his one is a bit of a tear-jerker. It's sentimental and nostalgic. If you don't mind that in a book, the characters are rich and it gives a good look into the world of the circus in the early part of the 20th Century. A great book for historical fiction lovers who also love animals. ( )

I absolutely loved loved this book. The characters were easy to follow, to relate to . I felt like i was riding along, like i was a part of the circus!

Jacob Jankowski : " I am ninety. Or ninety-three. One or the other." Jacob is living in a senior citizen home, grumpy, depressed and starting to lose his memory . The author does a wonderful job of alternating between Jacobs story of his life in the circus and his current life.
The details of circus life, the struggles, the sadness and the happy times.

I'm not very good with reviews, heres the review from Barnes and Noble:
Synopsis

Nonagenarian Jacob Jankowski reflects back on his wild and wondrous days with a circus. It's the Depression Era and Jacob, finding himself parentless and penniless, joins the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. There he meets the freaks, grifters, and misfits that populate this world. He introduces us to Marlena, beautiful star of the equestrian act; to August, her charismatic but twisted husband (and the circus's animal trainer); and to Rosie, the seemingly untrainable elephant Jacob cares for. Beautifully written, with a luminous sense of time and place, Water for Elephants tells of love in a world in which love's a luxury few can afford.

I highly recommend reading this one. On a scale of 1-10 this definitely gets a 10!!

This book was fantastic. It is told from the point of view of an old man in a nursing home looking back on his life as part of a travelling circus. The chapters switch back and forth between the past and the present, and together, they present a moving, unforgettable story. The circus story is bizarre, but doesn't go too far and is still believable and extremely interesting. The story from the nursing home is moving and deals a lot with the emotional aspects of growing older and coming to terms with it. Overall, a great book, and I can not wait to read more from Gruen! ( )

What led you to pick up this book? There has been a lot of hype it seems and a lot of people talking about it. I figured it was about time to pick it up. Plus the title is extra intriguing.

Plot summary: Jacob, on his track to becoming a veterinarian and join his father’s practice, when tragedy strikes his family, leaving him alone to pick up the pieces. In a moment of panic, Jacob runs away and ends up joining the circus as the vet, falling in love with a performer and the animals. But, behind the scenes is nothing like he expected and soon Jacob is in the midst of chaos, trying to figure out what he really wants and what he should do, though fearful of the consequences.

What did you like most about the book? I thought it was amazing, pretty much everything. The description and storyline go hand in hand and not once was I unsure of what I was shown. Even the most graphic scenes were done tastefully and careful, unoffensive.

What did you think of the ending? Perfect ending. Not too rushed or forced. Even from the beginning you could see where the story was going and that there would be no real mystery of secret but just this dramatic piece of work that leads you through a poignant time in one mans life.

Do you recommend this book? If you use a rating system, what’s your rating? I’d give it 5 stars and recommend it to anyone. Easy read as well.

Jacob Jankowski was one week and his final exams away from being a vet. Then tragedy hits, claiming the lives of his parents, and revealing that they’d mortgaged everything to keep their only child enrolled in Cornell University. The weight and guilt of this bears down on young Jacob, and he just walks off from school… and keeps on walking. When he finally stops for the night, he decides to jump aboard a passing train, only to find he’s just joined the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth.

Vividly imaginitive and well-researched, Water for Elephantsby Sara Gruenis a compelling, character-driven tale with the feel of magic and wonder we feel as children going to the circus for the first time. It has a gritty realism to it and exposes the behind-the-scenes working and stratification of classes of the travelling circus. Bosses, freaks, an exotic menagerie, performers, clowns and dwarfs, working men and roustabouts… in that order. Everyone has a history, and a pervasive loneliness binds them all together.

I was enrapt by both the writing and the story in Water for Elephants. Gruen, a female writer, captures the male perspective amazingly well. The story takes place in two timelines: Young Jacob at 23 and joining the circus, and the elderly Jacob, who is either 91 or 93 (he can’t remember anymore), in an assisted living facility, dealing with the emotions of being left behind -by his kids and his deceased wife- in a place where there’s baby food to eat, your neighbor poops his pants, and your desires and opinions are discounted and ignored. I was carried along through the story, and it was over before I even knew it.

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