Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen {Review}

Water for Elephants

by Sara Gruen

Though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski's ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a 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.

Jacob was there because his luck had run out - orphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on this locomotive 'ship of fools'. It was the early part of the Great Depression, and everyone in this third-rate circus was lucky to have any job at all. Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, was there because she fell in love with the wrong man, a handsome circus boss with a wide mean streak. And Rosie the elephant was there because she was the great gray hope, the new act that was going to be the salvation of the circus; the only problem was, Rosie didn't have an act - in fact, she couldn't even follow instructions. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.

First Line(s): I am ninety. Or ninety-three. One or the other.

Favorite Quote(s): "When two people are meant to be together, they will be together. It's fate."

My Review: I read this book when it first came out, before I had myself a book blog.

Sara Gruen has written an amazing story full of wonderful imagery and descriptions of what life on a circus was like when they depended on the railroad.

This book is full of the most unique characters I have ever read, from the nasty evil August to the sharp and witty dwarf Walter with his beloved dog, Queenie. I dare you not to fall in love with the story, the characters and the animals Gruen writes about in Water for Elephants.

I loved this book, from it’s beginning to it’s ending, which had me in tears { even the second time reading}. A love story for the ages! I highly recommended.

My Review: 5 stars!!!

Of course we all know this amazing story has been turned into a movie due out later this month. Here is the trailer...

I can't wait to see this movie and it's release is why I chose to re-read Water or Elephants. Will you be seeing this movie?

Until next time...

Happy Reading!