When I read the synopsis of this book I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. What a wonderful peek inside depression era circus life. I very much enjoyed this author's style of writing.

This is a gentle book that I found myself thinking about when I couldn't be reading it. Just as James Harriot could write about some pretty unseemly characters, there is compassion and understanding there so that you know the motivation and realize that the characters made the choices they did because they were the best choices available to them.(Excluding the method of Redlighting or throwing unwanted employees off of moving trains in the middle of the night!) I read it in three sittings. It struck me how well the author captured what it must be like to be old. She has the main character alternate between his present life in a nursing home and then flashes back to his circus days. A review above talked about how the main character was the only one with compassion; this isn't true; there is a dwarf and his dog that are amazing characters; Rosemary, one of the nurses at the home and numerous others who are exquisitely crafted. Rosie the elephant who smiles just made me smile throughout. This book will be with me for a very long time; I never reread books, but this one might just warrant another read. It is the kind of book that while reading, every once in a while you just have to pause and absorb the beauty of the writing and the way an idea has been conveyed. I've been recommending it to everyone I see, because again, it keeps creeping in to my thoughts. Someone recommended it to me because something in our conversation reminded her of it. It's that kind of book.

This was a delightful summer read. Everything about this book was good. You could really identify and feel passionate (good or bad) about the characters, including the animals. All the loose ends are wrapped up. It makes me feel nostalgic and she has a way of transporting you back in time without being too wordy. The book is well written and entertaining. This was pretty much the best book I read all summer. I even cried a little at the end. :) I really hope they make this book into a movie. It would be such a great movie if it was done correctley. Everyone should read this book.

90-ish Jacob Jankowski narrates his story in flashbacks from a nursing home. His days with the circus feel more real and alive to him than his current reality.

After his parents are killed in a car accident, Jacob runs out on his vet school exams and joins the circus. Circus life is not always easy, but Jacob has experiences with humans and animals that change his life forever.

Gruen brings the Depression-era circus vividly to life, along with its many colorful characters. If Rosie the elephant and Bobo the orangutan don't touch your heart, it's made of stone!

Highly recommended!

I accidentally stumbled upon this book at the book store in an airport. I began reading it during my lay over and it was hard to put down during a very important and busy trip. I finished it within days after returning home (once again filling my airport/plane time with reading).

I loved the combination of mystery, passion, action, humor, tears, humans and animals Sara Gruen has put in this book. It is the kind of book that leaves you speechless when you finish it and you wonder if you should just continue to read it over and over again because the next few books won't even come close to being as wonderful. It was a bittersweetness to read the last few pages as it meant it was the end.

I haven't found anything since that captured me the way "Water for Elephants" did. "Water for Elephants" is going to remain on the favorites shelf for a long, long time.

Excellent read. It has been a long time since I picked up a book that I could not put down. The author is a wonderful story teller. He was able to include many thought provoking social issues into what might be considered a light read.

Interesting details about circus life but you can pretty much guess what is going to happen. It's a decent enough book for a summer read, not to heavy. Not the best book for a deep discussion but enjoyed by many so may work well for book club.

If you ever read circus books when you were a kid, you'd enjoy this one (well, even if you did not, you may still enjoy this book.) The meticulous research on the book results in an interesting panorama of circus life where class divisions (i.e., performers don't sit with the roustabouts, clowns don't share their train car with others, etc.) eventually lead to internecine warfare at the end of the book. There is also jealousy, a three-way love triangle, prohibition, and oh yes, animal husbandry and abuse. The picture the book paints of a prohibition-era circus train is vivid: smuggled moonshine from Canada, various misfits that magically come together during under the big top, the behind-the-barn striptease shows that went on in such circuses (funny, no one told me about that part when I was a kid reading about circus books!) The namesake of the book is Rosie, the elephant that apparently only understands Polish. Until that little nugget is unearthed, Rosie regularly receives the brutal end of a bullhook. The only person between the bullhook and Rosie is the protagonist, Jacob Jankowski, who suddenly finds himself ripped from an Ivy League university to a circus train when his parents die in an accident. Fortunately, Jacob was studying to be a veterinarian and was only one examination shy of a degree. But that does not matter to Uncle Al, the reprehensible circus owner who never saw the back of a head he could not hit. The book has a 98-year old Jacob in contemporary settings reminiscing about his early life in the circus. Jacob's "escape" back to a circus towards the end was a bit preposterous, I must admit. But besides that, the book makes for a very interesting reading.

