There, he works as the shows vet, and falls ever more in love with marlena, the star of the circus and beautiful wife of the temperamental ringmaster august. With lines of startling beauty, haunting and evocative scenes and finelydrawn characters who dance off the page, readers can dip in and out of the novel, immersing themselves in jacobs memories. The last notes of water for elephants linger long after the book ends. The title, water for elephants, is almost a little inside joke with the reader once weve finished the book, that is. She wrote the book as part of national novel writing month. Water for elephants by sara gruen is a must read a story about a 90yearold man remembering his days with a circus during the great depression. Unlike other paperback blockbusters, like the memory keepers daughter by kim edwards, which sold modestly in hardcover, water for elephants spent 12 weeks on the new york times. Water for elephants is a book that can be read and reread, recommended and handed off between friends. Jacob, the books narrator and protagonist, worked as a vet and trainer of sorts at a circus. Official page for sara gruen and her books, including the international bestseller water for elephants 2006. Still, given the constraints of time, water for elephants is a decent adaptation. I fell in love with the picture you chose for your book the first time i saw it.
And like browning, gruen infuses her audacious material with a surprisingly uplifting strain of sentimentality. Water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month. Later in the book, it is suggested that he is a paranoid schizophrenic, to explain his violence. An atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of starcrossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932, by the bestselling author of riding lessons. Download and read online for free water for elephants by sara gruen. Water for elephants resembles stealth hits like the giants house, by elizabeth mccracken, or the lovely bones, by alice sebold, books that combine outrageously whimsical premises with crowdpleasing romanticism.
Read water for elephants absolutely for free at readanybook. It stars reese witherspoon, robert pattinson, and christoph waltz. The screenplay is by richard lagravenese, whose the horse whisperer also showed a sympathy for the personalities of animals. However, in her 2006 novel water for elephants, sara gruen showed that the circus life might not have been as glamorous as it appeared from. Goodreads members who liked water for elephants also liked. Water for elephants was directed by francis lawrence, whose i am legend and constantine were not predictions of this relatively classic film. Sara gruen spares no detail in chronicling the squalid, filthy, brutish circumstances in which he finds himself.
Stories similar to water for elephants books, stories, and novels like water for elephants by sara gruen. With a showmans expert timing, gruen saves a terrific revelation for the final pages, transforming a glimpse of americana. Water for elephants has two plots going on, both starring the same main character, jacob. The ending is well written well acted out and well, like the rest of the movie is just perfect. I decided to not watch the movie when i heard it was coming out simply because i didnt want to possibly ruin the experience id had with the book if the movie wasnt uptopar. Water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing. Sara gruen has written an utterly transporting novel richly full of the stuff of life. The circus, the great depression, a complex elephant, equally complex love, the mists and twists of memory articulated in the utterly winning voice of a very old man whos seen it all. Fans of the story looking for more gritty, circus related tales should check out the following books like water for elephants. Veterinary school student jacob meets and falls in. Abuse is a hot topic right now, especially with a large feminist movement happening globally. Water for elephants is the story of jacobs life with this circus. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of water for elephants by sara gruen.
The truth is, it is summer and i am desperate for a distraction away from my recent obsession with greys anatomy reruns fueled by netflixs instant queue. Ernest hemingways hills like white elephants tells the story of a man and woman drinking beer and anise liqueur while they wait at a train station in spain. The storys tension comes from their terse, barbed dialogue. I hate being so enamored with a book and then a crappy movie version comes along and tarnishes it. Water for elephants was a completely different read for me. Novelist sara gruen sweeps her readers off their feet in the opening pages of water for elephantsand doesnt let go until she deposits them at the end of her fantastic tale of passion, madness and fancy. Water for elephants, 2007, sara gruen water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month. Jacob, once it becomes known that he has veterinary skills. Its a tale tastefully told and beautifully filmed, but water for elephants suffers from a pronounced lack of chemistry between its leads. It was adult, and it was realistic, and i loved it. Water for elephants is a story about an elderly man, jacob, who recalls an adventure in his younger years. At its finest, water for elephants resembles stealth hits like the giants house, by elizabeth mccracken, or the lovely bones, by alice sebold, books that combine outrageously whimsical.
