to be read

2007 ( )

This is story about a young guy who runs off and serendipitously joins a Depression-era circus that travels by train. And I'm often a sucker for a good circus story. The young man, Jacob, is a veterinarian who hasn't yet become a licensed doctor (which is of little concern to the characters who run the Benzini Brothers circus). This is a richly detailed story with occasional dashes of excitement and romance, but dramatic throughout and it's essentially a fast, rewarding summer read. The story moves along briskly and the writing is of a quality that's so good you don't really notice it. Some great characters here, but Jacob is the best and most interesting. ( )

I thought this was a great story, brimming with life. The split narration between the older Jacob and himself as a young man was superb, although I must say I liked the 93 year old better. The bizarre occurences lent a bright humour to this romantic adventure and gave me a case of the giggles. ( )

Water For Elephants is one of the best books I have read this year. Initially, I did not have any interest in reading this book because it involved a circus and I am not a huge fan of circuses. But at the insistence of some friends, I picked it up and began reading. Boy am I glad I did!

Jacob Jankowski is a young man who is thrust mercilessly into the aftermath of the cruelties of life. Despite his circumstances, however, he is a good and honorable man and his compassion and honor shine through on every page of this book. He is a character that reader's immediately fall in love with and can relate to on some level or another. The story itself grabs you instantly and takes you back to a time where traveling circuses were the biggest events in town.

Set in the 1930's, Water For Elephants offers a glimpse into a very strange and wonderous world of circus folk during a time when many, if not most, of the country was unemployed and doing anything they could to earn a buck or at least a meal. It was fascinating to read of the lifestyle of the circus workers and how they were treated, how they related to one another, how they treated their animals and what they thought of the townspeople they traveled the country to entertain.

Water For Elephants is also a story that tells of the love and life of Jacob and Merlena and their love for the animals that they come to know while working with them in the circus. The book is beautifully and vividly written, the characters well developed and easy to love (or hate as the case may be) and the animals' antics, especially Rosie, will make you laugh out loud.

Water For Elephants is a wonderful read and I highly recommend it! ( )