I finished this book in three days. It's really hard to put it down. I like the plot all throughout the book. The sweet romance and suspense kept me reading on and on. I was a bit disappointed with the ending.

This was a very good book! I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended!

It is the present day. An old man, either 90 or 93 - he can't recall - lives in a desultory, grumpy funk in a generic nursing home, treated like a product, given impersonal but efficient care, and regularly visited by a vaguely attentive, dutifully loving, but clueless family. He is lonely; he misses his wife; he longs for attention from his prolific family, but understands that they have problems of their own. For solace, he relives his early life on a continuous thread - his life as a circus veterinarian for a second-rate travelling show.

In alternating chapters, the author, Sara Gruen, takes us from the present to 1931 and back, showing us a rich history of a good young man whose life is changed forever when his parents die in a car crash, leaving him destitute just as he is to stand for his final exams at Cornell. He had hoped to go into practice with his father as a small-town vet; instead, at a total loss, he bolts, jumping a train which turns out to belong to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth (or words to that effect). He is plunged into the colourful, quirky world of the circus, with all its different intensities and personalities; at risk of being summarily thrown off the train, he is reprieved by Uncle Al, the owner/operator/ringleader of the circus when that gentleman learns that Jacob is - for all intents and purposes - a vet, something Uncle Al has coveted for a long time.

Jacob falls easily into the life, loving working with the animals, learning to become one of the circus family, and finding an unlikely friend in the dwarf whose living space he shares. Along the way, and almost immediately, he also falls hopelessly in love with the wife of Uncle Al's right-hand man August. Marlena is the woman of the horses, directing her own act with 12 beautiful Arabians in the ring, and her grace and beauty completely captures Jacob. He must tread carefully; her husband, August, is borderline insane and insanely jealous.

The old Jacob buries himself in these memories, frets over the static life of the nursing home, and learns to look for one particular nurse who seems to be the only person who really takes an interest in him. She counsels him gently; she brings him food that is just a little better than what he's been getting; and we get a glimpse, through his eyes, of the frustration of the elderly, trapped inside a body that won't cooperate anymore and surrounded by people who aren't interested in his bright former life.

This was an absorbing, entertaining book, a complete joy. Well-written, well-researched, it opens a door on a world that most people never thought about and makes the different subjects into real people. It also made me feel empathy toward those in impersonal facilities, who live for a familiar, interested face, and who long to impart to us the lives they led. I could not put this book down. Highly recommended.

For me, this book was like making a dear friend, and then bidding him farewell. I tried to savor this story, but couldn't put it down either. I was so sad when I got to the last page and it was over.

I think the other reviews cover the storyline well...and I'm not a fan of giving away endings, but in general, it has vivid character development, authentic to the period and circus era of the depression years... and despite some graphic scenes (which add to rather than take away), it was a great, great read.

I suspect it will be hailed as one of summer 2008's top beach reads...and will be on my recommend list to anyone who will listen for a long time to come.

This was the best book I read last year. I have recommended it to so many people and they have all enjoyed it as well. Everyone can relate to a good story and this one was written so well.

I know most people loved this book and perhaps my expectations going in were just too high. That being said, I found the book to be a slow read and only mildly interesting. Maybe I just don't have a passionate intrest in circus life. The end was my favorite part, but two or three good pages couldn't save this book for me.

After reading the book I listened to it on CD. The 2 readers are exceptional. It made the book come even more alive for me. Now my friends from book group are borrowing the CDs so they can listen too.

This was a "nice book" . It was well written. and had a good ending not what I expected!

I have seen Water for Elephants at all the popular bookstores for the last year. It never appealed to me, so I always passed over it. This month, it was choosen as my book club's choice and I was pleasently suprised. It was a true page turner and I finished the book in one weekend. Gruen captured the time period and the secret world of circus people during the Depression beautifully. It made me want more and to know more about the people of that era who worked on the circus trains.
You won't be disappointed.

