemies he makes, and his first real experience with love. He forms an unlikely bond with an elephant named Rosie along the way. I read this book before all the hype and am not at all surprised by the attention it is getting. Gruen is a great story-teller! I think all PBS'ers should give this one a try. My husband and sister loved this one as well. 5/5

Good story and a pleasure to read. My critique is of the portrayal of a specific mental illness that is revealed of one of the characters towards the end of the book. It is not an entirely accurate description of schizophrenia and my fear is that it reinforces the notion that persons with mental illness are prone to violence when, in fact, nonagression is much more often the case.

Wonderful book! I was absorbed into this book. It engaged me completely. I cheered at the end. Read it. I'm hanging on to my copy to encourage my book group to read it. And, then I'll put it in my "keep this book" collection.

I liked this book alot. Its about a way of life that is no longer around and you can only read about them now days. I could not put it down and it was a quick read.

Jacob Jankowski loses everything dear to him; he goes a little nuts and joins the circus. Gruen writes an engaging story that kept me turning the pages. She knows how to build suspense; she uses foreshadowing in the first few pages that makes the reader want to get to that point in the story. Although this may sound commercial, it's a complement: this novel was made to be turned into a movie, and I believe it is going to be one. Join the circus and fall in love!

This is one of my favorite books of all time. PLEASE read it. you will love it. i was so sad when it was over. extremely interesting.

I really enjoyed this book. The story was great and I liked how the author went from the past to the present. I thought it enhanced the story.

my book club read this and everyone enjoyed it...we talked a lot about loyalty as a theme...we also discussed old age and how we anticipate our lives will change as we grow older...also how we treat older people in our lives now...I would recommend this book.

One of the best books I've read. The subject matter is different and refreshing. She did a great job of capturing the period & lifestyle of the Circus. This book will keep you captivated from beginning to end.

Stunningly wonderful book. Just a really enjoyable and captivating read.

One of the best books I have read this year. Great story as all of Sara Guren books. Love this author. Read it in two days. Loved it.

I sincerely hope that whoever receives this book via PBS gets a decent looking copy, because YOU WILL WANT TO KEEP IT. I am not letting mine go. This is simply an amazing book that everyone should read. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

One of the best books that I've ever read!

I honestly love this book. I cannot tell you the last time I read anything even close to the way this book made me feel. It is on a short list of my all time favorites, and I think about it all the time.

Excellent character study. Lots of interesting information about circuses and circus people.Endearing central character and of course the elephant!!Very good read.

One of the best books I've read in a while. If you were ignorant of the inner workings of a circus (like I was) you'll learn a tremendous amount, maybe even more than enough to make you uncomfortable. A good read.

Wonderfully written with unique characters, Water for Elephants opens as the lead character recalls in old age the transformative events of youth. Orphaned suddenly just as he was preparing to join his father's veterinary practice, our "hero" runs off and through a series of coincidences, joins the circus. A great look at the itinerant life of the Depression-era traveling show, the hierarchy of performer vs. roustabout, and the animals who may be more humane than their keepers.

This is a lovely book. Original content and subject matter, it is enthralling in extreme. Only someone very close to the subject matter it seems could bring the story to life. Beautifully done. Kudos to the author.

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. It sucked me in and I didn't want to let go. I was sad when I was finished. I'm already missing the characters.

There is some cruelty to animals which made me sad but other than that an excellent book.

Jacob is in the last weeks of veterinary school at Cornell when he is hit with a massive shock: the death of both of his beloved parents, and more importantly the loss of everything he owns to the bank. This is the throws of the Depression. He does what every man would do in his situation, hops a train to anywhere only to find out it is the circus train of The Benzini Bros. Greatest Show on Earth! As the show’s veterinarian he forms a close relationship with crazy August (the equestrian trainer), his wife Marlena (a performer), and Rosie (the elephant). As the days go on, life on the circus gets crazier and crazier, until one day all hell breaks loose. What will Jacob do next?

This book is narrated by two voices – that of the 90 something year old Jacob (retelling the events as he remembers them) and that of the 20 something year old Jacob (experiencing the events). The audiobook did an amazing job of casting two narrators and it made it one of the best books I have listened too. You were easily able to tell at what time you were by who was narrating and it made it feel so real.

Gruen does an amazing job of researching the life of circus workers during the Depression. At no time did I feel that the details were out of place. You could feel the desperation of the roustabouts when they were continually not paid, resorted to drinking bootleg liquor, ran out of food. Reading this book was like stepping back in time.

I loved this book! It is easily very near the top of my favorite books list. According to the authors website Fox 2000 has purchased the rights to this book to make a movie and hear rumor that Reese Witherspoon might be cast as Marlena. I think it would make a fantastic movie.

5 out of 5 stars!

Riveting and gritty, with all the things that make a great book. A wonderful story with great characters and a touching main character that I could take home myself.

I was pleasantly surprised with the ending of this book. I was thrilled to pieces.

Very good book. Historical but also leading into current day. Proof of what love can do, overlook, and make into a good life. Also a good eye opener of our treatment of the elderly in this country.

Excellently written, a dramatic historic novel that I couldn't put down! Definitely a fun read.

Absolutely the best book I have read in years. So interesting and convoluted with the good guys and bad guys and how it all unfolds is just like magic. The ending was phenomenal.

This is a wonderful look into the circus world of years gone by - I could not put this book down - just adored it! Lots of colorful characters and a look at life when America was simpler. Great love story in here....

Amazing book. You won't be able to put it down.

I loved this book! There were times that I had tears in my eyes, laughed out loud and gasped in shock. It gave a great history of the circus back in the day. It also opened my eyes to the elderly who are "forgotten" in homes. I have to admit, I am considering keeping this book and reading again instead of posting!

