By Sara Gruen
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2 (Goodreads: 4.11)
GENRE: Historical Fiction
PART OF A SERIES? No
WORTH READING? Yes
SUMMARY:
Jacob suddenly finds himself orphaned and lost. He jumps onto a train full of freaks, drifters and misfits. The circus is struggling against the tide of the Great Depression.
Jacob had almost finished his veterinary degree, so is put in charge of the menagerie… which includes the unteachable Rosie… an elephant who Jacob learns to teach.
Jacob falls for Marlena, the stunning equestrian performer, who unfortunately is married to the talented but cruel animal trainer, August.
Opening line: 'I am ninety. Or ninety-three. One or the other.'
Sara Gruen is an accomplished storyteller. She hooks you in right from the beginning and you feel like you’re along for the ride.
Gruen paints scenes brilliantly; it is very easy to imagine what is being described. She is a beautiful and highly skilled writer. Rather than simply telling us someone is old and has lost their love, she has her main character say: “Age is a terrible thief… It makes you ache and muddles your head and silently spreads cancer throughout your spouse.”
I think first-person narrative is my favourite for character-driven stories. It works perfectly in Water for Elephants, letting us get to know these characters on a deep level. This is particularly true for the main character, Jacob, especially. I loved that I felt like I got to know Jacob, right up to the stage of being a bit of a crotchety (albeit still loveable) old man. Obviously with first-person, the risk is that we get a biased view of other characters; whilst this could be the case for someone’s physical attributes, as far as what someone’s character encompasses, Sara Gruen reflects this by the character’s words and actions.
Friendship and companionship are two themes prevalent throughout Water for Elephants. They flow through the entire story, with all types of relationships and interactions.
I thoroughly loved this book. It was a wonderful journey and I would highly recommend it! I put off reading it for quite a while, mainly because I found the movie a bit average. But truly, the experience of reading Water for Elephants is well worth it!
Click here if you would like to purchase Water for Elephants
Comments