I have never been to a circus or ever wondered about circus life. There was nothing about the book that particularly interested me before I picked it up and started reading. However, I found it very easy to become and stay interested in the story and the characters. This book is very well written and the author does a wonderful job of switching between the active story and the current state/recollections of the main character. I very much enjoyed reading this book. It was an effortless read - a very enjoyable story. ( )

Love it ( )

This was a beautiful and wonderful book. The cover art attracted me but the story line was amazing and pulls you through. The life of the Circus... how can that not be amusing in some way? This is a great book, all should read it. ( )

What a great book! Water for Elephants caught my interest from the very first page. It is set in two alternating times, the present when Jacob is an irritable frail old man and the past when he is in his early twenties.when flight and chance find him joining a travelling circus, with its curious mix of beauties, freaks, bullies and animals. Life on a Circus train is none too genteel especially with the likes of Barbara (the stripper)and a dwarf who reads Shakespeare (or does he?) , the beautiful Marlene and of course, Rosie, the elephant who would do anything for a drink. Sara Gruens portrayal of Jacob as an old man is brilliant . I loved him, cross and all as he was. The story is at times brutal and graphic and even the notes at the end are well worth reading. Great satisfying story. ( )

Block, M. (2006). Water for elephants. Booklist, 102(16), 36-7. Retrieved October 28, 2009, from Article Citation database.

Coan, J. (2006). Water for elephants. Library Journal (1976), 131(5), 62-3. Retrieved October 28, 2009, from Article Citation database.