Water for Elephants: A Novel Summary and Reviews

Water for Elephants: A Novel
by Sara Gruen

Water for Elephants: A Novel
List Price: $13.95
Our Price: $4.88
You Save: $9.07 (65%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $3.48 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions


or

Book Summary Information

Author: Sara Gruen
Edition: Paperback
Published: 2007-04-09
ISBN: 1565125606
Number of pages: 350
Publisher: Algonquin Books

Book Reviews of Water for Elephants: A Novel

Book Review: A nice way to pass a few hours...
Summary: 4 Stars

Water for Elephants is primarily a romance set in a travelling circus in the 1930s, but we do also see the main character Jacob Janowski as he is in old age in an old folks Home.

The novel was obvoiusly well researached, many of the events in the novel are based on real happenings, and for this reason it was very enjoyable. I learned about 'red-lighting' and the etiquette of the time surrounding performers fratenising with circus hands!

I did have some difficulty with the book being written as a first person narration. I think that Gruen gave herself unnecessary problems writing in this way, with Jacob witnessing conversations that it was unlikely he would have been involved in and making observations that seemed a little unlikely with what we knew about his character and experience. However this is a minor critisism.

I loved Rosie the elephant and Queenie the terrier, but animal lovers should be warned there is some pretty nasty animal cruelty in the book. It's well written but a little difficult to stomach.

All in all, a great book with a satisfying conclusion to both the young and the old Jacob storylines. I have deducted one star only because although I enjoyed the book, I wasn't really swept away.

Enjoy!

Literature & Fiction Books

Book Subjects
Most talked about in My favorite books
My Sister's Keeper: A Novel ImageMy Sister's Keeper: A Novel
by Jodi Picoult
Washington Square Press; Published: 2005-02-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.59
Price in other shops: $15.00
The Memory Keeper's Daughter ImageThe Memory Keeper's Daughter
by Kim Edwards
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 2006-05-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.50
Price in other shops: $14.00
Pride and Prejudice (Enriched Classics) ImagePride and Prejudice (Enriched Classics)
by Jane Austen
Pocket; Published: 2004-04-27; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.82
Price in other shops: $4.95
The Pillars of the Earth ImageThe Pillars of the Earth
by Ken Follett
NAL Trade; Published: 2002-02-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.97
Price in other shops: $20.00
Girl with a Pearl Earing ImageGirl with a Pearl Earing
by Tracy Chevalier
Dutton; Published: 2000; Hardcover; Book
Eats, Shoots  &  Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation ImageEats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation
by Lynne Truss
Gotham; Published: 2006-04-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.60
Price in other shops: $12.00
Water for Elephants: A Novel ImageWater for Elephants: A Novel
by Sara Gruen
Algonquin Books; Published: 2007-04-09; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.27
Price in other shops: $13.95
The Time Traveler's Wife ImageThe Time Traveler's Wife
by Audrey Niffenegger
Harvest Books; Published: 2004-05-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.14
Price in other shops: $14.00
The Lovely Bones ImageThe Lovely Bones
by Alice Sebold
Little, Brown and Company; Little, Brown and Company; Release date: 2002-08-07; Published: 2002-08-07; Kindle Edition; eBooks
Best price: $7.96
Price in other shops: $9.95
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
The Secrets of a Fire King: Stories ImageThe Secrets of a Fire King: Stories
by Kim Edwards
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 2007-05-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.49
Price in other shops: $14.00
Five Quarters of the Orange: A Novel (P.S.) ImageFive Quarters of the Orange: A Novel (P.S.)
by Joanne Harris
Harper Perennial; Published: 2007-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.20
Price in other shops: $13.95
The Floor of the Sky (Flyover Fiction) ImageThe Floor of the Sky (Flyover Fiction)
by Pamela Carter Joern
Bison Books; Published: 2006-09-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.75
Price in other shops: $16.95
Sinners & Social Workers ImageSinners & Social Workers
by Norah S. Bernard
Heloro Publishing Group; Published: 2007-07-20; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.36
Price in other shops: $15.95
Winter in Kandahar ImageWinter in Kandahar
by Steven E. Wilson
Hailey-Grey Books; Published: 2003-09-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.98
Price in other shops: $14.95
Adios, Havana: A Memoir ImageAdios, Havana: A Memoir
by Andrew J. Rodriguez
Outskirts Press; Published: 2005-08-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $13.11
Price in other shops: $14.95
Suite Francaise (Large Print Press) ImageSuite Francaise (Large Print Press)
by Irene Nemirovsky
Large Print Press; Published: 2007-04-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.92
Price in other shops: $14.95
Flying Changes: A Novel ImageFlying Changes: A Novel
by Sara Gruen
Harper Paperbacks; Published: 2007-04-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.97
Price in other shops: $13.95
Ascent from Darkness ImageAscent from Darkness
by Steven E. Wilson
H-G Books; Published: 2007-09-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $15.29
Price in other shops: $24.95
Riding Lessons: A Novel ImageRiding Lessons: A Novel
by Sara Gruen
Harper Paperbacks; Published: 2007-04-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.00
Price in other shops: $13.95