This novel was very well written, flowing back and forth through time as if you were there with old Jacob. The read was simple and fun, but, in my opinion, lacked real depth and passion that I was expecting. As I read each chapter I expected a big bang, but there was none. The story was good, the read was easy and flowing, but the umph was missing for me.

I got this book because it had such good reviews and it was recommended in my school library. I liked it but I wasn't grabbed by it. It's not horrible at all but just not my favorite.

A good book, but not for me I guess. Can quite pinpoint what I didn't care for.

My experience with the turnaround time on an order has been widely varied. In general, 7 to 10 days is not unrealistic. When my order arrived within a few days it was a pleasant surprise and predisposed me to do more business with that vendor and Amazon.

Outstanding book... very well written. A couple snafoos with the storyline but overall DEFINITELY worth reading. I didn't think it would be the book for me (the circus and all) but I am so glad I read it. I would definitely recommend it.

First, as the title of my review implies I *did* enjoy this book, and I *would* recommend this book.

In a nutshell, it was a good story, put together well, well told, easily read with a good ending. Nothing wrong there, but that's as far as it takes the reader.

To those of you going into this book expecting the next great american novel, or "the best book you ever read" as I have seen more than a few describe it in other reviews, um.. no. Not even close.

I think all the reviews and even the critics reviews have done this otherwise very good book an injustice. You will not find wisdom in it's pages, nor will you laugh/cry/etc (at least I didn't).

So, if you go into reading this book with the expectation of a good read, you won't be dissapointed. If your looking for something special, I just didn't find it in this book.

In the end, my criticism isn't with this book, but all the incorrect accolades poured upon it.

For years, "A Prayer For Owen Meany" was my favorite book. Until I read "Water For Elephants" for the first time. I turned the last page and started all over again on page 1. I read it again after that. I just love every sentence. Jacob is a hoot! The ending is the best ending ever! Totally unexpected and totally true to character. I live in Chicago, so the Chicago connection was one more sweet moment. It's just such an all around loving, joyful book, with quirky surprises at every turn. It made me laugh out loud. I can't help it . . . I love everything about it.

Water for Elephants

Sara Gruen


A 90-year-old man--or is he 93?--narrates the story of his one summer as a veterinarian with the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth during the summer of 1931 in Depression-era America. Jacob Jankowski resides in an assisted living home with other elderly people, many of whom require more medical attention than he. He is quite mentally astute for his age, yet because of his age, most of the people in charge of the facility treat him as mentally incompetent, all but Rosemary, a forty-seven-year-old nurse, who treats him and the rest of the patients/residents with the loving care, dignity, and respect they deserve as human beings. But she is moving away and will be quitting the facility, which in the end leads to Jacob's decision to continue his life--what little he may have left--in dignity.

There is a circus that has come to town. It is so close to the facility that the big tent and other goings on can be observed from the window. All of the old people reminisce about their experiences in their youth going to the circus. One old man and a newcomer to the home, Mr. Joseph McGuinty, who is considerably younger than Jacob, brags about having worked in a circus, carrying "water for elephants." Jacob becomes upset because he knows Mr. McGuinty is lying to attract the attention of the other residents; and the memories of the truth of his past life are triggered.

Flashback to young Jacob Jankowski, a veterinary student at Cornell University in his last year! Just before he is scheduled to take his final exams, after which he will graduate and receive his degree, both his parents are killed in an automobile accident. After their burial and after learning the truth of his financial situation, Jacob is unable to focus. He leaves the exam room and leaves Cornell. Distraught, he leaves with only the clothes on his back and no money in his pocket.

Because of the Depression, people were unable to pay for his father's services; and his father, also a veterinarian, worked for people even though they could not pay him, taking whatever they could give him--eggs, chickens, whatever they had. Therefore, his parents had nothing to leave their son but debts. To pay his tuition, the house had been mortgaged.

So not being able to focus, he leaves without ever putting pen to paper. Without aim or destination, he walks and soon finds himself beside the railroad tracks, when along comes a train. Like a hobo, he hops the train with no idea where he is going. He soon learns this is a circus train and is not tossed off it because the Benzini Brothers, whose circus it is, discover he is a veterinarian; and his services are badly needed.

