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Water for Elephants

By: Sara Gruen
Narrated by: David LeDoux, John Randolph Jones
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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)

What listeners say about Water for Elephants

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    13,942
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  • 3 Stars
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

FABULOUS!

*THE* most fabulous audible I've listened to ....all other will pale. I was filled with sorrow when it was over....and miss the characters. Will listen to it again, and again.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Touching Story, Technical Blip

It was a bitter-sweet story enhanced by listening to a recording with two readers who sounded age-appropriate. Wanted to read it in advance of movie with Rob Pattinson, can't wait. Technical problem with the recording, Audible seems to have mixed up parts one and two. The standard Audible intro and middle-section instructions about reaching the end of a part, but not the end.... are on the second (last download), but no introduction on the opening. A little confusing at first, wasn't sure I was at the beginning of the book.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Great narration, wonderful story

I enjoyed this audio for the wonderful juxtaposition of the two Jacobs plus the wild circus story. A couple of times I thought the Marlena story was a bit unbelievable. But other than that the cast of supporting characters, Kinko, Camel and the like were unforgettable.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Memorable, Memorable, Memorable

This is my favorite book AND audiobook. The story itself is so engaging. Then the narrators and voices lend such life to the story that you would swear you are watching a movie in your head. It's one of those that stays with you for so long after. And the unexpected bonus is how it reminds you that our elderly treasures have amazing stories to tell if anyone is willing to listen. I was so touched...............

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Very Well Done

For me, this book was by far the best download so far. What an awesome, riveting, and addicting story!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Wonderful

I loved this book. I enjoyed having two readers to differentiate between the two ages of the main character. I always hope for a good read and this did not disappoint.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A better "listen" than read, I suspect.

The two narrators help in distinguishing between the character at a young age, and 91...or 93.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely Unforgettable.

characters were wonderfully developed. I loved the story , the tension , I was worried it would be too sad, but it was great.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Fabulous!

This book was wonderful! The narrators were two of the best! The story was one that I didn't want to be over!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

A beautiful story

A lovely plot - wonderful character development, a masterful weaving of history and present seen through the main character's eyes at the start of his life and his later life. I wanted more!

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