I enjoyed this book very much. I have never read anything about the circus. As a result I had quite a few questions that arose which led me to do some research back to those days and found that very interesting. It is a good read for male or female.

Hmmm...I honestly don't know how I feel about this book. While I was reading, I was thoroughly enjoying it. It was a light read and the story really grips you from the very first page. However, the more I think about it now, the more I realize that the almost all characters were sort of flat and I really didn't care what happened to them.
It is clear that a huge amount of research went into writing this book. Maybe it would've have been better if it was written as a non-fiction.

I was surprised that I enjoyed this book given the subject matter, but by the end on the prologue you are sucked in. LOOOVED the ending, couldn't have been more fitting. All in all a very good and satifying read!

I really wanted to love this book, because of all of the hype. In the end, it was just another book, nothing memorable to me at all. The best part of the book was the elephant...

What a great story about a circus.It almost makes you want to join one.What a great love story.The author does such a wonderful job you can relate to the characters.Its also a love story between a man and his elephant.This story makes you stand up and cheer.Its also very emotional.This is one of my very favorite books.

I loved, loved, loved this book! The way it was written really made me feel what the characters were feeling and I just fell in love with the old version of Jacob. He was so sweet and enduring. I just wanted to go to the home he was in and sit with him for hours to listen to his stories! It was nothing like what I was expecting, it was so much more. I read the book, cover to cover, in 2 days. It was that good!

This has got to be one of my all time favorite books. It made me smile, cry, and laugh. It was a really good story and it's probably one of the few books I could read over and over again. I loved learning the history behind the circus and that time period.

Surprisingly easy read. I looked forward to reading and wondered where the story was going. Very well written, makes you relate to this 1930's, gritty, dark circus life that you thought you had no interest in. I think this one is a keeper, for a reread at some point.

I loved this book...it is a beautifully told story and a page turner! I was sad when it was over! Definitely worth the read.

I loved this book! A wonderful story - I was sorry when it ended. Highly recommended, not only for the interesting circus lore, but for the characterizations.

I enjoyed the book, but did not think it was as good as I had been led to believe by others who read it. It was very good, but not great.

What a great book! A totally fascinating look inside the circus world in the days of the Depression. I enjoyed this, it was time well-spent. The extensive research and first-hand interviewing that Gruen did to write the book enabled her to add real-life anecdotes from the circus world to the tale -which then made the book that much more fascinating. I loved Rosie! You'll enjoy this book!

If you are interested in elephants, early 20th Century history, circus life, or just like a good read than this book is for you. Just beware that is can get quite graphic in its portrayal of circus life, human behavior and treatment of animals. I highly recommend this book to the avid reader and animal lover, and circus or train enthusiast.

This is an absolutely fabulous book on several levels! Five stars, no question. Level 1: with a depression-era timeline, we discover or re-discover just how hard times were and what simple pleasures a circus coming to town could bring.
Level 2: What was it like to be a part of a travelling circus--not a great one, maybe not even a second-rate one, but how they were probably similar to Ringling Brothers, rolling into town, setting up the tents, running a parade through town as advertisement, getting the rubes (patrons) in and flim-flamming them. Level 3: a bit of romance thrown in to provide the conflict. Level 4: told through the first person account by a 90 or 93 year old man (he is not sure which) who is the narrator. The insight and the humor blended in to this tale is so realistic. Here is an old man in an assiste-living facility, still with all his marbles, but living and re-acting to being patronized by the nurses and attendants. There is so much truth here about aging, but told with great humor and laugh-out-loud dialogue. The ending is perfect and brings about a great deal of satisfaction to having read a totally wonderful story.

I absolutely fell in love with this book. It had been sitting on my bookshelf for close to a year, and everytime I would pick it up I'd think: I don't want to read about a circus. How boring. But, to say I was pleasantly surprised is a complete understatement. The transition from past to present throughout the book added a lot of depth to the story. I felt truly drawn into the main character's life, and his "present" situation and thoughts added meaning to his past reflections. I loved the intesity of the characters - each had a very distinct and vivid personality. I also really enjoyed the time period in which the story takes place. Gruen does a wonderful job of drawing the reader into an exciting and sensual world that he or she may not have otherwise visited.

I am, usually, a reader of classic literature. Until recently, I've been quite skeptical of modern/contemporary/pop-culture (whatever you want to call it) literature, and I have a difficult time finding books that are worth reading when there are an infinite number of classics out there just waiting to be discovered. HOWEVER, Water for Elephants is a complete exception. It was refreshing to read a "contemporary" novel that wasn't unintelligent, cliche drivel (do the initials "J.P." ring a bell?).

I loved this novel so much, in fact, that I went out and got some of her other novels. I hope they are as suprisingly captivating as Water for Elephants.

I loved this book! And, I don't care for the circus itself! Well-written, great plot and I love the twist!

This is one of my favorite books, and it was a book that I initially thought I'd never want to read. I thought it was very well written, with interesting character. The book travels back and forth in time in this man's life, and the transitions between the time periods was seamless! Truly a must read.

I tried to get over the fact that the circus always
frightened me as a child because this book got so
many great reviews but I just could not.

I was bored with the circus jargon and never got a
chance for the characters to get developed in my mind.

I probably missed a good one...maybe another day.

I truly enjoyed this book, I could not put it down. Not only is it a good story, the author has a really enjoyable writing sytle. It grabs you on the 1st page & never lets go.
You won't be sorry if you order this book!

This was a great read....hard to put down.

This was a book about different types of penises: virgin penises, old guy penises, midgit penises etc...

There was a lovely subplot of an elephant and a circus.

