These book club discussion questions reveal important details about water for. Water for elephants is fun, sweet and thrilling and will pull you into the mysterious life of the circus so far that you wont want to leave. Gruens novel isnt deep literary fiction exploring the big questions of life but rather a beautifully told story of one man, his coming of age, his first love, an unexpected summer filled with adventure as well. Water for elephants is a 2011 american romantic drama film directed by francis lawrence and written by richard lagravenese, based on sara gruens 2006 novel of the same name. Readers may find themselves churning through this book at a rapidfire pace, eager to see what lies ahead, then slowing down as they realize the pages are dwindling. The first edition of the novel was published in may 26th 2006, and was written by sara gruen. Sara gruens arresting new novel, water for elephants, explores similar subject matter the pathetic grandeur of the depressionera circus. Water for elephants resembles stealth hits like the giants house, by elizabeth mccracken, or the. Water for elephants by sara gruen is a must read a story about a 90yearold man remembering his days with a circus during the great depression. She wrote the book as part of national novel writing month. Water for elephants is a thoroughly enjoyable read. I decided to not watch the movie when i heard it was coming out simply because i didnt want to possibly ruin the experience id had with the book if the movie wasnt uptopar.
Water for elephants teaches us that courage is everywhere, everyday. I felt the book was contrived, and the author lacked depth in terms of writing talent and knowledge of the subject matter. Water for elephants a depressionera circus provides the backdrop for sara gruens latest novel, water for elephants. Sara gruens very readable novel is a story of impossible love set in the circus world during the 1930s and is set to be made into a blockbuster film starring robert pattinson and reese witherspoon. This book that is qualified as the hungry slopes can get you closer in turning into precious person. I read water for elephants for our book club, and i expected it to be as slow, dull, and superficial as most of the other books we have read. Then gruen shifts readers attention away from the eerie circus to introduce the ninety or ninetythree year old protagonist, jacob jankowski. In your opinion, what is the most courageous act in the book and why. Its from this nursing home that jacob tells his story, like he is looking back at all the adventures at the circus. May 26, 2006 water for elephants, 2007, sara gruen water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month. This study guide consists of approximately 58 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of water for elephants.
Free download or read online water for elephants pdf epub book. Surprising, poignant, and funny, water for elephants is that rare novel with a story so engrossing, one is reluctant to put it down. Water for elephants is one of my most favorite books. He ended up working in a circus, as the shows vet, and fell in love with the equine masters wife. Joshilyn jackson, author of gods in alabama so much more than a tale about a circus, water for elephants is a compelling journey not only under the big top, but into the protagonists heart. Water for elephants movie tiein by sara gruen, paperback. The setting of the story changes throughout the book. Water for elephants begins dark and violent as it braces readers for the tumultuous circus atmosphere during the terrible years of the great depression. Pdf water for elephants book by sara gruen free download. His stay here is cut short by the death of his parents. Water for elephants has two plots going on, both starring the same main character, jacob.
The novel was adapted for the movie by american screenwriter richard lagravenese. A water for elephants discussion from reading group guides writers digest interview with sara gruen. Water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month. Cant say ive ever been curious enough about its workings to read a book revolving around one, but i am so glad i did because it was sooo much more than that. Sara gruen has written an utterly transporting novel richly full of the stuff of life. Id recommend it to anyone, and will actively seek out other books by sara gruen. See actions taken by the people who manage and post content. Water for elephants, 2007, sara gruen water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month. The two readers, david ledoux and john randolph jones, did a wonderful job of bringing both jacobs young and old to life. A thousand splendid suns, memory keepers daughter, etc. Water for elephants a novel by sara gruen and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Oct 21, 2009 water for elephants by sara gruen, 9781565125605, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
Water for elephants book by sara gruen thriftbooks. Trust us, water for elephants is going to be one of the surprise hits of 2011. I need to read the authors biography more carefully in the future. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. Water for elephants questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on. Although i wanted more emotion between marlena and jacob, its a romantic story, full of action, love for animals and a magnificent circus. Water for elephants begins violently and then veers into weirder terrain. Apr 22, 2011 8 big differences between water for elephants book and movie apr. Jacob jankowski, a veterinary student at cornell, discovers that. Water for elephants i hesitated before spending the money.
An american book association indiebound best seller. The circus, the great depression, a complex elephant, equally complex love, the mists and twists of memory articulated in the utterly winning voice of a very old man whos seen it all. Also, if you want a special treat, listen to it on audiobook. If you like water for elephants, you might like little heathens by mildred armstrong kalish seabiscuit by laura hillenbrand the adventures of miles and isabel by tom gilling. A novel and millions of other books are available for instant. The story is told as a series of memories by jacob jankowski, a 93yearold man who lives in a nursing home. Water for elephants by sara gruen book club discussion. Daily telegraph trust us, water for elephants is going to be one of the surprise. Water for elephants questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on water for elephants. I picked up a copy on cd at the library and listened to it in the car over a sixhour trip. Water for elephants is the new york times bestselling debut novel by sara gruen. In what ways and to what extent do the words pathetic grandeur describe the world that gruen creates in her novel.
