Water for Elephants
I finally finished my summer book club list! Aren't you proud of me?! If you want to get technical I'm only just over a week late in this post and my book was finished before fall arrived (although I am still working on the Dragon book, ah well).
My last book on the list was Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.
This book begins with a truly captivating prologue which describes a horrific scene in the midst of circus catastrophe which immediately catches your attention. The story is told through the perspective of the main character, Jacob. Jacob recounts his life as a 20-something working for a traveling circus show while living as a 90-something in a nursing home. The book switches from one point in time to the other and through this journey we learn Jacob joins the circus on whim after a family tragedy seconds shy of graduating from Cornell University with a degree in veterinary science. Throughout his initial months working for the circus, Jacob meets a wide variety of characters (As you can imagine given the circumstances) ranging from a lunatic boss to a cuddly orangutan. The characters who change Jacob the most throughout the book include a graceful acrobat and a giant elephant, it sounds really weird but Sara Gruen makes it work. This book is full of events and I have to admit, there were times I wasn't quite sure how it would all come together. In the end, it is a tale of loyalty, devotion, and most of all love. The last 50 pages or so made this book resonate with me for days following its completion. I truly enjoyed this read. I'm not sure I'd run out to read another Gruen tale, however, but I do recommend this one.
Next Up: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo- yes, I'm still reading and blogging about this and I have a bone to pick with Dragon fans... when does this book get going?!?! I'm 1/4 of the way through the first one and nothing exciting has happened yet! I hear this is how it is and it'll pick up soon but, seriously? 200 pages into the book and I haven't even gotten to the part mentioned on the back cover? What's up with that? Luckily I have large chunks of time, a chilly forecast, and the smell of a home cooked pot roast in my weekend ahead... the perfect opportunity to dive head first into this thriller. I promise, the next time you hear about it, I will be writing my review!
My last book on the list was Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.
This book begins with a truly captivating prologue which describes a horrific scene in the midst of circus catastrophe which immediately catches your attention. The story is told through the perspective of the main character, Jacob. Jacob recounts his life as a 20-something working for a traveling circus show while living as a 90-something in a nursing home. The book switches from one point in time to the other and through this journey we learn Jacob joins the circus on whim after a family tragedy seconds shy of graduating from Cornell University with a degree in veterinary science. Throughout his initial months working for the circus, Jacob meets a wide variety of characters (As you can imagine given the circumstances) ranging from a lunatic boss to a cuddly orangutan. The characters who change Jacob the most throughout the book include a graceful acrobat and a giant elephant, it sounds really weird but Sara Gruen makes it work. This book is full of events and I have to admit, there were times I wasn't quite sure how it would all come together. In the end, it is a tale of loyalty, devotion, and most of all love. The last 50 pages or so made this book resonate with me for days following its completion. I truly enjoyed this read. I'm not sure I'd run out to read another Gruen tale, however, but I do recommend this one.
Next Up: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo- yes, I'm still reading and blogging about this and I have a bone to pick with Dragon fans... when does this book get going?!?! I'm 1/4 of the way through the first one and nothing exciting has happened yet! I hear this is how it is and it'll pick up soon but, seriously? 200 pages into the book and I haven't even gotten to the part mentioned on the back cover? What's up with that? Luckily I have large chunks of time, a chilly forecast, and the smell of a home cooked pot roast in my weekend ahead... the perfect opportunity to dive head first into this thriller. I promise, the next time you hear about it, I will be writing my review!
Trust, if you aren't able to get into the Dragon books, there is something seriously wrong with you; it might even be of the clinical nature. :) However, I know that my cousin wasn't a fan of the 1st one but loved the 2nd and 3rd. Keep at it!
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