Water for Elephants
Title/Author: Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Page Count/Book Type: 331
Genre: Fiction
Back of the Book: (Synopsis from Barnes and Nobles online store:) As a young man, Jacob Jankowski was tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. It was the early part of the great Depression, and for Jacob, now ninety, the circus world he remembers was both his salvation and a living hell. A veterinary student just shy of a degree, he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It was there that he met Marlena, the beautiful equestrian star married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. And he met Rosie, an untrainable elephant who was the great gray hope for this third-rate traveling show. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and, ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.
Page One: Prologue
Only three people were left under the red and white awning of the grease joint: Grady, me, and the fry cook. Grady and I sat at a battered wooden table, each facing a burger on a dented tin plate. The cook was behind the counter, scraping his griddle with the edge of a spatula. He had turned off the fryer some time ago, but the odor of grease still lingered.
The rest of the midway -- so recently writhing with people -- was empty but for a handful of employees and a small group of men waiting to be led to the cooch tent. They glanced nervously from side to side, with hats pulled low and hands thrust deep in their pockets. They wouldn't be disappointed: somewhere in the back Barbara and her ample charms awaited.
The other townsfolk -- rubes, as Uncle Al called them -- had already made their way through the menagerie tent and into the big top, which pulsed with frenetic music. The band was whipping through its repertoire at the usual earsplitting volume. I knew the routine by heart -- at this very moment, the tail end of the Grand Spectacle was exiting and Lottie, the aerialist, was ascending her rigging at the center ring.
I stared at Grady, trying to process what he was saying. He glanced around and leaned in closer.
"Besides," he said, locking his eyes with me, "it seems to me that you've got a lot to lose right now." He raised his eyebrows for emphasis. My heart skipped a beat."
I picked up Water for Elephants while I was at B&N and had absolutely no idea what it was going to be about. I had heard it was going to be made in a movie, starring RPattz, which is probably why the title stuck in my head, and I'm really glad that I bought it. The storytelling was amazing and the characters were believable and filled with their fair share of (good) flaws. Before I knew it I had read it in less than two days and I'd definitely suggest it to anyone looking for a good book this summer. (I can't wait for the movie now.)