Water for Elephants (Sara Gruen)

Jacob Jankowski is an average old grumpy man. But his story is one no one could ever forget.

During the depression, Jacob went to an Ivy league school to become a veterinarian. He had his whole life planned out then. But then his parents died. That’s when his life really started.

Dealing with grieve, he disappeared from his whole life by jumping on a train. Little did he know that he jumped on "The Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth" train. By being on this train, he had to become a member of the circus.

Even though he did not write his final exam, the travelling circus needs a vet to look after the animals so they take him in.

Jacob, however, is slowly falling in love with a married woman, Marlena. At first he just ignores his feelings. But August, her husband, is a horrible person. He feeds the animal’s bad food and sometimes does not feed the workers.

Then everything gets more complicated when the owner of the company, Uncle Al, buys an elephant named Rosie. Jacob, Marlena and August must all take care of Rosie and somehow make her a part of the circus.

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This book was amazing!

The author used characterization so well, especially with Walter (one of the performers). She managed to make almost every character a dynamic character, which made the plot less predictable and way more dramatic.

The conflicts were the same throughout the entire book. It was a little strange, since most other books have a few different conflicts, but because of the characters and the always- changing plot, it somehow worked.

The only thing I did not like was the older- Jacob parts. It seemed to put a big downer on the book. Even though everyone knows all the characters will get old, it's still sad reading about it. It made the book not seem like it was not going to have the "happily ever after" (I thought he was going to die at the end of the book) but it did have a "happily ever after" in a way, but I still did not like old- Jacob parts.

The author also used the physical setting to create the emotional setting though the whole plot. It made everything flow well.

Even though the author really used all of the literacy devices, she used characterization the best. It made the book so good!

4.70 out of 5 stars