Well, I guess I learned not to read too many reviews on books before I read them. It was a good book, fun and different. However I guess from the reviews I thought it would be a ground breaking, move the earth, profound book. I liked the main character, and I really liked his perspective as an old man in a senior home. I thought the book was simply a good, but not life changing. I hope not offend anyone else, I just think my taste may be different than others.

Captivating story with memorable and vivid characters. I really enjoyed this book and it was a quick read for me; I didn't want to put it down. If you have any issues with animal abuse, please be forewarned: some of the images in the book are brutal and painful to read. On the whole, a very satisfying read.

I just finished this book about two seconds ago and everything is still lingering my head; I don't want to give too much away but this book was fantastic. I never wanted to put it down. If you enjoy romance, history, a bit of danger, and elephants then you will enjoy this book.

I completely am in love with the circus and found this to be both an entertaining read as well as informative. It was nice to see a period piece done well and address a lot of the issues that were involved with the traveling circus as well and the depression. This book had it all action, romance, animals, death defying acts and humor.

I really loved this story. It really brought the circus to life through the eyes of an outsider. The love story was beautiful, and I enjoyed it told from the perspective of a man. I think that Rosie was my favorite character! Definately a good read.

I loved getting to know what life was like during the Depression. This book really puts you into the lifestyle of the circus- the good, bad, an ugly.

I was worried that despite the high praise, it wouldn't be a story I'd enjoy. Thankfully, I was wrong. It was very enjoyable. I liked the way the story was narrated. The actual timeframe of the story was less than 24 hours. I loved that part of the story, especially the resolution. The main part of the story was quite fascinating in the way it wove a story of early circus life. It's not a pretty picture behind the scenes by any means. That story took place over 4 months time, but the 2 stories were wonderfully interwoven.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I am a slow reader. I hated putting the book down, and I looked forward to picking it up again to continue. Definitely a great read!

I can't say enough good things about this book. I adored it and it's one that will stay on my shelf for future reading. I laughed, I cried, I couldn't put it down. There are parts that are disturbing if you're an animal lover, things that make you cringe and shake your head... But alls well that ends well and this book does. Loved the main character and the way his story was told. Even the cover, which is what caught my eye in the bookstore.
Like I said, I can't say enough. Read this book.

I loved getting to know Jacob- as both a 93 year old and a 23 year old. At any age, we have struggles to deal with internally and externally. The book also depicts what life was like during even tougher economic times then we are facing at present. The novel was both funny and sad. I loved it!

I am in the middle of this book and can't put it down. Its fabulous and one of the only books in a long time that I stay up way past midnight to read! Its a page turner!

This was an incredible book, probably the best I've ever read. Sara Gruen has such talent in her style of description and had me wrapped from the first few pages. I was completely immersed in the era of the 30's and the dark sadness of the traveling circus. I loved reading Jacob's thoughts in the nursing home and the ending was perfect...

I wondered if I would like this book due to the circus related storylines. But its really great. Interesting to hear about life in the early 1030's especially from a traveling circus perspective. And to read about a man's life as he ages.

Excellent! I couldn't put it down; it was the best novel I'd read in a long time, including often at 3:00 am.

This book was great! I just fell in love with Jacob and Marlena! And on the other hand just disliked a handful of the other characters. I learned things about the circus that were so interesting. The only part I did not like was the way they treated the animals...That was very hard to read. The story ended beautifully was left smiling at the end.

Not only is the research and history of this book absolutely outstanding and interesting but the story line is so wonderful. It was such a great read and the only reason I am swapping it instead of keeping it is because I want to share this story with someone.

I really wasn't expecting to like this book - I don't generally enjoy "heartwarming" stories - but this book is really extraordinary. It's beautifully written and the characters are compelling. While it is set in a circus, with all of the freakish characters that entails, it treats each one as fully human.

This is a great book! I love how it goes back and forth between Jacobs life in his twenties and as an elderly man. Brings forth several issues/fears that many have about aging. Lots of interesting things about the circus. Loved the old pictures.

Probably the best book I've read in a long time. It will make you think twice about going to the circus. The story is creative and intriging--a 90 or 93-year-old man (you'll understand the uncertainty of age if you read the book!) and his coping with living in a convalescent home coupled with his flashbacks of his days of working for a circus. Loved every word and even sat in my driveway to listen to it on audio long after arriving home form work!

Cover to cover, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel by Sara Gruen. From page one her story is captivating and takes the reader on a whirlwind ride behind the scenes of the circus at the end of its heyday and into the depression era. I was especially touched by the main character, Jacob Jacowski as he relives his memories of the circus while bound to a wheelchair in a nursing home.

This book will touch the hearts of anyone, especially those who were infatuated by the circus as a child or even has had an elderly relative under supervised care. Love, mystery, murder...all on a fast moving circus train! Need I say more?

I really enjoyed this book and recommend it highly...it is how I would imagine things to be back in the 30's and I loved how the story is told by the man looking back on his life. The animal cruelty is there and at times breaks your heart and makes you aware that this does go on in todays traveling circus also and is a good reason to not support them.

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful story! I laughed and cried. Even if you have little interest in the seedy history of the great American circus tradition, this book will suck you right in! Peppered with fact and history, this story begins in the mind of ninety (or ninety-three, he can't remember which) year-old Jacob Jankowski. Not-quite-forgotten in a nursing home, he contents himself with harassing his nurses and complaining about the food. That is, until the circus comes to town and another elderly resident claims to have carried "water for the elephants." Jacob recalls his life as a circus veterinarian, and the wild ride that is life on a circus train. With love, cruelty, murder, and of course the bearded lady, the show must go on! Highly recommended.

