Sunday express you are so immersed in circus life that you are completely blinded by the thrilling, fatal dazzle of sequins and sawdust. Winner of the 2007 bookbrowse award for most popular book. Novelist sara gruen sweeps her readers off their feet in the opening pages of water for elephantsand doesnt let go until she deposits them at the end of her fantastic tale of passion, madness and fancy. In one plot, jacob is a young guy just starting out in the world. Water for elephants is an enchanting pageturner, the kind of book that creates a world that engulfs you from the first page to the last. Sara gruens arresting new novel, water for elephants, explores similar subject matter the pathetic grandeur of the depressionera circus.
Water for elephants lexile find a book metametrics inc. In the book, jacobs narration takes place in his own mind. At its finest, water for elephants resembles stealth hits like the giants house, by elizabeth mccracken, or the lovely bones, by alice sebold, books that combine outrageously whimsical premises with crowdpleasing romanticism. The last notes of water for elephants linger long after the book ends. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 335 pages and is available in paperback format. The only place the movie veers from the original is in its details of the older, current jacob. She lives in western north carolina with her husband and three sons, along with their dogs, cats, horses, birds, and the worlds fussiest goat.
Water for elephants is one of my most favorite books. The story is told as a series of memories by jacob jankowski, a 93yearold man who lives in a nursing home. A thousand splendid suns, memory keepers daughter, etc. With its spotlight on elephants, gruens romantic pageturner hinges on the humananimal bonds that drove her debut and its sequel riding. Feb 02, 2012 the movie water for elephants stays close to sara gruens beloved book particularly with the 1930s circus memories section. Mar 01, 2011 water for elephants is an enchanting pageturner, the kind of book that creates a world that engulfs you from the first page to the last. In your opinion, what is the most courageous act in the book and why. Gorgeous, brilliant, and superbly plotted, water for elephants swept me into the world of the circus during the depression and it did not let me go until the very end. Was it braver to kill august or to refrain from doing so. I do not wish to give away too much of the storyline but something tells me people will like this movie as much as the book if not more. May 26, 2006 water for elephants, 2007, sara gruen water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month. Water for elephants was adapted into a major motion picture starring reese witherspoon, rob pattinson, and christoph waltz in 2011. Jacob jankowski, a retired veterinarian living out his days in an assistedliving facility, drifts in and out of his memories.
Later in the book, it is suggested that he is a paranoid schizophrenic, to explain his violence. Water for elephants is a thoroughly enjoyable read. Enhancements were made to more precisely measure materials read in k2. Subscribe to the oprahs book club newsletter sign up for the oprahs book club newsletter get more stories like this delivered to your inbox get updates on your favorite shows. Sara gruen spares no detail in chronicling the squalid, filthy, brutish circumstances in which he finds himself.
With lines of startling beauty, haunting and evocative scenes and finelydrawn characters who dance off the page, readers can dip in and out of the novel, immersing themselves in jacobs memories. The main characters of this fiction, historical story are jacob jankowski, rosemary. War elephants is the story of their largely forgotten role in the history of warfare. Use these book club discussion questions on water for elephants to lead your book clubs conversation on the story. I was astounded at the lack of research which became clear when i. A national bestseller in canada and a new york times bestseller in the united states, this is a book destined to become a beloved fiction classic. Water for elephants in one plot, jacob is a young guy just starting out in the world. I decided to not watch the movie when i heard it was coming out simply because i didnt want to possibly ruin the experience id had with the book if the movie wasnt uptopar.
Read water for elephants absolutely for free at readanybook. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. Unlike the other brave boys of their generation, ellis and hank are not off fighting hitler. Water for elephants is a book that can be read and reread, recommended and handed off between friends. Dec 11, 2011 water for elephants book discussion questions water for elephants moves between a story about a circus and a story about an old man in a nursing home. Water for elephants, 2007, sara gruen water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month. Based on the book by sara gruen, water for elephants is the story of jacob jankowski who as an old man is recounting the tale of when he first.
