I enjoyed this book for several reasons. I liked the fact that a 90 or 93 year old was looking back on his life. The flashbacks were well done. And although the portrayal of the circus life and experience was well done, my favorite part of the book was seeing how the main character was treated in...
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/19263381">more...</a> (Posted on 10/9/11)

Once I started this book, I had a hard time putting it down. I could tell Sara Gruen did a lot of research to make this book &quot;authentic.&quot; I liked that most of the action of the story took place on the circus train traveling from one city to the next and at the circus itself. I liked that t...
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/43154183">more...</a> (Posted on 8/15/11)

I think I expected too much out of this novel and therefore had room only for disappointment. Though I finished the book in its entirety, I wrote a short review on my blog about halfway through, expounding on the aspects of the book that irritated me. I have adapted it herein.
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<br/>First, th...
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/13247469">more...</a> (Posted on 7/7/11)

I've had Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen in my TBR pile for a bit now and I finally got it read. I'm sorry I waited! Very good read! I think I liked it most because, in the truest sense, this novel is a historical romance.<br/><br/>The story starts off with a prologue from Jacob Jankowski's POV. J...
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/95817387">more...</a> (Posted on 6/13/11)

I've wanted to read this book since it came out in 2006, and I've had it on my shelf since 2007, but it wasn't until I saw a preview for the movie on the telly that I thought, Right, really need to read this! It's always good to read the book before seeing the film, though I probably won't get to th...
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/25325024">more...</a> (Posted on 5/23/11)

Great setting - loved the American circus atmosphere carried through the novel. I didn't feel for the characters though, and thus didn't enjoy the story. The plot seemed forced at points, almost verging on melodrama - maybe that was the characters' fault, still, I was left disappointed by this one.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/61415545">more...</a> (Posted on 5/15/11)

Jacob in his 90's takes us back to when he was young and begins the story during the time of his parents death. He was unawares of the reality of life during the economic depression and it was a shock to his system to find out the sacrifices his parents made so he and others could have a better lif...
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/116085397">more...</a> (Posted on 5/8/11)

In the beginning of Water For Elephants Jacob Jankowski tells us that he is<em> ninety or ninety-three. One or the other.</em> He's not really sure anymore. His body betrayed him years ago and Jacob now fears that his mind isn’t far behind. Shuffling along miserably behind his walker, he’s living out his fin...
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/103788282">more...</a> (Posted on 5/6/11)

I think I expected too much out of this novel and therefore had room only for disappointment. Though I finished the book in its entirety, I wrote a short review on my blog about halfway through, expounding on the aspects of the book that irritated me. I have adapted it herein.
<br/>
<br/>First, th...
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/13247469">more...</a> (Posted on 4/21/11)

I read this book in one day. It pulls you in.
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<br/>I learned a lot about the old traveling circuses and life with them. That was really interesting.
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<br/>But the most important thing I got from this book was the narrative from the perspective of Jacob as an old man. I have a hard time tr...
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5250302">more...</a> (Posted on 12/17/09)