Water for Elephants: A Novel - Sara GruenThis is one of the most historical novels you will find out there as it has the riveting content that is compiling and intriguing at its best. The author Sara Gruen initially wrote the book as part of National Novel Writing Month and to date it has received huge critical acclaim and accolades as being the bestselling novel of all time and surely you wouldn’t like that opportunity of reading it to bypass you just like that. Basically to those who haven’t read this novel, first thing first the book is all about Jacob Jankowski who is in his twilight years 93 years and resides in a nursing home. His life is nothing but a puppet who abides to any commands that are being ordered to him right, front and centre, which in a logical sense is all about waiting to be ordered to jump and ask how high. As old as he may Jacob still remembers the vivid memories of his youth hood when he received the depressing news that both of his parents were killed in a tragic car accident, and coincidentally at that point in time he was preparing to write his exams at Cornell University studying
Veterinary Science the course he lived and admired to bits. By the way his father was also the veterinarian and is clearly obvious that the bug for animals was running deeply in their veins as the father and son were so passionately fond of that field. However as the times goes by, Jacob learns that his father was deeply in debt because he had been treating animals for free as well as mortgaging the family home to provide Jacob an Ivy League education, he has a breakdown and leaves school just short of graduation. In the dark of night, he jumps on a train only to learn it is a circus train belonging to The Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth.
When the owner of the circus, Uncle Al, learns of his training as a vet, he is hired to care for the circus animals. This consequently leads Jacob to share quarters with a dwarf named Walter (who is known as Kinko to the circus) and his dog Queenie. A few weeks later Jacob is summoned to take a look at Camel, an old man who, after drinking Jamaican ginger extract for many years, can't move his arms or legs. Fearing Camel will be "red-lighted" (referring to the practice of throwing circus workers off a moving train as either punishment or as severance from the circus to avoid paying wages); he hides him in his room. The head trainer, August, is a brutal man who abuses the animals in his care (such as the new elephant Rosie) as well as the people around him. Alternately, he can be utterly charming. Jacob develops a guarded relationship with August and his wife, Marlena, with whom Jacob falls in love. August is suspicious of their relationship and beats Marlena and Jacob. Marlena subsequently leaves August and stays at a hotel while she's not performing. Uncle Al then informs Jacob that August is a paranoid schizophrenic and then utters a threat: reunite August and Marlena as a happily married couple or Walter and Camel get red-lighted. A few days later after discovering that August has tried to see Marlena, Jacob visits her in her hotel room. Soon after he comforts her however, the couple sleep together and then eventually declare their love for each other. Marlena soon returns to the circus to perform (and also to have secret meetings with Jacob), but refuses to have August near her, which makes Earl and Blackie furious.
Other than that you will definitely find the book fascinating and phenomenal as one of the most interesting aspect of the book is whereby all the circus lore that
Sara Gruen has so carefully researched. She has all the right vocabulary: grifters, roustabouts, workers, cooch tent, rubes, First of May, what the band plays when there's trouble, Jamaican ginger paralysis, life on a circus train, set-up and take-down, being run out of town by the "revenooers" or the cops, and losing all your hooch. There is one glorious passage about Marlena and Rosie, the bull elephant that truly evokes the magic a circus can create. It is easy to see Marlena's and Rosie's pink sequins under the Big Top and to imagine their perfect choreography as they perform unbelievable stunts. The crowd loves it and so will the reader.
The ending is absolutely ludicrous and really quite lovely. To simply have all you would need to do is you logging in to our online shopping site wantitall.co.za that has this riveting novel being retailed at the cheaper affordable price to suit your worth.