I pointed out, as gently as i could, what id hoped was obvious. He ended up working in a circus, as the shows vet, and fell in love with the equine masters wife. This book is every bit the fabulous escapist entertainment that the big top once was. Pdf water for elephants book by sara gruen free download. Allow us to help with your bachelor or master thesis. Then gruen shifts readers attention away from the eerie circus to introduce the ninety or ninetythree year old protagonist, jacob jankowski.
Water for elephants teaches us that courage is everywhere, everyday. May 22, 2006 listen to water for elephants audiobook by sara gruen. August takes jacob under his wing initially, but later jacob learns his true colors. Apr 27, 2011 the book the novel may have been initially kicked out in about a month, but sara gruens water for elephants bears all the hallmarks of a wellresearched work of historical fiction. Sep 07, 2016 i bought this book because of push advertising and regretted it. No stranger to marrying the fates of her characters to animals, gruen previously published the novels riding lessons 2004 and flying changes 2005, both of which focus on horses and horsemanship. Gruen transports us into the world of a thirdrate traveling circus during the great depression. Handpicked recommendations to other books that have a similar writing style or theme to water for elephants. I did not have children of my own so i would recommend that if you are questioning the book you should probably read the book yourself before allowing your 11 year old to do so.
Listen to water for elephants audiobook by sara gruen. Sara gruen uses her talent as a writer to bring that world alive for the reader. So much more than a tale about a circus, water for elephants is a compelling journey not only under the big top, but into the protagonists heart. Her works have been translated into fortythree languages and have sold more than ten million copies worldwide. The circus train only had a limited amount of water on board, and elephants can drink 100300 litres per day approximately 2680 gallons. Water for elephants book club discussion questions and. If you like water for elephants, you might like little heathens by mildred armstrong kalish seabiscuit by laura hillenbrand the adventures of miles and isabel by tom gilling. When jacob overhears a man at the assistedliving center confess to having been a water boy for the elephants in a circus, jacob knows the man is lying because jacob himself once worked. Sara gruens very readable novel is a story of impossible love set in the circus world during the 1930s and is set to be made into a blockbuster film starring robert pattinson and reese witherspoon. Sara gruen has a voice to rival john irvings, and i am hopelessly, unabashedly in love with this book. How do the chapters about the older jacob enrich the story about jacobs adventure with the circus. Elephants have fought in human armies for more than three thousand years. Joshilyn jackson, author of gods in alabama so much more than a tale about a circus, water for elephants is a compelling journey not only. Apr 20, 2012 personally i would not let a 11 year old read the book.
Download and read online for free water for elephants by sara gruen. Water for elephants is it too adult for an 11 year old. She wrote the book as part of national novel writing month. Trust us, water for elephants is going to be one of the surprise hits of 2011. To see the complete list of this book s readalikes. Apr 22, 2011 8 big differences between water for elephants book and movie apr. Water for elephants, gruens third novel, is a cozy read that has produced a copious amount of buzz cleveland plain dealer. A novel and millions of other books are available for instant. A water for elephants discussion from reading group guides writers digest interview with sara gruen. The book the novel may have been initially kicked out in about a month, but sara gruens water for elephants bears all the hallmarks of a wellresearched work of historical fiction.
Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Water for elephants is the new york times bestselling debut novel by sara gruen. Tessa fontaines astonishing memoir of pushing past fear, the electric woman, follows the author on a lifeaffirming journey of loss and selfdiscovery through her time on the road with the last traveling american sideshow and her relationship with an adventurous, spirited mother. Water for elephants resembles stealth hits like the giants house, by elizabeth mccracken, or the.
I think the film makers have managed to make a film about the depression era without it being depressing. Jul 23, 2018 water for elephants by sara gruen is a must read a story about a 90yearold man remembering his days with a circus during the great depression. Every few chapters, the narrative switches from one jacob to the other. An american book association indiebound best seller. Only days before graduating from vet school in 1931, young jake learns his parents have died and left him penniless. May 26, 2006 i read water for elephants for our book club, and i expected it to be as slow, dull, and superficial as most of the other books we have read. Water for elephants by sara gruen at the best online ebook storage.