Working as a veterinarian that summer leads to all kinds of experiences, tantamount among them which are falling in love, getting married, and eventually working with the circus's one elephant.

After his summer with the Benzini Brothers, he is hired by Ringling Brothers. He, along with his wife and his growing family, spends seven years as a circus veterinarian. He then becomes the veterinarian for the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. His seven years experience with exotic animals and his degree, in addition to bringing an elephant with him, insures him the job when the former vet suddenly dies.

Jacob, ninety years old--or is he 93? he asks himself, recognizing that his old age has caused some memory loss--struggles to hold onto his humanity and his dignity as long as he can. It is he who in his reminiscences about his circus life, his friendships, and his deep love for his wife narrates the story. The reader falls in love with Jacob and develops an even greater love and respect for "old folks." Sara Gruen's novel awakens the reader to the often mistreatment of and disrespect for the elderly, evoking empathy in their cause. Especially hurtful is seeing how their own families, their own children, mistreat them, or forget about them. Old people are still human beings. In many cases, their bodies may be broken, their hands and fingers gnarled, but in all cases, there is a brain inside their heads as Jacob proves. In having Jacob tell his story in Water for Elephants, the author informs us of this and reminds us of the fact that we will grow old someday. At the same time Sara Gruen affords us a moving and delightful read--so do not be misled by the title.

From the moment I picked this book up I could not put it down. It captures in detail a period of time and a way of life that I never gave much thought to before. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

As an animal-lover and not a fan of the circus, I felt a little wary of the setting and subject matter when beginning to listen to the unabridged audio version of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS. But soon I was totally hooked by the two narrators, young and old voices of Jacob, and by Gruen's evocative language and masterful storytelling. Like another reader/reviewer, I was reminded of family stories about the Depression--and of all we can go through and live through.

I don't know why, but when I read a little "blip" somewhere about this book, something told me I would really enjoy it. I mostly read psychological thrillers and this book was so different from anything I have ever read, but I felt as if I was actually transported to the time and place of this unusual, interesting read. My 90 year old Mom read it, too, and also loved it. It's warm, endearing and so well written.

As a devoted historical fiction reader, I thought this book would interest me. It did not. Water for Elephants reads like a children's novel, save for excessive and serious profanity, graphic and frequent sex scenes, and violence so vivid I was moved to nausea. If you are able to ignore those sorts of things, you will not find yourself feeling any kind of sympathy for the one-dimensional characters. The characters do not develop over the course of the story, and seem only concerned with dabbling in vice. As a result, I was unable to identify with them.

A portion of the story is written from the point of view of the main character in his old age. This writing is exceptional, and managed to keep me interested during the course of the book. Still, these marvelous little glimpses of author Sara Gruen's potential do not permit me to recommend this book to anybody. Avoid it.

I bought this book ages ago, always with the intention of reading it. (I must admit, I'm not a huge circus lover so wasn't sure what I'd think, but after reading other reviews I thought I'd give it a try.) For me, the book was hard to get into and I picked it up and put it down several times over a few months. While on vacation, I made the decision to stick with it--and I'm sure glad I did!

This is a wonderful story and was hard for me to put down once I got to the second chapter. I highly recommend it for book clubs, a good summer/beach read, or rainy Saturday afternoons. (While the book revolves around a young man's life in the circus, there is much more to it than that.)

I was really impressed with the writing and stories in this book and hope to read more by this author again!

I don't understand why this book is SO popular! I absolutely could not get into this book. I kept giving it more time to reel me in, but it never did and I eventually gave up. Nothing about it interested me or amused me. It was so boring! But I'm glad so many other people thoroughly enjoyed it.

This book needs to become a movie, with Clint Eastwood playing the elderly man in the nursing home, who reminices about his past. Unique story A+

The strength of the book is its narrative flow. I particularly liked the little catch-words that usually connected the "assisted living" chapters with the circus chapters. Gruen generally wrote in such connections, and I found them both ingeniously crafted and useful in uniting the narrative.

