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)

Better than I expected

Highs and lows -- this plays with your emotions. The author gives us an interesting glimpse into the life of a circus. I loved the crotchety reflections of the "old" Jacob, but enjoyed the story of the "young" Jacob more. The ending was a happy one, which I was concerned about the whole way through the book.

A Keeper

This is a wonderful book. It touches the heart with the pain of aging. It shows so clearly how the past is contained within the present. I loved finding out about the depression era circus and the difficulties in just living. But the main character, himself troubled, had a wonderful, albeit difficult life. The love that was his raison d'etre was wonderful to read about. And if the ending was not quite believable it was what we all wanted and would want for ourselves.

Entertaining !!

A very interesting group of characters. Set during the depression, life takes a turn for this this soon-to-be college graduate. An animal lover myself, I enjoyed learning a little about the elephant and other animal antics. While the nursing home scenes made me laugh, they also made me sad for the 90+year old "prisoners" of their own bodies and circumstances. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it with no reservations.

better 2nd half

What made the experience of listening to Water for Elephants the most enjoyable?

I really liked the narrator. I learned a lot. Things I never knew.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I loved the ending.

The movie doesn't do the audiobook justice

Would you consider the audio edition of Water for Elephants to be better than the print version?

Yes, I liked the nararation of this book and the switch in narrators depending on past or present.

What does David LeDoux and John Randolph Jones bring to the story that you wouldn???t experience if you just read the book?

Yes, I like how they switch narrators to let you know whether it's present or a memory.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Not as good as the book. It is a movie now and it just doesn't compare to the book.

Fantastic

One of the best books I have read in a while. The added bonus is the narration which is phenomenal. Great story. Keep my interest in every part.

My Favorite

Would you listen to Water for Elephants again? Why?

Narrators. Especially John Randolph Jones something about the way he tells the story puts me so at ease. I could listen to him all day. The story is wonderful. David LeDoux does a wonderful job to conveying the story of a young man. My favorite though is John Randolph Jones telling the story of the old man in a nursing home recalling his youth. He can sound so frustrated with the nursing home it seems as if you can see just what bothers him. I just love his voice.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Couldn't quit do that but I have listen't to it over and over.

Any additional comments?

I have seen this movie and remembered I like it but hadn't seen it in so long that I can't compare. I usually don't go back to listen to a story again and love to listen to this over and over. The story is so good but the narration really sells it.

Narrator

The narrators for this book were amazing. I loved how they differentiated between the Jacob that was 23 and the one that was 90... Or 93? Great story overall.

great story.

loved this sweet and incitefu) story. I want a sequel. what happens that next year.

Love this story

I unexpectedly loved this book. I do not like the music. The music tended to be too loud and drowned out parts of the story.