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. 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. 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. Her works have been translated into fortythree languages and have sold more than ten million copies worldwide. Water for elephants is a fascinating read, filled with danger, acts of evil, overwhelming kindness, and enduring love. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 335 pages and is available in paperback format. Sara gruen uses her talent as a writer to bring that world alive for the reader. Water for elephants by sara gruen at the best online ebook storage. Download and read online for free water for elephants by sara gruen. The great depression in relation to water for elephants by. 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. 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. How do the chapters about the older jacob enrich the story about jacobs adventure with the circus. Water for elephants is a moving tale about circus life during the depression era with quirky characters and complex emotions underlying the characters actions.
Gruen transports us into the world of a thirdrate traveling circus during the great depression. Free download or read online water for elephants pdf epub book. 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. She wrote the book as part of national novel writing month. When i finished reading water for elephants, goose bumps covered my skin. 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. Water for elephants ebook by sara gruen rakuten kobo. Water for elephants was a completely different read for me. 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. Jacob, the books narrator and protagonist, worked as a vet and trainer of sorts at a circus. Water for elephants is one of my most favorite books.
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. A thousand splendid suns, memory keepers daughter, etc. Im not an advocate of boxed reading programs like this, but i know many schools use them. Water for elephants is mostly fantasy, punctuated with reality for the purpose of contrast. Water for elephants is the story of jacobs life with this circus. 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.
Sara gruen spares no detail in chronicling the squalid, filthy, brutish circumstances in which he finds himself. If youre looking for a rationale for water for elephants, its listed as a scholastic reading counts book side note. 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. Jacob jankowski, a retired veterinarian living out his days in an assistedliving facility, drifts in and out of his memories. Water for elephants is a story about an elderly man, jacob, who recalls an adventure in his younger years. People also love animals, and animals love them back. Goodreads members who liked water for elephants also liked. Read water for elephants absolutely for free at readanybook. Only days before graduating from vet school in 1931, young jake learns his parents have died and left him penniless. Water for elephants a depressionera circus provides the backdrop for sara gruens latest novel, water for elephants.
Water for elephants movie tiein by sara gruen, paperback. Books that defined a generation water for elephants. Water for elephants is a book that can be read and reread, recommended and handed off between friends. Pdf water for elephants book by sara gruen free download.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. In the book, jacobs narration takes place in his own mind. Water for elephants moves between a story about a circus and a story about an old man in a nursing home. Beautifully written, water for elephants is illuminated by a wonderful sense of time and place. The denver post so compelling, so detailed and vivid, that i couldnt bear to be torn away from it for a single minute. 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.
The title, water for elephants, is almost a little inside joke with the reader once weve finished the book, that is. The only place the movie veers from the original is in its details of the older, current jacob. 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. 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. Sara gruen has a voice to rival john irvings, and i am hopelessly, unabashedly in love with this book. Water for elephants by sara gruen book club discussion. 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. Sep 26, 2011 if youre looking for a rationale for water for elephants, its listed as a scholastic reading counts book side note. In the end, fantasy wins, and the reader, like the rube visiting a circus, gets what he wants. 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.
An atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of starcrossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932, by the bestselling author of riding lessons. The story is told as a series of memories by jacob jankowski, a 93yearold man who lives in a nursing home. Parade novelist gruen unearths a lost world with her rich and surprising portrayal of life in a traveling circus in the 30s. Water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month. Jacob, now 90 or 93 he cant recall, narrates from a nursing home, with vivid memories of the freaks, the clowns, the drunks, the. Water for elephants book club discussion questions and answers. Water for elephants has two plots going on, both starring the same main character, jacob. Water for elephants, gruens third novel, is a cozy read that has produced a copious amount of buzz cleveland plain dealer. Blackandwhite photographs of real american circus scenes from the first half of the century are interspersed throughout the. 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. 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.
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. 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. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. A water for elephants discussion from reading group guides writers digest interview with sara gruen. May 01, 2007 water for elephants was adapted into a major motion picture starring reese witherspoon, rob pattinson, and christoph waltz in 2011. So i purchased the book and slowly began retreating. Water for elephants is a rich surprise, a delightful gem springing from a fascinating footnote to history that absolutely deserved to be mined.
I fell in love with the picture you chose for your book the first time i saw it. I hate being so enamored with a book and then a crappy movie version comes along and tarnishes it. Because who doesnt love a pachyderm and a happy ending. Water for elephants was adapted into a major motion picture starring reese witherspoon, rob pattinson, and. Weekends not the elephants by making room only for elephants. Water for elephants ebook by sara gruen 9781443406437. Create marketing content that resonates with prezi video. It was adult, and it was realistic, and i loved it.
Water for elephants is the new york times bestselling debut novel by sara gruen. Every few chapters, the narrative switches from one jacob to the other. Read online water for elephants by sara gruen for free. It follows the story of a young man whose circumstances are suddenly altered and who finds himself homeless and jobless. Find books like water for elephants from the worlds largest community of readers.
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. A veterinary student just shy of a degree, he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. 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. The movie water for elephants stays close to sara gruens beloved book particularly with the 1930s circus memories section. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of water for elephants by sara gruen. In what ways and to what extent do the words pathetic grandeur describe the world that gruen creates in her novel. The animals are mangy, underfed or fed rotten food, and abused. 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. The water for elephants lesson plan contains a variety of teaching materials that cater to all learning styles.
And since its set during the prohibition era you could have some fun discussing that as well. These book club discussion questions reveal important details about water for elephants by sara gruen. The alex award is given to books that are written for adults but appeal to teen readers. 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. 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. Stories similar to water for elephants books, stories, and novels like water for elephants by sara gruen.
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. 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. In striving to enrich the lives of all readers, teachingbooks supports the first amendment and celebrates the right to read. 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. Aug 05, 2008 a meticulously researched, fastpaced, engaging and ultimately very satisfying novel set mostly ina depression era travelling circus.
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 is an enchanting pageturner, the kind of book that creates a world that engulfs you from the first page to the last. Choose your countrys store to see books available for purchase. Love is a driving force in water for elephants, and its not limited to the love one human feels for another. 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. Use these book club discussion questions on water for elephants to lead your book clubs conversation on the story. In one plot, jacob is a young guy just starting out in the world. It may be slightly over hyped, but it certainly deserves of most of the praise its receiving. 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. Winner of the 2007 bookbrowse diamond award for most popular book. 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.
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