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on January 16, 2013
I don't care what the reviews say, I thought Water for Elephants was a great read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I thought Jacob's stories, both in the past and in the present, were extremely well written. I found his innocence and charm as a young man quite enchanting. Wouldn't it be grand if all young men were as courteous and as sweet as the young Jacob Jankowski? I also really liked the crotchety 90-year old Jacob, whose temper tantrums and emotional outbursts were most certainly justified. The loss of independence is something that we all fear, even more so when a person has lived a long and full life only to be left alone in a senior's home to die.
I also thought Marlena's character was well-written. Divorce in the 1920s and 1930s was unheard of, and I can only imagine how awful it must have been for a woman to realize that she had to endure the rest of her life with someone she despised. I found myself wondering when she was going to make the decision to live for herself, rather than do what everyone expected her to do. Then again, she had already made that decision once by leaving her family, so I expected that she would come to the right decision at some point.
As for Gruen's research into circus life during the Depression, I think that she did a fantastic job. America during the Great Depression is such a fascinating piece of history, and when you add the excitement of an all-American circus show to the mix, it becomes ever more so. All in all, Water for Elephants was a great read and I will be sure to recommend it to my family and friends.
I also thought Marlena's character was well-written. Divorce in the 1920s and 1930s was unheard of, and I can only imagine how awful it must have been for a woman to realize that she had to endure the rest of her life with someone she despised. I found myself wondering when she was going to make the decision to live for herself, rather than do what everyone expected her to do. Then again, she had already made that decision once by leaving her family, so I expected that she would come to the right decision at some point.
As for Gruen's research into circus life during the Depression, I think that she did a fantastic job. America during the Great Depression is such a fascinating piece of history, and when you add the excitement of an all-American circus show to the mix, it becomes ever more so. All in all, Water for Elephants was a great read and I will be sure to recommend it to my family and friends.
on December 26, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. The transitions between old Jacob to young Jacob were a little difficult to follow and could have been written better with the year included with the chapter number for example but I got used to it.
I really felt for the characters and moved into the emotion, the anger, the sadness so it was really well written however, I'm not sure whether this is just a kindle problem but the grammar was terrible and I'd have to re read sentences because a conversation between 2 characters would take place all on one line and I found it hard to follow who was saying what.
The bulk of the story was almost identical to the movie with a few exceptions and only slightly more detail that was give in the movie.
I really felt for the characters and moved into the emotion, the anger, the sadness so it was really well written however, I'm not sure whether this is just a kindle problem but the grammar was terrible and I'd have to re read sentences because a conversation between 2 characters would take place all on one line and I found it hard to follow who was saying what.
The bulk of the story was almost identical to the movie with a few exceptions and only slightly more detail that was give in the movie.
on March 26, 2015
hard sad life and dark 'secrets' of a low budget circus during the depression......differences in performers and workers.....odd friendships.....
presented so well from an old 'carney's' memory.....
"world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell."
presented so well from an old 'carney's' memory.....
"world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell."
on January 5, 2016
I avoided this novel for a long time because I have never been a fan of the circus (especially because of documented animal abuse and its exploitation of human oddities for amusement and profit.) However, I adore period novels that truly immerse you in another era and I decided to try the book and abandon it if it became too unsettling.
Unfortunately, it did.
Water for Elephants is beautifully written and the author is remarkably gifted at transporting you back in time. She has an inexhaustible imagination and jam packs her story with dozens of quirky and compelling characters who spring off the page with the agility of acrobats. This is not a soporific tale. In addition to all the eccentric characters bounding around the plot of Water For Elephants is as big and blinding as a massive disco ball and about every other chapter bursts like a pinata. Something is always happening: someone is being punched in the nose or high pitched shrieks are coming from the big tent or a mustached villain is hurling insults at some hapless circus employee. This novel is brash and brazen and graphic and I didn't have a problem with most of it. I enjoyed the frenetic pace and the sparkly madness of it all and the tale itself is truly original and engrossing.
My problem with this novel is that it does involve animals that are confined and mistreated and it also discusses the custom of displaying humans with physical deformities as sideshow 'freaks'. I am well aware this could not be avoided considering the subject matter and I'm certain the author wanted to paint a vivid and historically accurate portrait of the circus in the early 20th century. However, she does her job a bit too thouroughly and there were times I had to skip or skim entire paragraphs. I simply couldn't tolerate the highly lurid descriptions of horses throats being sliced open, lit cigarettes being tossed into the beguiling elephant's mouth. or desperate people being gawked at because they were obese or sprouting a parasitic twin from their chest.
That being said, Sara Gruen is an amazingly talented writer and after reading her bio and learning about her small menagerie at home and her penchant for saving orphaned cats I am certain she did not write this book to rejoice in the mistreatment of animals. She also sounds like a kind and compassionate person who definitely wouldn't be eager to view 'freaks' at a circus sideshow. Water For Elephants is a fascinating and dazzling tale but if it makes you uncomfortable to read about animal or human abuse I would probably avoid it.
Unfortunately, it did.
Water for Elephants is beautifully written and the author is remarkably gifted at transporting you back in time. She has an inexhaustible imagination and jam packs her story with dozens of quirky and compelling characters who spring off the page with the agility of acrobats. This is not a soporific tale. In addition to all the eccentric characters bounding around the plot of Water For Elephants is as big and blinding as a massive disco ball and about every other chapter bursts like a pinata. Something is always happening: someone is being punched in the nose or high pitched shrieks are coming from the big tent or a mustached villain is hurling insults at some hapless circus employee. This novel is brash and brazen and graphic and I didn't have a problem with most of it. I enjoyed the frenetic pace and the sparkly madness of it all and the tale itself is truly original and engrossing.
