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jmrprice's review against another edition
4.0
I have a new appreciation for running away to the circus. Now I sit here wondering, what if I had run away with the circus?
car3b3ar's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
pupurotta's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
kba76's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Water for Elephants is a story that I'm kicking myself for not having read sooner. It really was a fantastic read, transporting us to the world of the circus in 1930s America.
Our main character, Jacob Jankowski, is ninety or ninety-three when we first meet him. He's not sure. He is in a nursing home, waiting for the weekly visit from a member of his family, but feeling that his life is passing him by. We are caught up in one of his memories, and it is definitely a situation that has you wanting to know how he came to be there.
Stepping back in time we see Jacob is studying at Cornell University and about to take his final exams before qualifying as a veterinarian when he receives news that his parents have been killed in a car crash. He, understandably, is struggling with suddenly being orphaned and when he learns that his parents have left him with nothing he decides to leave his life behind. He finds himself seeking refuge in an open train carriage...and, without realising it, he finds himself caught up in the world of a travelling circus.
Once they learn of his almost qualification, Jacob proves his worth. He finds himself given a job and allowed to live amongst the new world of the circus. This brings its own problems...in the shape of Marlena, the performer he is immediately drawn to, and who is married to the ringmaster.
I felt like I knew the story - even though I'd never read the book before or seen the movie adaptation - but it really was a pleasure to read this, even when you're being given the unpalatable truth about the risks these characters lived with on a daily basis.
As is to be expected, the key focus of the story is the love triangle between our central characters. However, the aspects of the story I found most engaging were the depiction of circus life and the relationship between Jacob and his fellow workers as they try to navigate their perilous existence.
Allowing us to see the older character's thoughts and feelings lent a bittersweet quality to events as I read. Knowing the life he had lived and seeing what he had become was rather sad. When, however, he finds his way to the circus at the end of the book and tells his story to the owner, Charlie, it allowed the book to close with our character gaining a sense of completion.
Our main character, Jacob Jankowski, is ninety or ninety-three when we first meet him. He's not sure. He is in a nursing home, waiting for the weekly visit from a member of his family, but feeling that his life is passing him by. We are caught up in one of his memories, and it is definitely a situation that has you wanting to know how he came to be there.
Stepping back in time we see Jacob is studying at Cornell University and about to take his final exams before qualifying as a veterinarian when he receives news that his parents have been killed in a car crash. He, understandably, is struggling with suddenly being orphaned and when he learns that his parents have left him with nothing he decides to leave his life behind. He finds himself seeking refuge in an open train carriage...and, without realising it, he finds himself caught up in the world of a travelling circus.
Once they learn of his almost qualification, Jacob proves his worth. He finds himself given a job and allowed to live amongst the new world of the circus. This brings its own problems...in the shape of Marlena, the performer he is immediately drawn to, and who is married to the ringmaster.
I felt like I knew the story - even though I'd never read the book before or seen the movie adaptation - but it really was a pleasure to read this, even when you're being given the unpalatable truth about the risks these characters lived with on a daily basis.
As is to be expected, the key focus of the story is the love triangle between our central characters. However, the aspects of the story I found most engaging were the depiction of circus life and the relationship between Jacob and his fellow workers as they try to navigate their perilous existence.
Allowing us to see the older character's thoughts and feelings lent a bittersweet quality to events as I read. Knowing the life he had lived and seeing what he had become was rather sad. When, however, he finds his way to the circus at the end of the book and tells his story to the owner, Charlie, it allowed the book to close with our character gaining a sense of completion.
leenaduwaik's review against another edition
4.0
Cheeky ending for the old man. Happy ending for the abused animals. Justice served to the abusers. Yes, unrealistic endings, but that’s fine. Because in reality, the probability of the status quo continuing is much higher - the abused would have continued on their path of suffering, old men would suffer lonely forgotten existences, and abusers would live long self serving lives. But who wants to read that story?
“Water for Elephants” reminded me that a man physically assaulting an animal with uncontrollable and irrational rage is even harder to witness (in a literary sense) than illogical beatings of a woman. The beating of an animal is most akin to the beating of a child. The utter and heartbreaking confusion of having a caretaker turn from provider into abuser…
“Water for Elephants” reminded me that a man physically assaulting an animal with uncontrollable and irrational rage is even harder to witness (in a literary sense) than illogical beatings of a woman. The beating of an animal is most akin to the beating of a child. The utter and heartbreaking confusion of having a caretaker turn from provider into abuser…
janada59's review against another edition
2.0
It was all right, but I don't know what all the fuss was about.
libbyyjo's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0