Water for Elephants

By: Sara Gruen

Narrated by: David LeDoux, John Randolph Jones

Length: 11 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

An atmospheric tale of life and love in a Depression-era traveling circus.

Nonagenarian Jacob Jankowski reflects back on his wild and wondrous days with a circus. It's the Depression Era and Jacob, finding himself parentless and penniless, joins the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. There he meets the freaks, grifters, and misfits that populate this world. Jacob introduces us to Marlena, beautiful star of the equestrian act; to August, her charismatic but twisted husband (and the circus' animal trainer); and to Rosie, a seemingly untrainable elephant.

Beautifully written, with a luminous sense of time and place, Water for Elephants tells of love in a world in which love's a luxury few can afford.

©2006 Sara Gruen (P)2006 HighBridge Company

Critic reviews

• Book Sense Book of the Year Award, Adult Fiction, 2007
• Audie Award Finalist, Fiction, Unabridged, 2007

" 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.” ( New York Times Book Review)

"Just like a circus, the magic of the story and the writing convince you to suspend your disbelief." ( Booklist)

"Gruen skillfully humanizes the midgets, drunks, rubes, and freaks who populate her book." ( Publishers Weekly)

Much better than the movie

Reading this along with the book is a good choice. I wouldn’t stop reading this book. It only took me a week to read it and it’s been awhile since I read a book that took so little effort to get through because it’s so good. The ending made me cry with happiness and I hope I does for you too.
The only thing I didn’t like though is every chapter music would start to play on top of the vice narrator and I wouldn’t be able to hear them at times. That’s why I gave the performance a 4. It wasn’t their fault. Probably some newbie editor.

Beautiful coming of age and aging story with a side of romance

This story was truly a pleasant surprise. The performance was riveting. Wonderful book. Highly recommend

Unexpected pleasure

I wasn’t sure if I would like this book, because it isn’t my usual read. I was pleasantly surprised throughout the book. I was captivated. I don’t want to give away the end, but when it was over I couldn’t stop smiling!

A lovely love story

set against the harsh realities of the traveling circus. The brutality of a few individuals shapes the misery of animals and humans alike. The comraderie amongst the different factions is touching. And the narrator's description of old age is at once humorous and poignant. This is a wonderful read.

Great narration

I loved this story but the show stealer is really John Randolph Jones with a completely mesmeric narration of the older character. There are some memorable characters, as one would expect in the midst of a 1930s travelling circus. The ending was a bit too cutesy for me and I didn't really buy it, which is why I stopped short of the 5 stars, but its still a quite delightful novel and I would recommend it very highly.

Excellent comment on elderly life

This book gives an excellent insight in to elderly life. A well researched book with wonderfull anecdotal information about the circus life of old, a sad comment on how we treat the elderly and the meaning of life for an elderly person. An extrememly good read.

A book you cant stop listening to!

I have heard wonderful things about Water for Elephants, and this was only my 3rd audiobook. After I started listening and getting into the characters I couldnt stop listening!! I switched off between listening during my walks and listening during my long commutes in the car. The book was so good I actually looked forward to my long drives to and from work. I just finished and I am sad it is over. I definitely recommend getting this book. It had the perfect amount of romance and excitement- a few action scenes as well!

A sweet and tender story

I loved this book. I loved both of the narrators, but the old man was my favorite. He reminded me of my dad so much! As I sit here trying to decide what to write, I get a big lump in my throat thinking about these two incredible love stories, love between the man and his wife, and between the man and the circus.

This book offers so many lesson for life if we readers are smart enough to learn them. Each character is trying to tell us something.

When I read the ending, I wanted to jump up and down and shout, "Yes, yes yes!!!" That is the way it should end!

Wonderful book

Enjoyed the book...would recommend it, but found it sad at times listening to Jacob recall his life. Loved the way it ended for him.

Great storytelling

This book was highly recommended to me by a friend, and I am equally enthusiastic. The narrators are excellent, and add greatly to the enjoyment of the book. I was sorry to reach the end of the book, but the conclusion was satisfying - if implausible. Suspend your disbelief and let yourself be carried away by the magic of the circus.