In addition to telling a great story, Gruen gives a remarkably detailed picture of the circus world of the 1930s. I had definitely never heard of a "cooch tent" before reading this book, for example, and Gruen's depiction of its solo practitioner is thoughtful, humane, and free of cliches. The ideas of circuses getting booted out of town, of people getting booted off the circus trains, and of entrepreneurs cannibalizing the remnants of failed circuses were also quite fascinating.

To the extent that Gruen wanted to make an analogy to the biblical Jacob story by obscurely dropped hints and anagrammed names, I think, however, that she pushed too far. This novel stands nicely on its own without this type of symbolism or metaphor.

i really enjoyed this. it made me think of my mother and her stories and recollections of the past

As I read this book, I found that it was continuously straight-forward. There weren't any twists really, any shockers, and nothing that wasn't really expected. The "shocking" ending was more of just an "hmm, all right." It didn't really change anything nor did it affect how I felt towards any of the characters.

The story is a good one that did keep me reading and interested. It shifted between the past and present day as the protagonist continued to reminisce about previous years and reflected on his current life. I did not really get connected to any of the characters and I just felt like there was something missing from this book that I just couldn't put my finger on.

The characters were interesting, the story was good, and the setting was of course new and refreshing. But it just seemed something was lacking. As I was reading the "Reader's Questions" in the back contemporary books are starting to put in, I found that they weren't many powerful themes or internalizations to take away from this book. That doesn't mean the book was bad because it was just a straight-forward story, it just was missing something.

All the parts woven together make an all right read, but nothing amazing or enlightening.

It's clear why this unusual work wound up on the NY Times Bestseller List. It captures a time and environment that stirs the curiosity of young and old. Who wouldn't be interested in exploring the dysfunctional dynamics of the circus family, during the perilous era of the early 30's. It allows you to finally be able to, run away to the circus, in the comfort of your easy chair. And, as intriguing as some scenes might be, it makes you just as glad you never did.

While written simplistically, the messages run deep. The cruelty that existed during those hard times and the effect on man and beast, were heartbreaking. It was particularly difficult to envision the animal abuse and neglect, but it was so integral to the story that you had no choice. It was a reminder, that left unchecked and unsupervised, that the weakest amongst us will frequently be delegated the scapegoats. It was also a reminder of the evil that can lurk in man's soul.

Visiting the Senior Jankowski was particularly delightful. A mere "90, or maybe 93," as he frequently chimed, his struggle to retain dignity and independence was inspirational and beautifully drawn out. Gruen also did a great job moving seamlessly between the Senior Jankowski and his youthful, 23 year old counterpart. Sometimes I wouldn't even notice, even though decades separated the characters...they were still as one, struggling with the angst of the past and uncertainty of moving toward the end of life.

I've read reviews where some took exception to using Schizophrenia as an excuse for one of the characters cruelty and explosive episodes, as his behaviors were not typical for Schizophrenia. However, in the 30's Schizophrenia was viewed as a "split personality," becoming a catch-all for describing many signs of mental illness, so I don't believe this should detract from the story.

My grievances are few, but I did have some issues with the ending, which I found unrealistic. But, on the other hand, much of the story was so dark that I think we had to be given light at the end, to have the closure we needed for these very special characters.

I bought this book on a whim and was delightfully blown away and enthralled. While the book is set against the background of Depression-era America and a financially unstable circus, the test is a steady flow of rich description creating an atmosphere of almost magical realism. The decriptive prose alone was enough for me to reccomend the novel.

The story too is wonderful, filled with likable and quirky characters, including an onerous elephant. Framed by the present day expereinces of the main character in a nursing home the story is nicely contained and given closure.

Perhaps the most enjoyable part of the novel, however, is the wealth of circus history and jargon interspersed throughout the story. Gruen has obviously done her research and as a result the circus culture portrayed is dynamic and believable, filled with interesting tidbits and lingo.

It was a great weekend read!