I'm a flight attendant, and have the luxury of coming across books free of charge. I was a bit skeptical about reading this book, and wouldn't even purchase it myself in the bookstore. It was given to me by a passenger on one of my flights, and I couldn't have been more pleased if I tried! I read it in three days...I just couldn't put it down!!! It has EVERYTHING I wanted in a book...Romance, Heroism, Friendship, Tragedy, and even some Humor. This is a beautifully written,and discriptive story! A MUST read in my opinion!

An excellent read from beginning to end! I never wanted to read a book about someone who joined the circus--but this is so much more than that. Ms. Gruen does a beautiful job of bringing each character to life. I especially liked the way she developed the main character and lets the reader join him in his youth as well as in his 90's. She made him so real I could imagine myself at the ripe old age of 93 as well as the helplessness one must feel as age steals away one's youth. A joy to read--and for once an ending that is beautiful and magical at the same time.

I enjoyed this book. I've never seen the other side of the circus and am glad my eyes were opened up to it. Great story.

I love this story about life, love, and the circus. There is a great use of flashbacks of the main character as an old man in a nursing center to his experiences as a young vet traveling with a circus. That makes it sound boring... it is much more dramatic than that sounds! Loads of interesting characters and intersecting plot lines. A very pleasing ending as well. I highly recommend it!

If someone had told me this book was about a circus before I read it, I probably would not have even picked it up. I'm sure glad they didn't. This book was extremely well written with well-developed, real characters. I love the flash-back style (although it took me a while to get used to it).

I thought the accuracy of the historic details seemed pretty real (from my limited knowledge of the Great Depression, train-hopping and train circuses). The story's interspersed from present day to flash backs, which usually makes me mad because it's an indirect way of building suspense. This worked, though, and I really liked the story. I've read reviews that said the ending was "typical," but I didn't think so.

For a topic (depression era circus) that I never thought would interest me, I LOVED this book. I couldn't put it down. The main character drew my attention right in. I had to know what happened to him that I couldn't stop reading. I love to read books that don't flow straight through in chronological order. This book flips between present day and the main character's past. This is one of the most entertaining books I have ever read.

This is not normally a book I'd pick up but a friend recommended it and I'm glad she did. Its all about the old time train circuses and the subculture that existed within them. I'm not a fan of circuses, in fact I've never been to one, but I love learning about unfamiliar cultures and I was surprised by how interesting it was. Gruen did extensive research on the subject and a lot of characters and events in the plot are true.

I got this book and put it aside for some reason, thinking I wouldn't like a book about the circus. Once I started it, I couldn't put it down. You are drawn in immediately to the main character. I loved the way the story went back in time, and back to the present time when the main character is very old. It was also fascinating the way the animals are described and the life of working in a circus. I loved this book, one of my all time favorites. I can't wait until her next book comes out, but not sure if this book can be topped.

I loved this book! The colorful circus characters and the touching protagonist make it a must read!

I couldn't put it down! Loved it!!!

I liked this book so much that I read it in one day. As a reader you get so involved you think you are really part of the story, even if you are just a "fly on the wall". The ending was PERFECT too. Not a single disappointing page in the entire book.

I work for the Circus (in the here & now) and I was shocked by this book! However, my husband bought it for me because I do work for the Circus and also because I love Elephants and am blessed to work with them AND because Stephen King recommended this book.

It was sooooooooooooo good I couldn't believe it. The writing is excellent, the plot tight and I felt that I had read a piece of literature when I finished (yet it was a page turner, for sure!) ENJOY!!!

A charming fictional accounting of a 93 year old man's reflections of his young life with a circus,laced with his daily feelings about nursing home life, and the loss of his physical well being.

This is an excellent read. From the beginning I was cheering on the main character through his tough times. It was a good description overall of circus life during the depresion. I felt so sorry for the way the elephant was treated, and chuckled at her antics. The antagonists were easy to hate and I wanted to throw them off the train immediately.

I had this book in my hands at the store several times but always put it back cuz I didn't think I would like it. What...an elderly man and a circus? I just don't see the connection.

A friend finally convinced me to read this and boy and I glad I did! It was so awesome. The book flows easily from each chapter and let me tell you that it does all tie in nicely together and the ending is great.

I passed this book on to my mom who LOVED it too. I have given it to a co-worker who should start reading it soon. I don't keep too many books cuz my house would be over-flowed with books but I am seriously thinking of keeping this book.

I loved this book! I love history and really like learning about "the Great Drepression" even if it is fiction, Gruen tells the story of life well from what has been re-accouted to me. I had been wanting to read this so you better believe I voted for this one with my monthly book group!
I fell in love with the main character from the get go( his way of finding his way no matter how bad the trouble reminds me of my Grand dad)He was such a colorfully written character.
I hope everyone who reads this loves it as much as I did!

I'm not a fan of circuses, so I wasn't really excited to read this book. But I am so glad I did! It was captivating! I finished it several weeks ago, but I'm still thinking about it!

We read this for my book club. I really enjoyed the story and the pace was excellent. The characters were well done and I ejoyed the time period. I would highly recommend this book.

Overrated? Yes, but still worth reading. The good: the Depression-era circus is fascinating and the story of the animals & good-hearted people breaks your heart. I particularly liked the main character & the perspective of him recounting his circus days from the nursing home was well-written. The not-so-good: I was never too convinced of the love story between Jacob & Marlena and I found the ending to rush up very fast and be a little over the top.

My opinion is to give this a chance, but not have the sky-high expectations that I had after reading so many glowing reviews.

An interesting novel on an uncommon subject - a circus! When a Depression-ear vet student's parents are killed weeks short of his completing his degree, leaving him destitute, he runs away and, by accident, joins the circus. The story of the circus, its personalities and its animals is facinating.

I, like others, worried that this book was over-hyped, that I would find myself bored and skimming pages just to make it to the final chapter. That didn't happen.

