A great book. I thoroughly enjoyed this book right from the start. Maybe it was because of low expectation. I new this book had been highly rated and had won awards, but I had never read anything about it other than that. I had purchased the book over a year ago, but had shied away from reading it because I mistakenly thought it was about India! Hey, where else do they regularly tell stories about elephants?! Of course I hadn't thought about circuses!The story is fascinating and informative. You learn about circus life and the struggles of the great depression. And you learn about life in a nursing home. Great characters and simply a great story. ( )

I never liked circuses all that much, but Sara Gruen’s book is certainly vastly different than Toby Tyler or Ten Days with a Circus that I read as a kid. Perhaps that was the last time I read a book about a circus. Given the human cruelty and animal abuse in Water for Elephants, that’s probably why. Nevertheless, I found this book amazingly readable despite its making me squirm at times.

The story opens with a murder, sort of the shadowy kind in which the reader has no understanding of its details. Following this, a 93-year-old man remembers, as a young man, having joined a travelling circus. His story is told in flashbacks with scenes moving from a nursing home back and forth to his circus experiences.

The cast of characters is interesting as well, but I loved none more than the old man himself who constantly wonders about his aging so quickly, his deteriorating body image, and his family’s distancing themselves. Reflecting back on his time at the Benzino Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth, he remembers a beautiful, pink-sequined woman performer, a stereotypical “bad guy” circusmaster, a dog with a stumpy tail, and a performing elephant who only understands Polish. These are only the beginning of the book’s cast of characters.

This novel is easy to read and is accompanied by vintage black-and-white circus pictures which more clearly define life in a 1930’s circus. The story flows well and exhorts the reader to move along quickly to see what happens next. Not perfect by any means, as there were some situations which seemed a bit contrived or not entirely realistic, Water for Elephants certainly turned out to be a most engaging read, and a book I would highly recommend to others. ( )

This is based on the life of a man who joined the circus. The man tells his story while being confined to a nursing home. I didn't much care for the mistreatment of the circus animals but the story itself is good. The ending is quite good too. ( )

I enjoyed this book about circus life during the Great Depression. I especially like the way the author skillfully wove in historic facts such as an elephant not understanding English and the problem "jake leg" which was caused by tainted Jamaica ginger. ( )

amazing, moving, compelling.

A very good audiobook. This is a story of a way-of-life the is not often written about...the circus ... specifically during the depression. The descriptions are quite vivid and the characters well developed. The audiobook is well read with an wonderful contrast in the presentations between the old and young Jacob. Jacob at 23 weaves a fine tale of life in the circus. Jacob at 90..or is it 93...is a heart-wrenching portrayal of old age and its loss of abilities, facilities and dignity.  ( )

An easy and enjoyable read. A interesting look into an unusual way of life. Highly recommend. I'll check out her other books. ( )

Synopsis: Recently orphaned and unable to focus in his veterinarian finals, Jacob Jankowski ends up on a circus train whilst wandering and lands himself a job as the vet. He learns to adapt to the tough life of the circus during the Great Depression while falling in love with his boss' wife.
My Opinion: Incorporating both the present time with the past, Water for Elephants is a book full of life. ( )

This gritty and astonishing tale of a circus during the 1930s wasn't what I expected. I don't really know what I had expected, but this certainly wasn't it. After a series of unfortunate events, Jacob joins a traveling circus as a vet only to meet the beautiful Marlena who happens to be married to his boss, August. And did I mention August is crazy? Certifiably. Jacob vows to find a way to protect those he loves - Marlena and the animals - from him.I was really turned off with all the bad language and the many violent/disturbing scenes. Jacob was a mixed character for me. I liked him when he was a naive/clueless hardworking guy and didn't especially like him after he got a bit of street smarts. As an old man he was very interesting however. One of the redeeming facets of this book is Gruen's prose. So beautiful. ( )

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! ( )

I was attracted to this book for the carnival theme but loved reading it for the compelling story with the push and pull from present to past. I loved the ending, quite unexpected. I definitely recommend for anyone who dreamed of running off to be a Carney! ( )

This is a wonderful book and I would recommend it - I even want my teenage son to read it. It is a heart-felt story told by an aging man in a nursing home who looks out the window to see a circus has come to town. Seeing the circus spins his mind into the past - re-living his memories of working the circus during the Great Depression. You will find this book enjoyable from beginning to the end. ( )

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.

This book is the first, and only one so far, that I have won from participating in a giveaway! I had been wanting to read this one for a long time, so when I received an email to tell me that I won Water for Elephants I was thrilled.

The story is told from two different perspectives, that of 93 year old Jacob, and the same Jacob at the age of 22. In 1931, the young Jacob finds himself unexpectedly joining a traveling circus after a family tragedy leads him to quit school. There he meets Marlena, the equestrian on the show, and as time goes by their affection for each other keeps growing. However Marlena is already married to August, the animal trainer who is a certified paranoid schizophrenic. The time he spends with the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth is further complicated due to the struggle circuses everywhere were going through because of the great depression, which made Uncle Al, the ruthless owner of the circus even more difficult to deal with. Now at 93, Jacob cannot grasp the idea that he is getting old and he can't believe this old man's body is his, neither can he accept the fact that he has to live in an assisted living home. One day a visiting circus arrives, and while eagerly waiting for his family to take him to the circus, his memories are triggered and the younger Jacob takes over to tell the story.

Most of the time when I start a book it takes a couple of chapters to actually decide if I am liking it or not, however I liked Water for Elephants from the very start! It was an easy and enjoyable read, and although it might be considered as chick lit this book is very well researched and gives you just enough detail to make you feel like you know what it's all about. The characters just come to life, I loved the young Jacob and Marlena, and felt so bad for the older Jacob. In this book, even the animals are given a personality, especially Rosie the elephant who was definitely a favorite of mine because of the fact that she has more human characteristics than some of the other characters. In the end it turned out to be very moving, with a pleasant surprise included as well. It made me so happy to know that Jacob found a way to be content again.

The book finished with a note and a conversation with Sara Gruen. I really enjoy reading these as it gives you an insight on the author's thoughts, and what was the idea behind the story. In fact I was really impressed to learn that most things in this book are based on real life events. I would have never thought! ( )

One of my favorite reads... can't say why. Wanna read more from Guen. ( )

Ever wonder what it would be like to run away with the circus? Sara Gruen tells us in this story about Jacob, a young man who does just that. It’s the height of the Great Depression and Jacob is just about to write his final exams to become a veterinarian when disaster strikes and he is left homeless. This adventure/love story is full of interesting characters including one very special elephant. Told from the perspective of an older Jacob. Gruen is masterful with the details.

A story of a boy in the 30's depression who joins a circus and also about him as an old man in the old folks home. Very entertaining and enjoyable. ( )