*by sexy I mean opulent and enticing, not so much the other way :)

Good intentions and great expectations sometimes make a so-so read. Don't get me wrong, I liked the basic premise of this story. What could be more intriguing than a young man joining the circus in such a haphazard way? And in the grueling Depression years? We can only anticipate the things he will discover. Well--some of the dialogue here and the characters are good--it's just that the main character seems hard to grasp. The point of view shifts around in this story, which brings a frustration in ever getting to know this character! Some scenes were quite vivid and even enjoyable, but woven altogether, there's much to be desired here. At least, for me. And the meandering way to the conclusion. That, in itself, did not work for me. Ultimately, I just don't understand the incessant hoopla over this book.

For my time, give me the not as popular, SIM0N LAZARUS. Now that's a richly engaging and hilarious read more should know about. Afterall, Eckhart Tolle says it's a "book to be treasured." He is so right.

Quick service and the most reasonable price of all. Our book club read the book and loved it. thanks, Amazon, for terrific service and fast delivery.

I just loved this book, it has one of the best endings i have read for a long time. The writing is so good you feel that you are part of the circus, and that it was all true and not fiction.

The circus is a wonderful place of acrobatic stunts and magical happenings. Sara Gruen perfectly captures this aspect of the circus in her captivating story called Water for Elephants. The book is about a young boy who is almost out of veterinary school when he is told that both of his parents have been killed in a car accident. He then goes astray and finds his way onto the train of a traveling circus. The story is a memory being told by an older version of this boy named Jacob Jankowski. Gruen tells a marvelous story through her use of detailed flashback in order to develop the character of Jacob.
Almost the entire book is told as the memory of an old man. The reader goes back and forth between the present in the past. Jacob remembers everything back then in perfect detail and there are things in his day to day life that remind him of his time back with the Benzini Bros circus. He also remembers it in such great detail because he is so haunted by a secret that he had to keep for a friend. This shows his character because even though he is getting older, he is still fighting to remember that past because he feels that it is all he has in life.
Water for Elephants is a great read for anyone looking for a book that has just about everything in it. There is action, deceit, love, and the always exciting circus. Gruen does a great job throughout the story of keeping the reader interested and involved and readers will find this book hard to put down.

Do you know how difficult it is to run and cry at the same time? Good books do that do me. And this was a good book.

Brilliant, actually.

That's the best way to describe it. The words themselves, the characterization, the anticipation. It's brilliant.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen is the story of Jacob Jankowski at twenty-three and at ninety (or ninety-three). At twenty-three, he ran away and joined the circus after his parents were killed in an accident. He had been studying to be a vet and was all but final exams. In the circus, Jacob encounters brutality, unexpected kindness, and love. At ninety (or ninety-three), Jacob's in a nursing home.

The story fits well with Resurrection with it's themes of dignity, redemption, and anticipation. Twenty-three-year-old Jacob's Resurrection scene spread the resurrection and transformation to others. The Jacob in the end of the book is different from the Jacob in the beginning, and his transformation allows him to step in and fight for others. He may not always succeed in the way he desires, but he hands resurrection to others. It's a story about coming home.

It's a story about dignity. Gruen frames the story so that you are hit by the fact that this old man, left to drool over Jello his last few years, is the twenty-three-year-old Jacob in the circus. These stories aren't just stories. They're stories of people we've forgotten about. It made me remember sitting at tea with my grandmother listening to her stories. I wish I'd written them down.

It's about the dignity of the outcasts. In Depression-era America, especially on a circus, midgets, drunks, and the bottom-of-the-barrell working class were the outcasts. They weren't "needed" in society. They were easily disposed of. Because of this, Jacob becomes a Christ-figure restoring the dignity of a midget and a drunk, fighting for the oppressed, both human and animal.

Gruen's strongest point, I think, is her ability to build anticipation. One scene captures it: Grady has (bad) news for Jacob. In waiting for Grady to spill it, Jacob notices the two drops of grease leaking from Grady's hamburger. Brilliance in these little details. The reader (namely, me) wants to shake Grady by the shoulders and scream at him to tell already!

It's also about what Gruen doesn't write, where she holds back. I think as writers, sometimes we think we have to fill in every detail. For example, in a fight scene, Gruen doesn't give a blow-by-blow. Rather, she focuses on the confusion of the protag (Jacob), his swirling thoughts, a moment of pain here or there, his inability to stop hitting. Rather than observing the fight as you would a movie, you're caught up in the hero. I love this.

