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About This Book
ISBN13: 9781565125605 |
Powells.com Staff Pick
Well, first, I am a sucker for any book set at the circus. But throw in the massive talent that Sara Gruen has and then tell me a love story? Far from the cliché book club pick, Water for Elephants will be read for your next club meeting and then you'll sneak time away to reread it. The highest praise that I can give this book is that I have never loaned it to anyone and can't even imagine giving it away. It's a keeper.
Recommended by Danielle, Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Publisher Comments:
When Jacob Jankowski, recently orphaned and suddenly adrift, jumps onto a passing train, he enters a world of freaks, grifters, and misfits, a second-rate circus struggling to survive during the Great Depression, making one-night stands in town after endless town. A veterinary student who almost earned his degree, Jacob is put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It is there that he meets Marlena, the beautiful young star of the equestrian act, who is married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. He also meets Rosie, an elephant who seems untrainable until he discovers a way to reach her.
Beautifully written, Water for Elephants is illuminated by a wonderful sense of time and place. It tells a story of a love between two people that overcomes incredible odds in a world in which even love is a luxury that few can afford.
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About the Author
What Our Readers Are Saying
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Average customer rating based on 14 comments:









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Katherine Adams, September 15, 2008 (view all comments by Katherine Adams)
The title of this wonderful book seems misleading, because the single elephant referred to in this Depression-era story of circus life doesn't actually appear until late in the tale. But "ninety," or "ninety-three"-year old narrator Jacob Jankowski (he stopped keeping track of such nonsense) has razor-sharp recollections of Rosie the elephant, and a life unplanned with the second-rate Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show On Earth.
Through the narrator, author Sara Gruen manages to make the bigtop's sights, sounds and smells so vivid the reader might forget that this book -- though based on meticulous research -- is fiction.
As entertaining as the plot revolving around circus life is, Gruen's portrayal of Jacob, both as a young man, and as an assisted living patient, strengthens the story by reminding us all age is a state of mind.





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courtney petrillo, July 14, 2008 (view all comments by courtney petrillo)
Wow! What an amazing book. At first, when a friend described it to me, I was apprehensive to pick it up. Thank God I did. Sara Gruen’s superior talent for story telling had me hooked within the first 2 pages. The characters are real to life and history. I found Sara’s writing full of fantastic flavor and spice. I fell in love with every aspect of Water for Elephants, and would recommend it to anyone who loves a good read.





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Britt Miglietta, July 11, 2008 (view all comments by Britt Miglietta)
What a wonderful treasure! From page 1, I was totally engrossed in this story that revolves around circus life. The characters are simply fabulous and the author's way of telling you the story is delightful. I keep very few books after I read them, but I will hold onto this book forever. It is one of those special few!
View all 14 comments
Product Details
- ISBN:
- 9781565125605
- Subtitle:
- A Novel
- Author:
- Publisher:
- Algonquin Books
- Subject:
- Literary
- Subject:
- Romance - Historical
- Subject:
- Circus
- Subject:
- Depressions
- Edition Description:
- Paperback
- Publication Date:
- 20070501
- Binding:
- Paperback
- Grade Level:
- General/trade
- Language:
- English
- Illustrations:
- Y
- Pages:
- 350
- Dimensions:
- 8.27x5.50x.96 in. .85 lbs.











