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)

Amazing and insightful book!

Wonderful storytelling with a unique view of a man at 23 and 90=something. I had to listen to it twice because I was so sorry when it ended.

Great story - really enjoyed it

Really enjoyed this audio. The narration was top notch and the story compelling. I really go into this one. Recommended.

I loved it

Understanding the frustration of living in a 93 year old body is not something I've read about. I also knew nothing about the circus during the 1930s depression. This work of fiction gives great insights into both, in a fabulously entertaining way. The narration was a major enhancement to the story.

This book held my heart between its pages

This book held my heart between its pages. Skillfully written and narrated, the book jumps back and forth from the perspective of Jacob, a 23 year old boy who is the veterinarian who travels with the Benzini Brothers Greatest Show on Earth, to the perspective of the same man, 70 years later. He struggles to live with dignity and independence despite the fact that he lives in a nursing home. Like the animals in the circus menagerie, he is dependent on the kindness of others.
As I read this book, I fell in love with Rosie the elephant. Yes, it is obvious that elephants don't belong caged in a circus, but that is where life has taken them. If they were put back in their natural environment, they would die because they have become dependent upon people to feed and care for them.
What an awesome book. I hate the very end because it's so idealistic, but this whole book was certainly a pleasure to read.

Absolutely LOVE this book!💜

This is the fourth time I have read this book. Each time I read it I can't stop listening to it. The story is so sweet and loving. At times the story is heart wrenching but you truly want to see good things happen for Jacobafter the horrible tragedy that leads him to join the circus

Great listen

This is a thoroughly enjoyable listen due to the excellent narrator and well told story. The two narrators enhance the story and help bring the stories to life. While the story may come across as somewhat cliche at times, it is worthy of the listen.

Terrific listen

The language, the voices, the storyline - this is a great audio experience. You are never confused by the time changes because the characters have completly different voices. Worth a second listen.

Great narration- made the story more enjoyable

If you could sum up Water for Elephants in three words, what would they be?

Absorbing, relevant and compassionate

What other book might you compare Water for Elephants to and why?

The James Herriot books because of the compassion for animals.

If you could take any character from Water for Elephants out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Jacob. Because he had a fascinating life and I would want to hear more.

Any additional comments?

I wasn't sure that I liked the book until I finished it. It was a funny and heart-warming story. It reminded me that the older generations have some interesting stipules to tell and that we should privileged to hear them.

Fantastic read, wonderful performance!

Would you listen to Water for Elephants again? Why?

Absolutely and I'm sure I will. Having seen the movie first, I was hesitant in my approach to the book. The theme is so visual and colorful I wasn't quite sure if maybe some of that vibrancy would be lost in the story-telling. But my concerns were quickly put to rest. The writing is bright and colorful and vibrant - far outshining the movie.

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

One of the most memorable moments was certainly when the main character leaves his train car for a period of time and returns to find that his friends have been "red lighted", tossed from the moving train over a trestle.

However, the MOST memorable moments, and the telling of it, was when Rosie dispatched with her tormentor August in such a calm and collected manner. Clearly she knew it was wrong, but approached the much-needed task with the same methodical attitude as when taking her stake out of the ground, thieving the lemonade, and returning to her spot and replacing her stake as if nothing had ever happened.

Which character – as performed by David LeDoux and John Randolph Jones – was your favorite?

Both performances were incredible. The performance of Young Jacob was vibrant, full of youth and honesty.

The performance of Jacob at 90 (or 93) was spectacular, conveying the heart of an old man forgotten, who's mind, though not as sharp as it once was, is still keen and present. The narrator conveys pain and joy with an equal amount of heart, in ways that really reach out and touch your soul.

If you could take any character from Water for Elephants out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Rosie! Could you imagine me sitting down at the table with an elephant with an attitude?

OR

Walter. A very unique character, who had gone through so much and became so guarded, but had so much hidden knowledge and spirit.

Now to see the movie!

Great story and beautifully performed! Now to see the movie and yell at the TV, "That's not what happened in the book!"