Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Water for Elephants Summary:

An atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of star-crossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932, by the bestselling author of Riding Lessons.

When Jacob Jankowski, recently orphaned and suddenly adrift, jumps onto a passing train, he enters a world of freaks, drifters, and misfits, a second-rate circus struggling to survive during the Great Depression, making one-night stands in town after endless town. A veterinary student who almost earned his degree, Jacob is put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It is there that he meets Marlena, the beautiful young star of the equestrian act, who is married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. He also meets Rosie, an elephant who seems untrainable until he discovers a way to reach her.

Beautifully written, Water for Elephants is illuminated by a wonderful sense of time and place. It tells a story of a love between two people that overcomes incredible odds in a world in which even love is a luxury that few can afford.

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Amy's Review:
I loved this book!  I learned a lot about the circus that I never knew.  I also loved Rosie the elephant.  Plus I am a sucker for romance.  In the end I think that August and the owner of the circus got what they deserved.  I also loved how it was kind of like the movie Titanic.  In Titanic there is an elderly lady telling her tale of her time on the ship Titanic before it sunk.  In this book there is an elderly man in a nursing home telling his tale of his time spent on the circus.  I like how it flips from the story he is telling about his life on the circus back to present day where he is in the nursing home. I also loved the very end of the story but I won't give it away on here, you will have to read the book or see the movie or do both!  I can't wait to see the movie at the end of the month.  This is definately a good read and has promise to be an excellent movie!