The animals are mangy, underfed or fed rotten food, and abused. At its finest, water for elephants resembles stealth hits like the giants house, by elizabeth mccracken, or the lovely bones, by alice sebold, books that combine outrageously whimsical premises with crowdpleasing romanticism. Gruen transports us into the world of a thirdrate traveling circus during the great depression. Gruen does an excellent job at portraying what such relationships look like and i think its an accurate portrayal of what many women are facing today.
The man is attempting to convince the woman to get an abortion, but the woman is ambivalent about it. The film was released in the united states on april 22, 2011. Find books like water for elephants from the worlds largest community of readers. A water for elephants discussion from reading group guides writers digest interview with sara gruen. Use these book club discussion questions on water for elephants to lead your book clubs conversation on the story. So i purchased the book and slowly began retreating. Iron manimal, underground, scars, the escapists daughter. Winner of the 2007 bookbrowse award for most popular book. In one plot, jacob is a young guy just starting out in the world. Her works have been translated into fortythree languages and have sold more than ten million copies worldwide. Strange sounds can have many sources, and when the source. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. Water for elephants is a book that can be read and reread, recommended and handed. If you like water for elephants, you might like little heathens by mildred armstrong kalish seabiscuit by laura hillenbrand the adventures of miles and isabel by tom gilling.
Water for elephants questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on water for elephants. Tessa fontaines astonishing memoir of pushing past fear, the electric woman, follows the author on a lifeaffirming journey of loss and selfdiscovery through her time on the road with the last traveling american sideshow and her relationship with an adventurous, spirited mother. Water for elephants by sara gruen, and the 2011 movie. The story is told as a series of memories by jacob jankowski, a 93yearold man who lives in a nursing home. Bad elephant far stream by samuel hawley is historical fiction, just like water for elephants, but in this book the story unfolds through the eyes of an elephant. He also meets rosie, an elephant who seems like she cannot be trained until he discovers a way to reach her. See more of official water for elephants movie on facebook. Water for elephants is the new york times bestselling debut novel by sara gruen. The book went on to receive numerous awards and nominations as well as a film adaptation in 2011 starring robert pattinson and reese witherspoon. Water for elephants trailer 20th century fox youtube. Stories similar to water for elephants circus of the stars. Its the story of jacob, who runs away to the circus during the depression when his life falls apart around him. Water for elephants by sara gruen at the best online ebook storage.
I read water for elephants for our book club, and i expected it to be as slow, dull, and superficial as most of the other books we have read. Handpicked recommendations to other books that have a similar writing style or theme to water for elephants. If you like water for elephants you might like similar books the secret life of bees, the time travelers wife, the help, my sisters keeper, the lovely bones. Cant say ive ever been curious enough about its workings to read a book revolving around one, but i am so glad i. Water for elephants is a 2011 american romantic drama film directed by francis lawrence and written by richard lagravenese, based on sara gruens 2006 novel of the same name. Water for elephants sara gruen books the new york times. Book recommendations for people who like water for elephants by sara gruen. The water for elephants community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. Off what others pay on the newsstand thats like getting 19 free issues. A thousand splendid suns, memory keepers daughter, etc. Books that defined a generation water for elephants. Buy a cheap copy of water for elephants book by sara gruen. Based on the acclaimed bestseller, water for elephants presents an unexpected romance in a uniquely compelling setting.
They say that the best relationship start off as a friendship first. Rosie is not as charismatic as a horse, and as jacob observes she. Water for elephants makes use of a framing device similar to one the screenwriter used for the bridges of madison county. Readers may find themselves churning through this book at a rapidfire pace, eager to see what lies ahead, then slowing down as they realize the pages are dwindling. An old jacob, played by hal holbrook, tells his story in flashback to a. Elephants usually like to squirt water up in the air, take care of their young, and play with water and squirt each other with it too. Love stories social conditions orphans training historical fiction triangles interpersonal relations parents death circus animals elephants circus. Water for elephants book by sara gruen thriftbooks. At its finest, water for elephants resembles stealth hits like the giants house, by elizabeth mccracken, or the lovely bones, by alice sebold, books that. Water for elephants is one of my most favorite books. At the beginning of water for elephants, he is living out his days in a nursing home, hating. Water for elephants is fun, sweet and thrilling and will pull you into the mysterious life of the circus so far that you wont want to leave.
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