Sara Gruen presents two worlds: A 1930's post-depression train-traveling circus and a present-day assisted care living facility for elderly persons. While most of the story takes place in the former setting, both are populated with vibrant and memorable characters.

Part historical novel, part love-story, part coming of age tale, Water for Elephants is an engaging read about finding yourself and fighting for what you love.

This is a great summer read and a compelling story about life in the circus in the early 1900s.

I really enjoyed this book! I like how Gruen took true stories that she collected and wove them into a very well written, enjoyable tale of circus life in the 30s.

I very much enjoyed this novel; a nice story told across time in a very unusual setting--the time of the circus trains during the depression. A good example of an intriguing backdrop serving as a great setting for a poignant story. Highly recommended.

The author did some heavy research for this book. I love it. Goes back and forth between a nursing home and life in the circus. Jacob's parents are killed in an accident a week before he graduates vet school. The bank ends up with the family home and its furnishings as his father, also a vet, had been taking payment in chickens and potatoes and had taken out a loan to keep Jacob in college. He ends up walking out of his final exam and hopping a train, which ends up being a circus train. He goes to work for them where he befriends a midgit, a monkey, and an elephant, and falls in love with a (married) equestrian. Great story!

What an amazing story. I am at a loss for words so am unable to tell you specifically how, but I am changed forever by this story. In a really beautiful way.

One of the best books , I dare say, that I have ever read. I will go to Amazon to Buy a hardcover. Cannot put it down & was very hard for me to post & part with.

I picked this book up as an audio book when I was embarking on a 4 day trip. I didn't know anything about the book, I didn't know anything about the author. When I got started into it, I was immediately sucked into the story. I LOVED it. It's written as a 90 (or 93) year old man, and his memories of his 23 year old self. It's moving. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll continue to think of this book for weeks to come.

Easy, pleasant read. I really enjoyed the storyline, characters, etc.

What an awesome book!!!! I like the way it tells of a mans way of the circus life. As he was young-and old

Excellent story of life in the circus in 1931 - clever ending, couldn't put it down, read it in one day.

Water for Elephants was a great read. It quickly caught my interest and while I could put it down, I couldn't wait to pick it back up. Having worked in a nursing home, the perspective of an older man was interesting and different.

When I saw what the book was about I was pretty sure I was not going to like it but from the first chapter I was hooked. I very rarely find a book i like so well I reread it a second time. I enjoyed this one so much that I read it and then immediately started it over to relive this story. It really pulls you in and is an excellent story.

Wonderful story of a circus vet. It provided a great insight into an American lifestyle that one may not have otherwise seen. Worth the time!

Simply amazing. A must read.

Well written book. Although the present day ramblings by the 90 year old man was less interesting it did put a perspective on the rest of the story. Initially I was disappointed how the book was ended but after discussing it with others, I find that it is a plausible ending . . . it lacked some of the logic and detail that the rest of the story held. The story did contain discriptions of animal cruelty but not done in excess -- more statements of reality. My favorite passage from the book is the first three paragraphs of Chapter 1. Like The begining of Tale of Two Cities this is a classic opening to the story and I rank it amoung the best begginings.

I could not put this book down. Very enjoyable reading. My favorite book of the year. Highly recommend.

I loved this book. I highly recommend it. It was a great tale of circus life and also about the character's feelings of wanting to turn back time.

Believe all the hype you've heard about this book. I could not put it down. There are parts of animal cruelty, but I don't think it was taken to the extreme or too detailed, so that didn't bother me as much as I thought it might.

This was our book club read for the month of March and well worth the time. It was an eye opening look into what life could be like with the circus in post depression times. Loved it!

This is a really good story. I don't even like the circus but I liked this book.

An old man remembers his years in the circus. A charming book. I loved this book.

I got so lost in this book! It was an enchanting story and moved at the perfect pace. I went though every emotion with this book- anger, sorrow, suspense, joy, it was great. I loved it!

Water for Elephants is a wonderfully written story that is easy to read yet very satisfying. The novel starts with the protagonist in an "assisted living" (NOT nursing home) at the age of "90 or 93" who can tell? Then we zoom to Jacob Jankowski as a 23 year old young man (who is unhappy about still being a virgin)- his parents die when he was studying to be a vet at Cornell, and soon after he finds that his family was on the verge of losing everything for having put him in university. His Father, a vet himself, has a soft heart and takes anything for payment - vegetables mostly, much to the chagrin of Jacob, who discovers such bills after gong through his Father's records. Very interesting look into this young man's life, struggles and the life and struggles of the employees and bosses of the old style circus which often keeps them captive, like their performing animals. must read.

I really liked this book. It was a little like the series on HBO about depression era traveling circuses. I didn't want it to end.

Interesting and sad at times but well written

A little quirky. Well written, following circus life in the 1930's. There are a lot of circus animals in the book and even though I knew the story wasn't true, I had a hard time with the animal treatment, as you can imagine in a circus in the 30's, in the book. That was a tough read for me.

Oh my goodness, I was concerned that I would be disappointed after all the hype! But was NOT.. Fantastic book.. Enjoyed it very much. Highly recommend this one to all.

This book was so good! I couldn't put it down. The story is very captivating.

One of the best books I've read in awhile...lives up to its reviews.

Wow a rolicking ride. Very vivid characters, great story. I'll be passing this book on to the next reader but I'm on the lookout for my own copy

I really enjoyed this book! It was very interesting and well worth the read. It kept my interest very easily! I really enjoyed the ending the author brought everything together.