Novelist sara gruen sweeps her readers off their feet in the opening pages of water for elephantsand doesnt let go until she deposits them at the end of her fantastic tale of passion, madness and fancy. Sara gruen spares no detail in chronicling the squalid, filthy, brutish circumstances in which he finds himself. Ittells the story of jacob, a young man who joins the circus and ends up falling in love with both a woman and an elephant in different ways, thank goodness. Water for elephants is a delightful, moving book, and the ending was a very pleasant surprise. With robert pattinson, reese witherspoon, christoph waltz, paul schneider. Enhancements were made to more precisely measure materials read in k2. First, young jacob is found on the campus of cornell university in ithaca, new york. Gruen transports us into the world of a thirdrate traveling circus during the great depression.
In one plot, jacob is a young guy just starting out in the world. It stars reese witherspoon, robert pattinson, and christoph waltz. With its spotlight on elephants, gruens romantic pageturner hinges on the humananimal bonds that drove her debut and its sequel riding. Read water for elephants absolutely for free at readanybook. Official page for sara gruen and her books, including the international bestseller water for elephants 2006. Jul 16, 2012 water for elephants by sara gruen, and the 2011 movie. Best narration of an audio book ever, and worth every penny.
The most interesting aspect of the book is all the circus lore that gruen has so. Each week, our editors select the one author and one book they believe to be most worthy of your attention and highlight them in our pro connect email alert. Jacob jankowski, a veterinary student at cornell, discovers that his parents have been killed in a car accident. Summary an atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of starcrossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932, by the bestselling author of riding lessons when jacob jankowski, recently orphaned and suddenly adrift, jumps onto a passing train, he enters a. Later in the book, it is suggested that he is a paranoid schizophrenic, to explain his violence. The book, water for elephants, starts off in the present day, in a nursing home where the main character, jacob jankowski, lives. Sunday express you are so immersed in circus life that you are completely blinded by the thrilling, fatal dazzle of sequins and sawdust. Many years before, jacob is a student at cornell university, studying veterinarian medicine in order to join. Events lead him to joining the circus as their vet, working under their unstable boss august whose violent tendencies give everyone reason to be cautious around him, including his beautiful and quiet wife marlena, whom august is very possessive of and who jacob finds himself soon falling in love with. Water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing. In spite of the fact that water for elephants reached number one on the new york times best seller list when it was published ten years ago, my first exposure to it too many books, too little time was recently, as an audio book. The film was released in the united states on april 22, 2011. With lines of startling beauty, haunting and evocative scenes and finelydrawn characters who dance off the page, readers can dip in and out of the novel, immersing themselves in jacobs memories. I hate being so enamored with a book and then a crappy movie version comes along and tarnishes it.
One of many books in the top record in your reading list will be water for elephants. Goodreads members who liked water for elephants also liked. Water for elephants, published in 2006, is sara gruens third book and her most successful to date. After his parents death, jacob jankowski is left penniless and homeless. Jul 23, 2018 water for elephants by sara gruen is a must read a story about a 90yearold man remembering his days with a circus during the great depression. This book is every bit the fabulous escapist entertainment that the big top once was. Jul 12, 2007 water for elephants begins violently and then veers into weirder terrain. The man agrees, saying that jacob will go down in the records book as the oldest man to run away with the circus. Water for elephants by sara gruen at the best online ebook storage. Download and read online for free water for elephants by sara gruen.
However, in her 2006 novel water for elephants, sara gruen showed that the circus life might not have been as glamorous as it appeared from the outside. Water for elephants is a book that can be read and reread, recommended and handed off between friends. The last notes of water for elephants linger long after the book ends. Water for elephants 2011 frequently asked questions imdb. Her works have been translated into fortythree languages and have sold more than ten million copies worldwide. Use these book club discussion questions on water for elephants to lead your book clubs conversation on the story.
There are three main settings in water for elephants. The story is told by its main character, jacob who is now confined to. Water for elephants is the story of jacobs life with this circus. Set in the 1930s, a former veterinary student takes a job in a travelling circus and falls in love with the ringmasters wife. Overall, water for elephants was a book that grabbed me from the beginning. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 335 pages and is available in paperback format. Water for elephants is a 2006 novel by canadianamerican author sara gruen. Was it braver to kill august or to refrain from doing so. Find books like water for elephants from the worlds largest community of readers. Jacob laughs and says, im not running away, im coming home. Water for elephants sara gruen, 2006 algonquin books of chapel hill 350 pp. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. After jacob gets dressed up to go to the circus with his family what happens. The water for elephants community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you.
Water for elephants resembles stealth hits like the giants house, by elizabeth mccracken, or the lovely bones, by alice sebold, books that combine outrageously whimsical premises with crowdpleasing romanticism. Winner of the 2007 bookbrowse award for most popular book. But its the setting and animal subplot that add flavor to this book. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of water for elephants by sara gruen. Water for elephants by sara gruen, first edition abebooks. It was adult, and it was realistic, and i loved it. Sara gruen has a voice to rival john irvings, and i am hopelessly, unabashedly in love with this book. Water for elephants was a completely different read for me.
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