Water for Elephants Review

Water for Elephants: A Novel by Sara Gruen

This is the story of Jacob Jankowski and is focused on his memoirs; we get introduced to him when he is 93 years old through his days at the nursing home. The story goes back and forth between past and present when he remembers his days at the circus. Due to a misfortune he wasn’t able to continue his studies at Cornell Veterinarian School in exchange, he finds himself on the Benzini Brothers Circus train where he is hired, this event changes his life, it allow him to bond and become a true friend with a very smart elephant named Rosie and to deeply fall in love with the woman of his dreams.

This is a really interesting and moving book, as the novel progresses the reader becomes drawn into this bizarre world where nothing is what you expect. The author made a really good job researching about the circus life in the 30’s and her description of the characters is beautifully done.

Sara Gruen is a talented storyteller that will make your skin get goose bumps as you go through the pages of this intriguing and fulfilling story. You will experience laughs, tears and be completely absorbed into the circus era of the 1930’s; it describes the rough details of that circus life. I was not able to put this book aside. It’s well worth reading it.

★★★★★