Ms. Gruen is a very good story teller. I can't say that the book was lacking in any way - it was captivating. It felt very real. But it was just so depressing! I almost felt beaten up by the time I finished it. I have read Grapes of Wrath and many other "non warm and fuzzy" books. I think this one was different for me in that it was not just the circumstances that were tragic, but also just the pure cruelty of people towards each other and animals. Not for survival, but ego and greed. That said, the author paints a vivid, interesting tale.

loved the circus background, loved the menagerie. would liked have learned more about that period of circus history. The transition from past to present was done very well. Just wasn't too interested in the "romantic" aspects. a good read, but I don't need to read it again.

Awesome read!!

This was an incredible page turner, filled with imagery about the circus and behind the scenes drama. I found myself not wanting the book to end and when it did, I found myself wanting to know even MORE about the characters. A truly great read and worth all the good reviews it's gotten.

An incredible book! I could hear and picture all of the things that this man was going through.

An amazing story within a story. Wonderful story about the depression era circus life but also a very touching story about valuing our elders. Great characters. Book is so well written you can picture every detail of a character or scene in your mind's eye. A GREAT book!

This is my all time favorite book and I've recommended it to everyone I know. There is a few parts with animal abuse in the book, but knowing that it's not a true story made it okay to read. Otherwise, it was a fantastic read and I couldn't put it down.

This book was one of the best i have ever written! Once i started, couldnt set it down.

This is an awesome book! I loved it! Probably my favorite in a very long time!!

I hate to say this since everyone else obviously felt differently from me, but I wasn't all that thrilled with this book. It was interesting, but there was so much hype that I really expected more.

Loved it. Excellent insight to the working of a circus "back in the day".

I thought the book was too simple. I enjoyed the conjuring up of depression area times. The interest in the guy lying behind the tent rolls can keep my interest for only so long. I'm sure some will love this book and to them i say, "happy reading!"

Enjoyed this book very much!

Great story. A page-turner with sympathetic characters all around, even the villains. i enjoyed the framework of using the old-man-looking-back device in some ways, but i never quite "bought" him as a real person. he as a young man back in the circus days seemed believable, as did all the circus characters. a good read, especially if you've ever been to the Ringling Museum in Sarasota, which I visited a year before reading this. The animals are the true protagonists so animal lovers may both cringe and smile.

Great ending,great story

The nuanced feelings that you get on being old and trying to persevere is captivating and heart warming. We should all get on the train of life and take a ride.

I wish I could say that I really enjoyed this book the way I enjoyed "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel, which was the last really great book I read, but I can't. There were some wonderfully descriptive scenes of circus life and well-researched background on the history of the traveling circus in America, but I wasn't able to identify with any of the characters.

Very good book.

Loved this book!!!! I hated to see it end! The writing was so good! I was completly into it every day.

Story Overview

Jacob 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 in your thirties something strange starts to happen. It's a mere hiccup at first, an instant of hesitation. How old are you? Oh, I'm—you start confidently, but then you stop. You were going to say thirty-three, but you're not. You're thirty-five. And then you're bothered, because you wonder if this is the beginning of the end. It is, of course, but it's decades before you admit it."

Jacob lives in a nursing home—a bit of a grumpy old man but he does OK overall. He likes to give the nurses a hard time every so often. He resents having to eat Jell-O and the other soft food they try to pass off in the dining room. But his mind is drifting a bit; sometimes he finds himself in vivid dreams—and wakes to find himself unsure of where he is and why he is there. And when a circus sets up shop near the nursing home, Jacob's mind begins to wander more—back to when he was a young man of twenty-three. Back when he knew exactly how old he was. Back when his life lay before him like a blank canvas.

He was studying to be a veterinarian. Unbeknownst to Jacob, his parents had mortgaged themselves to the hilt to put him through vet school. The idea was for Jacob to return home and join his father in the family practice—E. Janokowski and Son, Doctors of Veterinary Medicine. But on the brink of graduation, Jacob is called out of class. His parents have been killed in a car accident. He's alone in the world. He returns home to bury his parents and finds that his legacy—the vet practice—is gone. It is the Great Depression and like others, his parents had fallen on hard times and there is nothing left—the bank claims it all.

Although Jacob returns to school to sit for his final exam, he walks out without completing it, follows a road down to the train tracks, and hops onto a passing train—a n action that changes everything. For this isn't an ordinary train—it is the Flying Squadron of the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Jacob has landed on a circus train.

A less profitable and more shady circus than Ringling, the Benzini Brothers circus is its own society—populated by two basic social castes: the Performers and the Working Men. They live their lives on the circus train—crisscrossing the country and setting up in various small towns around America. With his veterinary background, Jacob soon finds himself in charge of the menagerie—the collection of animals that perform in the circus. From horses to tigers to monkeys, Jacob cares for the animals with compassion and concern—doing the best he can in difficult circumstances. (After all, when even the men don't get paid some days, there isn't much money for animal food.)

He is befriended by a married couple who perform in the circus. Marlena is the beautiful star who performs with the Liberty Horses. August—Marlena's tempermental husband—is the equestrian director and superintendent of animals (in other words, Jacob's boss). Jacob is instantly smitten with Marlena but works hard to conceal his feelings—August has a dark temper that can flare unexpectedly. At first Jacob can control his attraction, but when the circus takes on Rosie—an elephant—things become complicated.

The fates of Jacob, Rosie, Marlena and August become forever intertwined—linked together by love, hate, jealousy and violence. How this story plays out forms the core of the book—taking a path that is full of twists, turns and surprises.

My Thoughts

Sara Gruen does a brilliant job of creating a world that I've never read about before—the world of a traveling circus train in Depression-era America. What a colorful and fascinating setting this was. Gruen does a wonderful job of giving you the feel for a life of a circus worker, and the story is enhanced by the black-and-white photos of actual circus performers from the era. You feel like you're looking at photos of the actual characters that populate the book. In the Author's Note and the accompanying interview, Ms. Gruen talks about her inspiration and research for the book. There are a million little details that give this book such an authentic feel. She really did her homework and it shows. From the words used by the characters to the descriptions of the logistics of the circus to the types of men and women who made their home in what was essentially a traveling, self-contained community, I felt like I was really there on the circus train.

