Water for Elephants: A Novel. Sara Gruen. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, a division of Workman Publishing. New York, NY. 2006.

Book review by Joel
I saw this book in the bookstore and was stocking up for reads while recovering from surgery. I was completely engrossed in this book while sitting in the hospital waiting room. I especially enjoyed the main character, Jacob Jankowski, who also narrates the story in flashbacks while waiting for one of his children to come and take him to the circus. He is an old cuss but he doesn’t hold back at all. (Warning to parents! This is not a kid book.)

One of the things I found interesting in Jacob was his denial of his age, even though he tells you up front he is either 90 or 93. He keeps thinking that all the people in the old folk’s home are old, when he is the oldest in there. I thought that was a cool message that you are as old as you think you are.

As he tells his story, it almost seemed to me that he was reliving his life, sort of as if he were dying and then in the end entering heaven sort of symbolically. Or literally depending on your individual beliefs. Or maybe not.

The descriptions of the Depression and speakeasies, and certain Depression era issues like Jake walk, a paralysis caused from drinking Jamaican ginger extract, lend historical credence to the story.

I would really recommend this book. A great read.

Joel.

Water for Elephants: A Novel. Sara Gruen. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, a division of Workman Publishing. New York, NY. 2006.

Book review by Jane
I’d heard stories of the circus from my parents and grandparents. It seemed to me that from the book it is apparent that some people were kept from the grip of the Depression during the 1930’s by joining the circus. Yet, the kind of people that you found in the circus were people “without a past”, or people who did not talk about where they came from. So while other people were starving during the Depression, it seems these people were staying afloat, provided that the circus was paying wages. Even when they did not pay wages, they fed the circus performers and workers. Anyway, Jacob, a kid from a prestigious college ended up working for the circus, and it all took place in a very believable way. An elderly man tells his story, or recalls it to no one in particular, until he finds someone who does listen. It is an amazing, yet real people, kind of story. I found this story engrossing to the point of being caught up in the tale after I put it down to do other things. It was enjoyable to read and I still miss the characters.

The old man was a grouchy man who plainly was unhappy because he was placed in a nursing facility. There are surprises within the storyline that I won’t give away. The man has a great love for the animals, especially the elephant, who is quite a cutup at times. Sara Gruen explains in a note after the story about her research. The research reflected in the story, which just could have been true. Some of the happenings are from history.

This circus was not a first rate circus like Ringling Bros., and it was run by Uncle Al, who would come to town just in time to clean up and take from another third rate circus its main acts while they disbanded. Uncle Al does not have the most scruples. They pitched people from the train at night if they were considered a liability.

Of course Jacob had a love interest. It is actually the most important part of the story, but does not take over. The story is about a man and his adventures in the circus of the Depression era. I could also say the book had a solid plot, and the cohesion is also something that made this book very readable. I felt I ended up knowing what happened to everyone of interest in the story. I recommend this book with caution that it is not recommended for children.

Jane.