Water for Elephants: A Novel

i loved this book. the way the author captures the essence of Jacob in his later years as well as his youth. the novel ignites your senses and awakens the soul. i loved it!

One of the best books that I have had the pleasure of stumbling upon in recent years!

This book is okay if you like fighting, bickering, jealousy, adultry, and just plain nasty acting people. The circus did not play that big of a role in this book. The book concenstrates more on Jacob's personal life and his lust for the bosses wife. Jacob, now an old man, begins the book by going back into his youth to the time he was attending vet school. Tragic events turn his life upside down and he decides to run (literally). He winds up with a circus and becomes the circus vet, although, he rarely spent any time with or working on the animals. He just stood and watched animals be slaughtered and then felt bad that he did not do anything. I did not like Jacob. I thought he was a spinless whimp and coward. His only concern was the bosses wife and how he could get her. I must say, however, the ending was terrific! That probably was the highlight of the book. I do not see what all the excitement was about. If you want to read a life changing book, read "The Shack". Water for Elephants, in my opinion, is mostly garbage.

I think this book is an excellent read. I came to it with curiosity. I thoroughly enjoyed the ending. Would recommend enthusiastically.

I recently read "Water for Elephants" for the second time. I read it last year after I purchased it and then ordered a copy for one of my daughters and my daughter-in-law. I will make note though that my daughters are grown as this is not a book I would buy for a minor. The book is not graphic by nature, but deals with adult subject matters. The author is forthright in her story telling and I would not personally consider this book suitable for kids.

This is a good fiction book and a good read. I enjoyed it both times I read it and will read it again. It's one of those books you can read, put back on the book shelf for a year and then easily read again. The setting and story is unusual and centers on an elderly man and his current life in a nursing home and his memories (which sends you back to his youthful years) working and travelling with a circus in the 1930's.

"Water for Elephants" runs the full spectrum of your emotions. There is humor, disgust, love and anger. There are stories within stories that all mesh cleverly together in the life of the main character. I enjoyed the ending, which surprised me. Out of five stars, I give this book a five.