I liked this book a lot. And there were parts where I couldn't wait to find out what happened. The book went back and forth between the 1930's and present time. And I couldn't wait, sometimes, to see what the next part was.

Then, I went to a book club and the people fawned over the book -- especially the incredible research, the way the employees and animals were treated and the shocking ending. Well, that made me like the book less. I don't care how wonderful the research is, if it's not written well. And a lot of the things that the author wanted you to feel sympathy for, I just didn't. I'm sorry that Camel got Jamaica giner paralysis, but he was a horrible alcoholic and addict who would drink anything to get a buzz. Something was bound to happen. And the way the employees and animals were treated -- was that really a shock to anyone? Did people not know that? Animals were always abused and it was the depression -- not paying someone and throwing them off a train is not unexpected. And the "shocking" ending. Gee whiz -- a 4 year old could see that coming. ***SPOILER NEXT*** From the moment the author mentioned that the circus was in town and that Jacob's people always came on Sundays, I knew they woulnd't show up. ***SPOILER ENDS***.

So, I liked the book, I liked the story. I didn't like people all ga ga over facts that should be common sense. This book should be read as a work of fiction (as it is) and just enjoy it for that.

What a great adventure...one feels like they are right
beside the believable characters under the big tent. This
book has some of the most memorable characters and one
of the wittiest and most satisfying story-lines I have ever
come across. Treat yourself to a great one...read this book!

I loved this little book.......I just wish there had been more! The story grabbed you from the first page, and you just kept reading to find out what else can happen to this guy. The prose was simple, but on the money. It took me to the 1930's and let me live in the depression era for a while. Jacob is not the luckiest of characters, but he is the most interesting! Loved the book.

I enjoyed being transported to another time and place. To a vivid, colorful existence long gone. I admit, I expected this book to be fabulous, what with the hoopla and the fact that I saw it front and center for so long every time I went inside any bookstore. The writing wasn't why I gave it five stars, but the story and the research was impeccable.

Water for Elephants is a fabulous book! I couldn't put it down once I read the first page. It is a great combination of history (the depression years and the circus life)and emotions as you experience the 93 years of a wonderful gentleman's life. I loaned it to my 13 year old grand daughter. I think she'll enjoy the experience, too.

This is a terrific book. I enjoyed it from first page to last then was sorry it was over. A GREAT read.

Rarely do I enjoy books that are recommended to me as much as I enjoyed Sara Gruen's 'Water For Elephants'. A charming, touching, entertaining read from start to finish; the book's frequent 'travels in time' from a depression era college boy experiencing loss and uncertainty at a young age to a 90+ year old man also experiencing loss and uncertainty, while reliving his past and trying desperately to maintain as much dignity as possible in face of his diminishing capacity with old age.

The story begins with the older Jacob Jankowski, infuriated with a newer resident at his assisted living facility who, with the advent of a circus arriving nearby, delights and entertains his female dining hall companions with stories of how he carried water for elephants at the circus in his younger years. Jacob; who is incensed at this obviously false claim, and alienates himself from the rest of the residents, begins to relive, through a series of remembrances in his mind, his own experiences in the Benzini Brothers circus in his youth.

With a cast as colorful as the balloons and flags that you can imagine flying over the bigtop of the Benzini Brothers circus, Jacob's internal narrative weaves a tale of love, loss, betrayal, and murder that is as fine a coming of age story as I have ever read.

A thoroughly enjoyable read from start to finish.

I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to finish this book, once purchasing, because of the comments from reviewers about animal cruelty. I am very, very sensitive to that topic, so I was leery, and I imagine others out there may be as well. However, my desire to read the best seller, and my husband's assurances (after listening to it), that he thought I would be ok, convinced me to listen to it. For those of you that might have this same problem, I think you should go ahead. I really enjoyed this story and it's worth listening to. Yes, I could have done without some of the scenes, but it all turns out in the end, and the author doesn't get too terribly descriptive or excessive - so that you just can't listen to another second. Also, these scenes are limited, and they are kind of an integral part to the story. I listened to the audio version and the narrators are excellent as well. Very enjoyable story!