Although the heart of the book is what happens to Jacob when he joins the circus, the book alternates between the elderly Jacob in the nursing home and young Jacob in the circus. I thought this juxtasposition worked well (except for the very end—I personally didn't care for the final choice that Gruen made for the elderly Jacob). When the circus comes to town and triggers Jacob's memories, his story unfolds in a natural way—with the reader getting more and more drawn in to Jacob's story as it unfolds in the book and in his memories.

In addition, Gruen establishes a framing device in the prologue that influences the reader from the very start of the novel. I found this particular choice extremely effective—and I loved how she pulled it off and tied it together at the end. I love when an author plays with her readers a little bit, and Gruen did a great job in this aspect.

If you're looking for a movie to go with the book, I must recommend Dumbo. I kept picturing scenes from that movie as I read the book, and I could completely imagine this story being told in a similar way.

My Final Recommendation

I definitely see why this book was a bestseller. It offers something for everyone—a unique setting, a bit of history, a romantic triangle, animals, an examination in what it means to grow old. This book effortlessly fits all of this in without seeming forced or strained. And on top of that, it is just a good story that makes you want to find out what happens next. If you haven't read it already, I think it is definitely worth a read. If I was attending the Benzini Brothers circus, I would be standing up and yelling "Encore! Encore!"

"Water for Elephants" is a touching, heart-felt story of love, drama, and growing old. It is a great read, hard to put down. I'm keeping this one in my home library!

This is a wonderful love story. I was so engulfed in the story that I forgot that it was about the circus. It's an easy read.

Excellent book, the story sucked you in.

Im really sad to let this book go. It is the best book i've ever read.

I think this would probably be a good read if I were able to finish it. I didn't get very far in this story because of some of the content, but I skipped to the end to see how things worked out because I hate not finishing a book.

Fun book to read.

what a fascinating read!! anyone who loves stories about circus like i do should definitely give this book a try it had me from page one and never let me down. the characters are real, true and pop out at you with every turn of the page. absolutely fabulous and has now become one of my personal favorites.

Definitely one to keep for my own personal book collection (so I'm not swapping it out) :)

I didn't know what to expect. The book cover is actually what caught my eye as well as the name and the story brings the book title completely to life - a full circle from beginning to end. That was something I didn't really expect since most books I've read recently miss the point of their titles completely by the end of the book.

The circus during that era was harsh - more so than what the book reveals. I know this from the ancestry work I do and looking at vintage/antique newspaper articles a lot so I researched it. Terrible work conditions and sometimes horrifying.

I think what would have made this book an absolute contender for a book award would have been to make it "meatier" with more indepth insight into the minds and motivations of all the characters. It would have made a book with more pages, for sure, but I think a lot was missing that could have made the book even better than it was. More details. More plot twists. More drama. And much more humor.

But for an afternoon read, it's wonderful and, I dare say, fans are wanting a movie from it (if the Facebook group is anything to go by). I don't see a full-feature movie but maybe something for a TNT or USA original movie but certainly not for HBO unless more "meat" is added.

Great read for a weekend!

I absolutely loved this book!! It was a pretty easy read and keeps you wanting to know more. I just couldn't put it down. I would recommend this book to anybody, even if you aren't a big fan of reading!

Great read ! Maybe the best all summer! Good characters and plot.

Love this book! It's one of my new favorites (:

Unique, interesting, funny, and has a great ending!

Impressive story-telling, couldn't put it down.

I listened to the audio version of this book and loved it! It was funny and engaging.

One of the best books I've read this year!

I didn't see the big deal made out of this book actually.

An interesting glimpse into an era that I wish I was born into. The circus was a very different animal and this book shows the behind the scenes. A pretty good read for a summer day.

This was an enjoyable read with a really interesting story. Not a literary masterpiece, but it is fun, accessible, unique, well researched, and written with authority. There were times I couldn't put it down because I had to see what happened next!

This book was so interesting. I really enjoyed the storyline and the characters. I wasn't sure about this book at first, but my husband really liked it, so I thought I would give it a try too. I was pleasantly surprised at all the twists and turns and loved how it ended! I would highly recommend this book to anyone!

This was an extremely slow read. I thought it would be interesting since I know nothing of the circus but it was difficult to finish and in the end I was disappointed.

Wow! I never expected to like this book as much as I did! Amazing to think that people really lived that life. The author did her homework on the history of circus trains and wrote a very good book.

Great book. An easy read.

Awesome character development and a really interesting look into a side of the Depression era that you don't usually read about. This book grabbed my attention from the prologue until the end.

Kept me really interested right to the end. A great look inside the life of the traveling circus so popular around the depression. Well done.

I enjoyed this from cover to cover. Well researched. Absolutely wonderful!

My book club just finished this selection. We all agreed it was one of our very favorite books! The very clever ending just makes you go "wow..."

I read this fascinating book in two days. It was powerfully moving and historically rich. I'll never hear about a circus again without thinking about the characters in this book.

Really enjoyed this book

This has become one of my all-time favorite books. The development of the characters is GENIUS. Would recommend to anyone!!

Good book everyone should try to read it

The book was a fast and easy read, but not my favorite story. At times I found it dragged on, but I still had to know what would happen next. It is different than most other books I have read.

amazing book that catches your attention after the first page. This book deserves a 2 thumbs up. The end almost dragged on but besides that it was amazing!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, & was surprised the female author could so accurately narrate from an elderly man's perspective, awesome! I felt as if I was reading the life story of someones Grandfather. Good ending, highly recommended.

