Water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month. Water for elephants book club discussion questions and answers. Water for elephants is a fascinating read, filled with danger, acts of evil, overwhelming kindness, and enduring love. Blackandwhite photographs of real american circus scenes from the first half of the century are interspersed throughout the. 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. Read water for elephants absolutely for free at readanybook. These book club discussion questions reveal important details about water for elephants by sara gruen. And since its set during the prohibition era you could have some fun discussing that as well. Water for elephants is mostly fantasy, punctuated with reality for the purpose of contrast. Mar 01, 2011 water for elephants is an enchanting pageturner, the kind of book that creates a world that engulfs you from the first page to the last. Books that defined a generation water for elephants. 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. 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.
In the end, fantasy wins, and the reader, like the rube visiting a circus, gets what he wants. Parade novelist gruen unearths a lost world with her rich and surprising portrayal of life in a traveling circus in the 30s. Winner of the 2007 bookbrowse diamond award for most popular book. The movie water for elephants stays close to sara gruens beloved book particularly with the 1930s circus memories section. It follows the story of a young man whose circumstances are suddenly altered and who finds himself homeless and jobless. The great depression in relation to water for elephants by. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 335 pages and is available in paperback format. Both exotic and erotic, water for elephants is filled with colour and passion but is also charged with an elegiac sense of loss for an entire way of life. The first edition of the novel was published in may 26th 2006, and was written by sara gruen. Pdf water for elephants book by sara gruen free download. The only place the movie veers from the original is in its details of the older, current jacob. Sara gruen spares no detail in chronicling the squalid, filthy, brutish circumstances in which he finds himself.
In the book, jacobs narration takes place in his own mind. When jacob jankowski, recently orphaned and suddenly adrift, jumps onto a passing train, he enters a world of freaks, drifters, and misfits, a secondrate circus struggling to. When i finished reading water for elephants, goose bumps covered my skin. I hate being so enamored with a book and then a crappy movie version comes along and tarnishes it. Oct 21, 2009 robert olen butler 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.
If youre looking for a rationale for water for elephants, its listed as a scholastic reading counts book side note. So i purchased the book and slowly began retreating. Water for elephants is a story about an elderly man, jacob, who recalls an adventure in his younger years. A veterinary student just shy of a degree, he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It was adult, and it was realistic, and i loved it. Jacob jankowski, a retired veterinarian living out his days in an assistedliving facility, drifts in and out of his memories. Water for elephants is the touching story of jacob jankowski, a ninetythreeyearold man, who is reminded of his colorful past when a circus sets up next door to his assistedliving center. It shouldnt be a surprise that in the prologue we cant tell whether jacob is talking about marlena or rosie when he uses the word she he loves them both and thinks of them both as individuals. Sara gruen has a voice to rival john irvings, and i am hopelessly, unabashedly in love with this book. Immediately engrossed, i had a hard time putting it down as i read the story of jacob jankowski and his reminiscence of days with the benzini brothers most spectacular show on earthotherwise known as a train circus in.
The story is told as a series of memories by jacob jankowski, a 93yearold man who lives in a nursing home. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. The denver post so compelling, so detailed and vivid, that i couldnt bear to be torn away from it for a single minute. The water for elephants lesson plan contains a variety of teaching materials that cater to all learning styles. This depressionera tale of life with a thirdrate traveling circus centers on orphaned animal caretaker jacob, the woman he loves and her cruel and abusive husband, who happens to be the boss. Jacob, the books narrator and protagonist, worked as a vet and trainer of sorts at a circus. It may be slightly over hyped, but it certainly deserves of most of the praise its receiving. Water for elephants is a moving tale about circus life during the depression era with quirky characters and complex emotions underlying the characters actions. Jacob, now 90 or 93 he cant recall, narrates from a nursing home, with vivid memories of the freaks, the clowns, the drunks, the. Free download or read online water for elephants pdf epub book. At its finest, 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. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
Every few chapters, the narrative switches from one jacob to the other. In what ways and to what extent do the words pathetic grandeur describe the world that gruen creates in her novel. Water for elephants ebook by sara gruen rakuten kobo. 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. The book the novel may have been initially kicked out in about a month, but sara gruens water for elephants bears all the hallmarks of a wellresearched work of historical fiction. Water for elephants by sara gruen at the best online ebook storage.
Weve probably all seen a movie and wished it were 40 minutes shorter or read a book and thought, damn, this really could have been condensed and lost. Tessa fontaines astonishing memoir of pushing past fear, the electric woman, follows the author on a lifeaffirming journey of loss and selfdiscovery through her time on the road with the last traveling american sideshow and her relationship with an adventurous, spirited mother. 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. People also love animals, and animals love them back. The truth is, it is summer and i am desperate for a distraction away from my recent obsession with greys anatomy reruns fueled by netflixs instant queue. Her works have been translated into fortythree languages and have sold more than ten million copies worldwide. Water for elephants is a book that can be read and reread, recommended and handed off between friends. On our first date, my husband took me to see tod brownings freaks, a 1932 horror film with a distinctly diane arbus feel. Weekends not the elephants by making room only for elephants. Only days before graduating from vet school in 1931, young jake learns his parents have died and left him penniless. In fact, this book is riddled with so much folklore regarding circus life that you both might be able to do make small activities and learn the specific jargon used in the book and what it means. Choose your countrys store to see books available for purchase.