The book begins at cornell university in new york in the 1930s. Mar 31, 2015 three spoiled brats from philadelphia go to scotland to look for the loch ness monster in the middle of world war ii. Water for elephants movie tiein by sara gruen, paperback. Asian armies boasted of their pachyderm power, while the romans fielded elephants alongside their legendary legions but were perhaps too proud to admit that mere animals contributed to victory.
Books that defined a generation water for elephants. Water for elephants begins dark and violent as it braces readers for the tumultuous circus atmosphere during the terrible years of the great depression. Water for elephants by sara gruen is a must read a story about a 90yearold man remembering his days with a circus during the great depression. Readers may find themselves churning through this book at a rapidfire pace, eager to see what lies ahead, then slowing down as they realize the pages are dwindling. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of water for elephants by sara gruen.
Water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month. Trough water lemonade is a must at a water for elephants book club party. Water for elephants has two plots going on, both starring the same main character, jacob. I read water for elephants for our book club, and i expected it to be as slow, dull, and superficial as most of the other books we have read. I hate being so enamored with a book and then a crappy movie version comes along and tarnishes it. Blackandwhite photographs of real american circus scenes from the first half of the century are interspersed throughout the novel, and they brilliantly evoke the dignified power contained in the quieter moments of this unusual brotherhood. Daily telegraph trust us, water for elephants is going to be one of the surprise. A meticulously researched, fastpaced, engaging and ultimately very satisfying novel set mostly ina depression era travelling circus. Water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing. The lexile power v word selector identifies up to 10 challenging words in each book that are important for students to know. I bought this book because of push advertising and regretted it.
The most interesting aspect of the book is all the circus lore that gruen has so. This study guide consists of approximately 58 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of water for elephants. Water for elephants is the touching story of jacob jankowski, a ninetythreeyearold man, who is reminded of his colorful past when a circus sets up next door to his assistedliving center. Water for elephants is a book written by sara gruen that demonstrates the themes of love, courage, admiration, and suffering.
While reading water for elephants i found the plot hyperbolic and excessively melodramatic and the characters little developed beyond their names. Id recommend it to anyone, and will actively seek out other books by sara gruen. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. Free download or read online water for elephants pdf epub book.
On our first date, my husband took me to see tod brownings freaks, a 1932 horror film with a distinctly diane arbus feel. Water for elephants resembles stealth hits like the giants house, by elizabeth mccracken, or the lovely bones, by alice sebold, books that combine outrageously whimsical premises with crowdpleasing romanticism. Joshilyn jackson, author of gods in alabama so much more than a tale about a circus, water for elephants is a compelling journey not only under the big top, but into the protagonists heart. Water for elephants book club discussion questions and answers. The first edition of the novel was published in may 26th 2006, and was written by sara gruen. Water for elephants is fun, sweet and thrilling and will pull you into the mysterious life of the circus so far that you wont want to leave. Water for elephants is the story of jacobs life with this circus. With gruens bestselling book as his source material here, lawrence concentrates on more domestic horrors. Water for elephants is the touching story of jacob jankowski, a ninetythreeyearold man, who is reminded. The movie water for elephants stays close to sara gruens beloved book particularly with the 1930s circus memories section. We use cookies and other technologies to analyze site traffic, understand patterns of use, and improve your browsing experience. Water for elephants book discussion questions water for elephants moves between a story about a circus and a story about an old man in a nursing home. Aug 05, 2008 a meticulously researched, fastpaced, engaging and ultimately very satisfying novel set mostly ina depression era travelling circus. In a later flashback to jacobs younger years, jacob is brought to uncle al, the manager of the circus, who taunts him with you want to carry water for elephants, i suppose.
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