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Water for Elephants: A Novel

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Last updated on Aug 27, 2023 16:58:17 EDTView all revisionsView all revisions

Item specifics

Condition
Good
An item in used but good condition. May have minor damage to jewel case including scuffs or cracks, or to the item cover including scuffs, scratches, or cracks. The cover art and liner notes are included for a CD. VHS or DVD box is included. Video game instructions are included. No skipping on CD/DVD. No fuzzy/snowy frames on VHS tape. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections. See all condition definitionsopens in a new window or tab
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“This item is in good condition.”
ISBN
9781565125605
Book Title
Water for Elephants : a Novel
Item Length
8.2in
Publisher
Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
Publication Year
2007
Format
Trade Paperback
Language
English
Item Height
0.8in
Author
Sara Gruen
Genre
Fiction
Topic
Romance / Historical / 20th Century, Romance / Historical / General, Coming of Age, Historical
Item Width
5.5in
Item Weight
10.3 Oz
Number of Pages
352 Pages

About this product

Product Information

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.

Product Identifiers

Publisher
Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
ISBN-10
1565125606
ISBN-13
9781565125605
eBay Product ID (ePID)
56997435

Product Key Features

Book Title
Water for Elephants : a Novel
Author
Sara Gruen
Format
Trade Paperback
Language
English
Topic
Romance / Historical / 20th Century, Romance / Historical / General, Coming of Age, Historical
Publication Year
2007
Genre
Fiction
Number of Pages
352 Pages

Dimensions

Item Length
8.2in
Item Height
0.8in
Item Width
5.5in
Item Weight
10.3 Oz

Additional Product Features

Lc Classification Number
Ps3607.R696w38 2007
Reviews
" At its finest, "Water for Elephants" resembles stealth hits like 'The Giant's House, ' by Elizabeth McCracken, or 'The Lovely Bones, ' by Alice Sebold, books that combine outrageously whimsical premises with crowd-pleasing romanticism. . . . Black-and-white photographs of real American circus scenes from the first half of the century are interspersed throughout the novel, and they brilliantly evoke the dignified power contained in the quieter moments of this unusual brotherhood. . . . With a showman's expert timing, [Gruen] saves a terrific revelation for the final pages, transforming a glimpse of Americana into an enchanting escapist fairy tale." -- "New York Times" Book Review, & " Gritty, sensual and charged with dark secrets involving love, murder and a majestic, mute heroine (Rosie the Elephant).& " & - Parade, ""Water for Elephants" resembles stealth hits like "The Giant's House," by Elizabeth McCracken, or "The Lovely Bones," by Alice Sebold, books that combine outrageously whimsical premises with crowd-pleasing romanticism. . . . With a showman's expert timing, [Gruen] saves a terrific revelation for the final pages, transforming a glimpse of Americana into an enchanting escapist fairy tale."--The New York Times Book Review, & " Water for Elephants resembles stealth hits like The Giant's House, by Elizabeth McCracken, or The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold, books that combine outrageously whimsical premises with crowd-pleasing romanticism. . . . With a showman's expert timing, [Gruen] saves a terrific revelation for the final pages, transforming a glimpse of Americana into an enchanting escapist fairy tale.& " -- The New York Times Book Review, "Lively with historical detail and unexpected turns. . . . Water for Elephants is a rich surprise, a delightful gem springing from a fascinating footnote to history that absolutely deserved to be mined." --The Denver Post, " Novelist Gruen unearths a lost world with her rich and surprising portrayal of life in a traveling circus in the '30s. An emotional tale that will please history buffs-- and others." "-- People", When his parents are killed in a traffic accident, Jacob Jankowski hops a train after walking out on his final exams at Cornell, where he had hoped to earn a veterinary degree. The train turns out to be a circus train, and since it's the Depression, when someone with a vet's skills can attach himself to a circus if he's lucky, Jacob soon finds himself involved with the animal acts-specifically with the beautiful young Marlena, the horse rider, and her husband, August. Jacob falls for Marlena immediately, and the ensuing triangle is at the center of this novel, which follows the circus across the states. Jacob learns the ins and outs of circus life, in this case under the rule of the  treacherous Uncle Al, who cheats the workers and deals roughly with patrons who complain about blatant false advertising and rip-off exhibits. Jacob and Marlena are attracted to each other, but their relationship is fairly innocent until it becomes clear that August is not merely jealous but dangerously mentally deranged. Old-fashioned and endearing, this is an enjoyable, fast-paced story told by the older Jacob, now in his nineties in a nursing home. From the author of "Riding Lessons"; recommended for all libraries., You'll get lost in the tatty glamour of Gruen's meticulously researched world, from spangled equestrian pageantry and the sleazy side show to an ill-fated night at a Chicago speak-easy, "For pure story, this colorful, headlong tale of a Depression-era circus simply can't be beat. Heroes, villains, romance, a wild-animal stampede! Big fun from page 1."-Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly: "Best & Worst 2007", "Gritty, sensual and charged with dark secrets involving love, murder and a majestic, mute heroine (Rosie the Elephant)."--Parade, " "Water for Elephants" resembles stealth hits like "The Giant's House," by Elizabeth McCracken, or "The Lovely Bones," by Alice Sebold, books that combine outrageously whimsical premises with crowd-pleasing romanticism. . . . With a showman's expert timing, [Gruen] saves a terrific revelation for the final pages, transforming a glimpse of Americana into an enchanting escapist fairy tale." -- The New York Times Book Review, ""Water for Elephants" resembles stealth hits like "The Giant's House", by Elizabeth McCracken, or "The Lovely Bones", by Alice Sebold, books that combine outrageously whimsical premises with crowd-pleasing romanticism. . . . With a showman's expert timing, [Gruen] saves a terrific revelation for the final pages, transforming a glimpse of Americana into an enchanting escapist fairy tale."--The New York Times Book Review, " You'll get lost in the tatty glamour of Gruen's meticulously researched world, from spangled equestrian pageantry and the sleazy side show to an ill-fated night at a Chicago speak-easy." -- "Washington Post", "Gritty, sensual and charged with dark secrets involving love,murder and a majestic,mute heroine (Rosie the Elephant)."-Parade, " Gritty, sensual and charged with dark secrets involving love, murder and a majestic, mute heroine (Rosie the Elephant)." -- Parade, "Gritty, sensual and charged with dark secrets involving love,murder and a majestic,mute heroine (Rosie the Elephant)."--Parade
Lccn
2007-280214
Dewey Decimal
813/.6
Intended Audience
Trade
Dewey Edition
22
Illustrated
Yes

