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Water for Elephants | 
 enlarge | Author: Sara Gruen
Publisher: Hodder Paperback
Category: Book
Buy Used: $11.48
Avg. Customer Rating:  1502 reviews
Sales Rank: 656366
Format: Import
Media: Paperback
Pages: 448
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5 x 1.1
ISBN: 0340962720
EAN: 9780340962725
ASIN: 0340962720
Publication Date: February 7, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: trade paperback.little cover/spinewear.COMPLETE & UNABRIDGED.clean/tight.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1497 more reviews...
 Under the big top, under the bright light... November 15, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
What is a life worth? How do you judge if someone is worth saving? What does it mean to be human? What or who is really an animal? Why can an individual choose how to live but not how to die? Who has the power to answer these questions? How do you know that person is right?
Hidden beneath this easy-to-read though dark coming of age romance is a novel that prompts the reader to ask the above through the reminiscing of protagonist Jacob Jankowski who is prisoner in fact to old age and in feeling to a nursing home. The story begins as the circus rolls into town and the flood of Jankowski's past full of pleasure, joy, love, hate, regret & guilt washes over him.
Sara Gruen brings the Circus Culture of the mid 20th century to life through meticulous research, both the bright spot light and the grittier nature of transitory existence. Anyone who ever dreamed of running away to the big top or just dreamed of running away should read this book.
wonderful and entertaining November 12, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
The main character I can sympathize with and can appreciate. You can really imagine what it would be like to be in his shoes in this book. It does a great job of explaining what that particular circus was like back then. I couldn't really picture it until I was able to read the book. Im glad I read it. No complaints! Especially if you love animals!!!
A SURPRISE READ November 11, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I bought this book on a whim. I live in a country where books written in English are hard to come by which forces me to buy from Amazon and pay almost double for a book I order because of the cost of postage. But I love to read, therefore I decided that I would give in to temptation and splurge.
And boy! was I rewarded! This book which describes the memories and dreams of an old man is a touching story of old age. Wonderfully written. Ms Gruen has talent.
 Gripping Story and Characters November 10, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
This book does provide a fairly riveting story set within post depression America and also provides good insights into the circus business during this era. The book balances the dynamics of maintaining a circus in tough economic times against a host of vivid and disparate personalities that can both support and challenge the stability of the circus. For example there is Big Al who runs the circus with a nearly ruthless practicality, "redlighting" individuals who violate his rules. There is August, second in command, alternately tough and gracious, supportive and cruel. There is Jacob, the hero, who stumbles into the world after fleeing Cornell Vet School and who subsequently falls in love with August's wife. The book alternates between the young Jacob in the circus and the elderly Jacob in a nursing home. Some of the dialogue the characters use during the depression era sounds like it came from the 21st century but other than that there is a gritty, often grotesque and unblinking realism in everything from death to romance.
great book November 10, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
A must read, but due to some R rated text do not share with anyone under the age of 18
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