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)

truly amazing

I absolutely loved this book! I couldn't stop listening! I highly recommend everyone read it!

Lots of fun and feels

Just couldn't stop listening. I read this the old fashioned way (well, on Kindle) first a couple of years ago, but still listened to it in just 2 days. I love the way the story is told. The author did a lot of research to make the story feel very real. Narrators were very good also.

Amongst the best performances on Audible

Rich and elegant writing combined with superb voice acting makes this an instant favorite. Definitely recommend!

A Winner!

My husband and I both loved, loved, loved this book! Beautifully written and perfectly read, especially the voice of the old man. I highly recommend this one.

Best book ever !!

This was absolutely the best book I have ever encountered! I cried multiple times. Wonderful!!!

How Audio Books Should Be

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

This was definitely comparable if not better than the book. The narrator and alt voices really take you along for the ride and make the setting easily imaginable. Highly recommend buying this, I enjoyed it immensely.

I very much enjoyed this story.

This was a really great story. The voice for the older Jacob was fabulous. I became quite invested in all of these people, and the hierarchy of the performers. Both funny and sad and at times I became quite lost into the story and sat in my driveway waiting for a good point t to stop the book and get out of the car!

I cried when this book ended! BEAUTIFUL STORY!

Would you listen to Water for Elephants again? Why?

I would listen to this book again and I just finished it! Loved the narrators and story! Suspenseful, heartbreaking, romantic, descriptive! This book became a movie but the audible itself provides so much imagery you can use the descriptions and create your own movie in your mind if you haven't seen it!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Water for Elephants?

I think old Jacob at "90 or 93" is a memorable phrase/concept. There is so much depth to Jacob as he ages, "Trying to keep his mind wholesome..". As he remembers his life when he was a young man.

Have you listened to any of David LeDoux and John Randolph Jones ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have never heard any narrations by these performers but I am a fan now! Especially of the man who plays Jacobs older voice! His performance was consistent and fit perfectly. It really added to those tear jerkier scenes!

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

All of the nursing home scenes, and Rosie's journey!

Any additional comments?

READ THIS BOOK! Then watch the movie with Robert Pattinson.

loved it.

I have been in the driveway waiting for them but I need to go. Do y'all want to go back with me to get the truck?

Instant Favorite!

I absolutely loved this story; it was performed perfectly and I thoroghly enjoyed the story itself. There's plenty of adventure that gets your blood moving because you're so engrossed in the story, but then the romance makes you ache for the characters. All I can say is perfect from beginning to end.