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Water for Elephants
by Sara Gruen
As a young man, Jacob Jankowski was tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. It was the early part of the great Depression, and for Jacob, now ninety, the circus world he remembers was both his salvation and a living hell. A veterinary student just shy of a degree, he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie.
It was there that he met Marlena, the beautiful equestrian star married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. And he met Rosie, an untrainable elephant who was the great gray hope for this third-rate traveling show. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and, ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.
MINI REVIEW
• In the beginning, flashes back and forth between past and present... almost like a summary of events to set the scene and then fill in the details with the bulk of the novel.
• Sara's description of age struck a cord with me. I have heard before that your mental age doesn't necessarily keep pace with your physical, and this is a very good representation of this concept.
• On the above note, I dread the day that I will cry over the unexpected gift of solid fruit.
• Also, this scares the bejesus out of me to get old! Forced to take drugs to be more complacent for the nursing home staff?! OMG!
PERSONAL LURES
• Suggested by a friend so we can watch the movie together.
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