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  • by bar650491
    Jan 26, 2022Top favourable review

    Water for Elephants? Great book.

    I enjoyed this book. I had seen the movie but wanted to see how the book informed the screen writers.

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-OwnedSold by: second.sale

  • by beagle_hq
    Mar 22, 2009

    Loved it... until the end

    The title of my review pretty much says it all. This was a very easy, enjoyable read full of characters you can't help but love - and love to hate. There were some inconsistencies in details, but most of them would sail right past the average person and weren't a big deal to me. It is almost always hard for me to initially get into a book, I don't know why, but it is. This book was different, it had my rapt attention from start to finish - though the end was disappointing to me. After chapters of such a great story, I found the almost ridiculous improbability of the ending to be quite out of place. I also could have happily lived without the animal abuse and the unnecessary deaths of Walter & Camel, but the ending sat particularly poorly with me. In addition, the final chapter seemed to ...

  • by WF0gsBsUS6K@Deleted
    Aug 03, 2008

    A real page turner

    The story line takes you in right away. It gives one a surprising look into the past and what circus life most likely was like for those traveling from place to place. The characters are rich and complex in their own ways. You like some, you can't stand others. The book evokes many human emotions and also gives one some thoughts to ponder over. Life certainly can change in an instant for any one of us. Are we prepared? What would we have done? And old age...lawdy be, please let me be surrounded by those with patience and understanding! This book will evoke sadness, dispair, happiness, joy and gives one hope too. A great read and a real page turner!

  • by regalion2006
    Sep 03, 2007

    Book Review: Water for Elephants

    The Entertainment Critic Book Review, By James Myers WATER FOR ELEPHANTS By Sara Gruen Published by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill A Division of Workman Publishing 350 Pages ISBN # 978-1-56512-499-8 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER LOS ANGLES TIMES BESTSELLER WALL STREET JOURNAL BEST SELLER A NEWSDAY FAVORITE BOOK OF 2006 USA TODAY BESTSELLER AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION ALEX AWARD WINNER ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY NOMINEE FOR BEST NOVEL BOOKSENSE # 1 PICK FOR JUNE, 2006 WINNER OF THE 2007 BOOKBROWSE AWARD FOR MOST POPULAR BOOK Four Star Rating**** I’ve read close to 100 books so far this year, and I have written reviews for many of those books. The publishers, when the send review copies to a reviewer, also send promotional material. I’m rarely surprised by the content that I read. Every once in a ...

  • by youngestof5
    Jan 20, 2009

    Water for Elephants

    I decided to purchase this book after reading a portion of the book on another site. Immediately I thought of my Grandfather and what life may have been like for him as a young man in the 30's. I loved the way the author weaved in an out of the main character's youth and advanced age memories. I cried when I read the end of this book....I love the elderly, and think they should all be treated with dignity and kindness. This is to me an adult read for sure due to the very discriptive sexual experiences and the violent happenings of the story. I think this is a nice rainy day read for anyone wanting to go back in time. I would recommend this book to a friend or book club...I definately enjoyed it.

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