Great story, well told.

Great book. Started out a little slow but really picked up near the end. The ending was wonderful; made reading the book worth the effort. Would highly recommend it!

This is one of the best books i have ever read!!!!! It is pretty vulgar at times, but the story line is great!!!!!

Very good reading. I definitely recommend it!

Great read.

This was probably one of the best books I have ever read. The charectors were so clear and real. The things love will make us do.

THIS IS ONE THE BEST BOOKS THAT I HAVE EVER READ . I WANTED TO BE A CLOWN IN THE CIRCUS AND RIDE A ELEPHANT 10 YEARS AGO I GOT TO BE IN THE CIRCUS FOR TWO SHOWS MY DREAM CAME TRUE. THIS BOOK IS AVERY GOOD BOOK ON THE LIFE OF EARLY CIRCUS YOU CAN ALMOST HERE THE RING MASTER SAYING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN WELCOME AND SMELL THE PEANUTS ROASTING .BUT,AS I GOT TO READING I FELT SO SORRY FOR ROSIE I KNOW TIMES WERE TOUGH BUT TO BE SO MEAN TO POOR ANIMALS WAS UNCALLED FOR STILL A GOOD BOOK` WELL HERE I AM AGAIN THIS BOOK STILL IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ THE LOVE STORY IS ONE OF THE BEST I WILL NOT SAY ANY MORE BUT IT IS REALLY A MUST READ

Excellent story of adventure, love, and of course animals. It will touch your heart and stir every emotion.

I loved this book. I could not put it down!

I found this book extremely enjoyable. Character development good.

Outstanding. The vivid descriptions made me feel like I was watching the story instead of reading it.

This is a great book. Nice read. Had trouble putting it down.

Extraordinary, captivating book about a traveling circus during the Great Depression. Kept me guessing right up until the very end.

I asked for this book because of my liking for elephants. The elephant appeared unexpectedly in the story, which kept me guessing. The book was more raw than I expected, but endearing because it parallel's an old man's memories & the account of his life. I'd probably read it again.

This was one of the best books I've read. Highly recommend it. The author does a good job of creating interesting and colorful characters.

this is on my list of top three books!
It is so much more than any description could be.

This is the best book I have read in ages. It was suspensful, tragic, funny, poignant and like a time capsule of the depression. I absolutely loved it, and will read it again sometime later. I loved the story of the main male character and how he aged during the story. The ending was absolutely wonderful and brought tears to my eyes.

Genny Sikes

I really enjoyed this book. The comparisons of Jacob's life in the circus and his life in nursing home are interesting.

I absolutely loved this book!! As a social worker who works with geriactric families. The book was a wonderful reminder of how a geriactric patient may feel and their life's history. The story was captivating and well written.

Excellent book with something in it for everyone. I was pleasantly surprised.

I really liked this book. I enjoyed the characters and the circus setting. Interesting info on what the circus was like back in those days.

This is one of the very best books I have ever read. I am heartbroken that the last page has been read. I plan on thanking the lady that recommended it to me first thing in the morning.

The life of the circus and the roles each member played was fascinating.

I absolutely adored this book. Well written, and even though I read it a while ago, the plot still lingers in my mind. wonderful read. highly reccomended.

This is an excellent book about a subject that is not frequently written about. Engrossing, be prepared to get absorbed!

Incredible story. I couldn't put it down. This will be a classic, as far as I'm concerned. The story is told in vivid technicolor. You can almost smell the animals in the circus. It is much better than I thought it would be.
Leah G.

This one will suck you right in and you'll be finished before you know it, wishing for more!!

I loved this book and was sad to close it on the last page.

This book was beautifully written. It totally placed me in the "circus" I really enjoyed it! I think it is a must read.

One of the best books taht I have ever read. It has everythihg. True facts about circuses, animals, wonderful characters and love. The ending is the BEST! Love it, Love it, Love It.

I absolutely loved this book! It was a quick read that held my interest from the moment I opened the front cover... It took me on a roller coaster of emotions and I enjoyed every moment of the ride.

Great story. Well written - draws the reader in. Never knew about the history of the traveling circus!

The writing was wonderful. The descriptions great. At times the story can be tough. I hate when animals and people are mistreated but it's part of this tale. A quick read. It's a wonderful book!

I really enjoyed this book because it was not your usual fare. It was easy to relate to the main character, Jacob. I had a hard time putting the book down. It was a different kind of story about a different time.

5 Stars!!! GREAT, GREAT, GREAT Book! Loved it!! Can't wait to see it as a movie!

Great story, wonderful imagery.

one of the best books I've read recently!

An excellent book. A fairly quick read. I loved the whole twisted circus theme. It was very gritty and dark. If you like that sort of thing, then you will definitely enjoy this book.

Really liked the book. I really liked the characters and the ending was great!

I'm still working out how I feel about this book. It was so well written, goes seamlessly between the past and the present. The love story (was it between he and Marlena or he and Rosie?) was lyrically written. The author did an amazing job of pulling me back and forth between the two. I even shed a few tears over a few different things. I'm not an animal activist, but certain parts of this book made me very uncomfortable. The history of the circus is pretty well known. We know the animals were mistreated (heck, they are today too), but the author writes so well about this subject that I found it hard to swallow that lump in my throat. It's obvious she did some major research into the subject matter.

When I originally read the description for this book, it was on my "skip it" list, but a few of my friends read it and told me I "had" to read it. I'm so glad they did. This was a beautiful book and definitely in my top 10 for the year.

excellent read.

sweet story!

Great book.... makes you stop and think about life. I really enjoyed it .

<< Back to Book Details of " Water for Elephants"