My problem with this novel is that it does involve animals that are confined and mistreated and it also discusses the custom of displaying humans with physical deformities as sideshow 'freaks'. I am well aware this could not be avoided considering the subject matter and I'm certain the author wanted to paint a vivid and historically accurate portrait of the circus in the early 20th century. However, she does her job a bit too thouroughly and there were times I had to skip or skim entire paragraphs. I simply couldn't tolerate the highly lurid descriptions of horses throats being sliced open, lit cigarettes being tossed into the beguiling elephant's mouth. or desperate people being gawked at because they were obese or sprouting a parasitic twin from their chest.
That being said, Sara Gruen is an amazingly talented writer and after reading her bio and learning about her small menagerie at home and her penchant for saving orphaned cats I am certain she did not write this book to rejoice in the mistreatment of animals. She also sounds like a kind and compassionate person who definitely wouldn't be eager to view 'freaks' at a circus sideshow. Water For Elephants is a fascinating and dazzling tale but if it makes you uncomfortable to read about animal or human abuse I would probably avoid it.
on June 1, 2014
While the story outline seemed really fascinating, I was very soon disappointed with how monotonous the narrative developed.
The synopsis could read: A young (almost) veterinarian faces series of tragic situations and ends up joining an itinerant circus as a result of these. The main character, young Jacob Jankowski, is innocent, charming and caring and it was very hard to relate his traits with the 93-year old Jacob that is telling the story in retrospect. The two sides of the character seem like two different people and an explanation for this change in personality is nowhere to be found. In general it seems difficult to relate to the characters in the book. All seem somewhat flat and develop in the same way: all are portrayed stereotypically, but then have an added (good/bad) layer. For example, August is a mean and violent man, but occasionally can be charming. Walter is grumpy and hurtful, but then turns out to be also protective, etc.
The story increases in pace after the elephant joints the circus (roughly at the middle of the book) and it does get more enjoyable to read. Maybe also because the character of the elephant is probably the one that is best accomplished of all the characters in the book.
Overall, the descriptions of the circus in the time of depression and prohibition in the US are engaging and the story is (especially in its second half) entertaining, but it is not a book that stands out.
The synopsis could read: A young (almost) veterinarian faces series of tragic situations and ends up joining an itinerant circus as a result of these. The main character, young Jacob Jankowski, is innocent, charming and caring and it was very hard to relate his traits with the 93-year old Jacob that is telling the story in retrospect. The two sides of the character seem like two different people and an explanation for this change in personality is nowhere to be found. In general it seems difficult to relate to the characters in the book. All seem somewhat flat and develop in the same way: all are portrayed stereotypically, but then have an added (good/bad) layer. For example, August is a mean and violent man, but occasionally can be charming. Walter is grumpy and hurtful, but then turns out to be also protective, etc.
The story increases in pace after the elephant joints the circus (roughly at the middle of the book) and it does get more enjoyable to read. Maybe also because the character of the elephant is probably the one that is best accomplished of all the characters in the book.
Overall, the descriptions of the circus in the time of depression and prohibition in the US are engaging and the story is (especially in its second half) entertaining, but it is not a book that stands out.
on June 28, 2009
I would have never believed that I would have enjoyed this book. Let alone enjoyed it to the extreme level which I did. A well respected friend recommended this book to me so I pull it up online and read the synopsis. Well, the synopsis and subject matter regarding circus life in the mid 1900's did not interest me in the least bit. Suffice to say I did not immediately read it. Only after subsequent prompting from my friend did I agree to give it a shot. That turned out to be an EXCELLENT idea. It was clear and concise reading that gave me vivid images of that era and written with short chapters that propelled me along to read just a little more each time since I was skeptical from the start. The story recounted through the eyes of an old man reminiscing his youth was pulled off seamlessly. It was like reading two stories. Now, after reading the book for myself I'm amazed at the few negative reviewer's comments. I'm reminded that some people complain about everything.
on September 9, 2016
Interesting but disturbing at the same time. I can't stand animal cruelty and this was too graphic for me.
VINE VOICEon March 6, 2008
First the title, Water for Elephants is quite interesting. It catches my eye and has been since I saw it on the bookshelf. Finally with a copy of my own, Sara Gruen's writing style is quite detailed and specific but she has abundant of information and allows the reader to understand Jacob Jankowski, the widowed 90 year old man. In writing about the loss of his parents, he writes how he discovered that his parents mortgaged their home to send him to Ivy league college, probably Cornell University. He drops out and finds himself working at the circus by providing water for elephants. We know he was married for 60 years. The sccene in the lawyer's office discovering his parents' lack of estate was heartbreaking and typical depression era story. The fact that the great depression and stock market crash of 1929 is still relevant in today's literature. Sara Gruen makes accountability for explaining the details of Jacob Jankowski's life.
on December 23, 2016
I enjoyed this story. It was very well researched from the works of the circuses of the time. Personalities were realistic. I got pulled into the situations. From men who lived on the train with the animals to the treatment of the animals at that time. All had a ring of truth. I can highly recommend it. There is a bit of everything including sex scenes - not too much though, to the stampede near the end - I would loved to have seen that in reality. Just when you think it is all going to be a sad ending I liked the way she turned it around.
