The majority of our readers liked this book. I didn't. The pro arguments: it was a nice, light, easy, fast read. Not necessarily something I'm usually looking for.
Anyway, an old man in a care center reminisces about his life in the circus. The readers who liked the book quite liked the stories about the circus and some of us were caregivers and they liked that description. I'm not a huge fan of circuses in the first place and I didn't like that the main character more or less threw his life away. I found the story shallow (and I wasn't the only one).
From the back cover:
"When Jacob Jankowski, recently orphaned and suddenly adrift, jumps onto a passing train, he enters a world of freaks, grifters, and misfits the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth a second-rate travelling circus struggling to survive during the Great Depression, making one-night stands in town after endless town.
Jacob, a veterinary student who almost earned his degree, is put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It is there that he meets Marlena, the beautiful young star of the equestrian act, who is married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. He also meets Rosie, an elephant who seems untrainable until he discovers a way to reach her.
'Water for Elephants' is illuminated by a wonderful sense of time and place. It tells a story of a love between two people that overcomes incredible odds in a world in which even love is a luxury that few can afford."
We discussed this in our international book club in September 2009.
I hate to disagree with you on this one, but this book quickly shot up on my list of favorites. I found the circus life extremely interesting, mainly because it's so foreign to me. It was a harsh life. I thought the death of Jacob's parents jolted his life and threw him on another path, a path that ultimately led him to his true love and later his true professional calling. It's a very memorable book and I enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteI know. You are not the only one. The other members in my book club loved it. Well, most of them. There were a lot of things I disliked about Jacob, both when he was young as well as when he was old. I didn't like that he just didn't take his exam and more or less threw away his life. He seemed like a wanderer, well, that's what he did most of his life. No, I really couldn't like the book. You know when you have a bad start with a book, you don't get to like it anymore. That's me with this one.
ReplyDeleteWe can't always agree on every book with everyone. I have a very good friend who dislikes the books I love and loves the ones I don't like. We are still very good friends.
So, I'm looking forward to many more discussions with you. :-D
I can see your reason for disliking the book. I thought the novel was a snap shot of the perils of working for the circus, especially for the animals. The author highlighted the financial difficulties also for workers during the depression as well.
ReplyDeleteI was never much into circus, not even as a child. What I especially disliked was that he had all the chances in the world and threw them away. I could have killed for those chances. Growing up as a girl in a poor family, I was forced to leave school earlier than I wanted (we have two possibilities in Germany, one after year 10, one after year 13) and start working rather than going on learning. So, I have no compassion for people who could have done so and then complain of the bad life they had.
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