Water for Elephants

De: Sara Gruen

Narrado por: David LeDoux, John Randolph Jones

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

Reseñas de la Crítica

• 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)

My new favorite audio book

They couldn't have picked better readers, they put so much emotion into the parts that I couldn't stop listening. Truly enjoyable

I never saw the movie, LOVED the book

What did you love best about Water for Elephants?

Learning about living in a circus and days gone by.

What did you like best about this story?

The way the characters developed into a love story. The quiet determination of "old" Jacob, and the resolution at the end. A charming love affair.

What about David LeDoux and John Randolph Jones ’s performance did you like?

The cranky old and sensitive versus the younger character was vivid. I loved the incredible depth of the characters.

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

The stubborness of the Elephant and how much it understood.

Any additional comments?

I really loved this book, now I don't think I even want to see the movie. I did picture Renee Zelweger as the star of my book. I will listen to this story again sometime. I didn't want it to end.

some readers will enjoy this book ,

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

this is not one of my favourite books ,i enjoyed the old mans story ,found it a bit sad in places , but i know other readers will enjoy this book,

If you’ve listened to books by Sara Gruen before, how does this one compare?

i have not listened to any other work by this author

What three words best describe David LeDoux and John Randolph Jones ’s performance?

they were fine

Could you see Water for Elephants being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

not really

Any additional comments?

i listened to this book all the way through waiting for something diffrent to happen but found the end very predictable , but as i said other readers will enjoy this book,

A good story

The music is distracting for me otherwise a great story and performance. I work in a Nursing Home and the 93 year old narration was great. Makes me think about all the elderly and the stories they could tell.

Absolutely Brilliant

Absolutely brilliant !
Beautiful story , uplifting had a wonderful connection with the audiences. Recommend to all well spoken. It will stay with me for a long time.