Water for Elephants

This is a very fun book to read. At times it is dark, damp, dirty, and down right heart breaking. The characters, not just including the protagonist, have to endure the Great Depression and the vagabond life of the circus. The characters can be living on high water or down in the swamps when it comes to the successes of their shows and ability to work together as performers and workmen.

The protagonist, Jacob, a polish immigrant, loses his parents and drops out of veterinary school. When he learns that his family home and possessions are no longer his, he ventures on the train tracks and never looks back. There, he is almost flattened by a circus train traveling to its next show. In that moment, Jacob decides to either ride the train of a new life or stay behind in his crummy old one. Jacob chooses the train, and he is immediately thrown into a new world of the circus in the 1930's. Sara Gruen provides explicit details about the circus life in the 1930's. Gruen did her homework, and it paid off tremendously. The characters are dynamic and each have a voice of their own. The dainty and humble Marlena is married to August, the menagerie head keeper, who is also bipolar. She is a heroine of her own story, but is tragically trapped in an unstable marriage. With one look at her, and Jacob is immediately in love. What is unique about this book is that Jacob does not pursue the typical goal of stealing a wife away from her husband, but instead offers a relationship with her in any way form. He watches over her like a guardian and protects Marlena from any harm. But don't fool Marlena as a damsel in distress. She does not accept failure or a hand out. Although Jacob is the main character, Marlena steals our attention and hearts whenever she is present. She truly is a woman of her time.

The story bounces between past and present, but each are just as good as the other. Senile Jacob, always makes us laugh with his vulgarity and pride. He certainly is the definition of a grumpy old man. But, he possesses a big heart to those that love to hear his story from his life in the circus. Past Jacob is an unshaped young man who is finding his place in the world. He is very observant and stays out of trouble. But as his relationship with the circus and Marlena grows, Jacob slowly begins to shape into a man of pride, passion, and sincerity.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys vivid imagery and a story from the long forgotten past. Gruen knows just when to show explicit details and when to keep the reader guessing. This is definitely a page-turner kind of book.