I have a confession to make. I completely and totally judge books based on their cover. Not just judge, but select. I do at least double check the rating on Amazon, but as long as it's at least a 3.5 of 4, I will read it if I like the cover. I don't always even read the summary to know what it's about it.So I bought Water for Elephants, having no clue what it was about. Blythe mentioned to me that it was very well-researched, which actually made me less enthused to read it. But I'm really glad that I did.
Water for Elephants follows a traveling, Ringling-wannabe circus around America. The main character is Jacob Jankowski, a veterinary school dropout who ends up aboard the circus train. Occasionally, the book switches to Jacob in present-day, as a 90 (or 93, he can't remember) year old man in a nursing home. While the present day material served to ground some of the more bizarre occurrences of the circus world, for me it most often detracted from the story and I was irritated to have to spend time away from the fascinating circus.
Jacob quickly falls in love with the beautiful Marlena, a performer in the circus who is married to the alternately charming and evil equestrian leader. Their story is compelling, but the real magic of the book lies in the circus itself. Elephants is incredibly well-researched (and includes photos from circuses in their heyday), with many of the plot points based on actual events. I've never really cared for circuses and didn't think I was particularly interested in them, but this book revealed an engrossing and fascinating world. The filth, the animals, the acts, the class system between performers and workers, all of it is told in rich detail to make for a completely riveting read.
I couldn't put this book down; I was addicted to it. I read it in 3 days, the last half in one sitting. It's a beautiful tale of a strange world.
I am SO glad you liked it! I'm not particularly a circus person myself, never cared one way or the other truthfully, but after reading this I was so curious about them! The pictures really did it for me-- I kept going back to them as I learned more.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, the circus finally came to town maybe two months ago, and I made Nate go with me. It was a pretty shady one (which actually made it all the more enticing) and I was NOT disappointed. I definitely say hints of the world described in WfE. Anyway, if a circus comes to Chicago anytime soon, you should definitely go-- after reading this book, you'll watch with new eyes.
I too, loved this book. I read it in a few days as well, hanging on every word, shoveling dinner into my mouth between pages, curled up in a chair, stolen away from the world until I could finish it. I remember feeling actually upset when I had to put it down to go do things. The end for me was perfection - I didn't see it coming, which is hard for an author to do to me...and when it came, I didn't feel bad either. I was ready for the resolution, had been properly invested. I remember Googling about the old-time circus in the days the followed my completion of the book...what a majestic reign it once had, full of magic and chance, grit and glamour. *sigh*
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