Water for elephants is an enchanting pageturner, the kind of book that creates a world that engulfs you from the first page to the last. Apr 27, 2011 the book the novel may have been initially kicked out in about a month, but sara gruens water for elephants bears all the hallmarks of a wellresearched work of historical fiction. May 01, 2007 water for elephants was adapted into a major motion picture starring reese witherspoon, rob pattinson, and christoph waltz in 2011. A thousand splendid suns, memory keepers daughter, etc. Love is a driving force in water for elephants, and its not limited to the love one human feels for another. Beautifully written, water for elephants is illuminated by a wonderful sense of time and place. Inside youll find 30 daily lessons, 20 fun activities, 180 multiple choice questions, 60 short essay questions, 20 essay questions, quizzeshomework assignments, tests, and more. Feb 02, 2012 the movie water for elephants stays close to sara gruens beloved book particularly with the 1930s circus memories section. Find books like water for elephants from the worlds largest community of readers. Sep 26, 2011 if youre looking for a rationale for water for elephants, its listed as a scholastic reading counts book side note. Water for elephants is the story of jacobs life with this circus. An atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of starcrossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932, by the bestselling author of riding lessons.
Because who doesnt love a pachyderm and a happy ending. Water for elephants, gruens third novel, is a cozy read that has produced a copious amount of buzz cleveland plain dealer. 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. Water for elephants a depressionera circus provides the backdrop for sara gruens latest novel, water for elephants. It was the great depression and for jacob the circus was both his salvation and a living hell. Ann guidry, critical essay on water for elephants, in literary news makers for students, gale, cengage learning, 2009.
The alex award is given to books that are written for adults but appeal to teen readers. Water for elephants was a completely different read for me. She lives in western north carolina with her husband and three sons, along with their dogs, cats, horses, birds, and the worlds fussiest goat. Download and read online for free water for elephants by sara gruen. Water for elephants by sara gruen book club discussion. Water for elephants was adapted into a major motion picture starring reese witherspoon, rob pattinson, and. Jacob janowskis luck had run outorphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on a rickety train that was home to the benzini brothers most spectacular show on earth. 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. A national bestseller in canada and a new york times bestseller in the united states, this is a book destined to become a beloved fiction classic. Sara gruen uses her talent as a writer to bring that world alive for the reader.
Use these book club discussion questions on water for elephants to lead your book clubs conversation on the story. She wrote the book as part of national novel writing month. Read online water for elephants by sara gruen for free. Im not an advocate of boxed reading programs like this, but i know many schools use them. Stories similar to water for elephants books, stories, and novels like water for elephants by sara gruen.
The title, water for elephants, is almost a little inside joke with the reader once weve finished the book, that is. 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. 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. May 26, 2006 when i finished reading water for elephants, goose bumps covered my skin. How do the chapters about the older jacob enrich the story about jacobs adventure with the circus. May 22, 2006 jacob janowskis luck had run outorphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on a rickety train that was home to the benzini brothers most spectacular show on earth. Water for elephants has two plots going on, both starring the same main character, jacob.
I fell in love with the picture you chose for your book the first time i saw it. Water for elephants moves between a story about a circus and a story about an old man in a nursing home. Times, publishers weekly, san francisco chronicle, and washington post lists a usa today and wall street journal best seller an american book association indiebound best seller. A water for elephants discussion from reading group guides writers digest interview with sara gruen. In striving to enrich the lives of all readers, teachingbooks supports the first amendment and celebrates the right to read.
Goodreads members who liked water for elephants also liked. Water for elephants ebook by sara gruen 9781443406437. Water for elephants is the new york times bestselling debut novel by sara gruen. Water for elephants is one of my most favorite books. Apr 22, 2011 weve probably all seen a movie and wished it were 40 minutes shorter or read a book and thought, damn, this really could have been condensed and lost nothing.
Water for elephants is a rich surprise, a delightful gem springing from a fascinating footnote to history that absolutely deserved to be mined. Water for elephants movie tiein by sara gruen, paperback. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of water for elephants by sara gruen. 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. Create marketing content that resonates with prezi video.
Jul 04, 2011 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. No stranger to marrying the fates of her characters to animals, gruen previously published the novels riding lessons 2004 and flying changes 2005, both of which focus on horses and horsemanship. The animals are mangy, underfed or fed rotten food, and abused. 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. Aug 05, 2008 a meticulously researched, fastpaced, engaging and ultimately very satisfying novel set mostly ina depression era travelling circus. 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.