This may be a totally amateur answer, but i totally thought the book was titled water for elephants because of the old man in the book that jacob despised. When two people are meant to be together, they will be together. His lie telling the old ladies that he used to carry water for the elephants is what triggers jacobs memory about working with the circus. If youre reading, or have read, water for elephants then youve already come across. Download and read online for free water for elephants by sara gruen. His shirt is filthy and untucked, puffing out from behind his suspenders. The title, water for elephants, is almost a little inside joke with the reader once weve finished the book, that is. Sara gruen has said that the backbone of her novel parallels the biblical story of jacob, in the book of genesis. I bought this book because of push advertising and regretted it. Readers may find themselves churning through this book at a rapidfire pace, eager to see what lies ahead, then slowing down as they realize the pages are dwindling. Sara gruen is a wonderful writer, and her words flow from page to page.
I f youre looking for a good summer read, heres a place to start. She wrote the book as part of national novel writing month. On the first night after his leaving cornell, for example, jacobas did his biblical namesakelies back on the bank, resting my head on a flat stone page 23. At the circus, jacob has to work with a problematic man named august, whos in charge of the most important. Was it braver to kill august or to refrain from doing so.
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 jankowski, a retired veterinarian living out his days in an assistedliving facility, drifts in and out of his memories. Based on a bestselling novel by sara gruen, it has the fussy, overstuffed. Water for elephants, published in 2007, is sara gruens third novel. Water for elephants is a 2006 novel by canadianamerican author sara gruen. Jacob jankowski, who is currently ninety or ninetytwo, tells the story. I began this blog in march 2010 when i learned that one of my favorite books, water for elephants, had been optioned for a film. But be warned, this isnt the order of events in the book.
Water for elephants summary water for elephants has two plots going on, both starring the same main character, jacob. Then gruen shifts readers attention away from the eerie circus to introduce the ninety or ninetythree year old protagonist, jacob jankowski. He gives jacob something called a bull hook and says he is going to need it. The story is told as a series of memories by jacob jankowski, a 93yearold man who lives in a nursing home. It stars reese witherspoon, robert pattinson, and christoph waltz. The movie water for elephants stays close to sara gruens beloved book particularly with the 1930s circus memories section. There, he works as the shows vet, and falls ever more in love with marlena, the star of the circus and beautiful wife of the temperamental ringmaster august. Jacob will go down in the records book as the oldest man to run away with the circus.
Jacob, the books narrator and protagonist, worked as a vet and trainer of sorts at a circus. Its a story set in the 1930s in america, during the great depression. Novelist sara gruen sweeps her readers off their feet in the opening pages of water for elephants and doesnt let go until she deposits them at the end of her fantastic tale of passion, madness and fancy. Water for elephants is the new york times bestselling debut novel by sara gruen. Review of water for elephants good books for catholic kids.
A novel and millions of other books are available for instant. Water for elephants takes us back in time, not just because it is set in the 30s but also because the movie is filmed with such quality and attention to detail, it is very much like movies used to be made. Novelist sara gruen sweeps her readers off their feet in the opening pages of water for elephantsand doesnt let go until she deposits them at the end of her fantastic tale of passion, madness and fancy. Veterinary school student jacob meets and falls in love with marlena, a star performer in a circus of a bygone era. The circus, the great depression, a complex elephant, equally complex love, the mists and twists of memory articulated in the utterly winning voice of a very old man whos seen it all. Ps, this wasnt zoomed it, this was actual distance. Water for elephants book by sara gruen thriftbooks. I am the equestrian director and superintendent of animals, replies august, drawing himself up to full height. Sara gruen has a voice to rival john irvings, and i am hopelessly, unabashedly in love with this book. Jun 19, 2010 bullhook or ankus the bull hook was used by elephant trainers to get the elephants attention and guide the animals to their tasks. See more of official water for elephants movie on facebook. Set during the great depression, water for elephants tells the story of a young man who leaves his life as a cornell university veterinary student after losing both his parents in a car accident, and jumps onto a train that happens to house the benzini brothers most. Aug 21, 2009 first let me say this is one of my all time favorite books i would really suggest you reading it if you havent already.
Water for elephants by sara gruen at the best online ebook storage. But also, by carrying the theme of deceit, the title forces us to question the truthfulness of jacobs story. Originally published by algonquin books on may 26, 2006, water for elephants is available in 44 languages and has over 3 million copies in print worldwide. Water for elephants teaches us that courage is everywhere, everyday. With a showmans expert timing, gruen saves a terrific revelation for the final pages, transforming a glimpse of americana. Water for elephants book trailer, student work htk.
August states that he wants jacob to be the bull man, and jacob explains he is not a real vet, as he did not receive a degree. I attended a couple of group discussions and a presentation by the author. 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. Water for elephants the film a unique blog dedicated to. Free download or read online water for elephants pdf epub book. 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. August also somewhat forces the role pf the bull man onto jacob, so that he is now. Water for elephants has two plots going on, both starring the same main character, jacob. There is one glorious passage about marlena and rosie, the bull elephant, that. The characters were very shallow and the climax of the book was literally given away in the first teaser chapter. If you like water for elephants you might like similar books the secret life of bees, the time travelers wife, the help, my sisters keeper, the lovely bones. Bullhand or bull handler circus employee working with the elephants. Apr 23, 2010 in a few short weeks, water for elephants will begin filming. The only place the movie veers from the original is in its details of the older, current jacob.
Water for elephants is a delightful, moving book, and the ending was a very pleasant surprise. Water for elephants, gruens third novel, is a cozy read that has produced a copious amount of buzz cleveland plain dealer. Bull hook an elephant herding tool with a sharp tip. 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. Only the violent use of a bull hook persuades it to obey. The young man passes him an old photograph of a young woman sitting on an elephant s trunk, and jacob tears up. Sara gruen has written an utterly transporting novel richly full of the stuff of life. I dove headlong into blogging about this film in progress with a fools passion. Sara gruens arresting new novel, water for elephants, explores similar subject matter the pathetic grandeur of the depressionera. The animals are mangy, underfed or fed rotten food, and abused. The circus train only had a limited amount of water on board, and elephants can drink 100300 litres per day approximately 2680 gallons. Apr 22, 2011 8 big differences between water for elephants book and movie apr. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of water for elephants by sara gruen.
Its the story of jacob, who runs away to the circus during the depression when his life falls apart around him. 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. Water for elephants is the story of jacobs life with this circus. Im still using my hand held camera, so sorry for the sound quality. I hate being so enamored with a book and then a crappy movie version comes along and tarnishes it. 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. Dec 21, 2017 this trail guide remains incredibly calm and manages to halt a charging elephant in south africa. The two readers, david ledoux and john randolph jones, did a wonderful job of bringing both jacobs young and old to life. In the beginning of the novel, jacob mocks another resident of the nursing home who claims to have worked in the circus and carried water for the elephants. Water for elephants begins dark and violent as it braces readers for the tumultuous circus atmosphere during the terrible years of the great depression.
The book has been awarded with book sense book of the year award for adult fiction 2007, ala alex award 2007 and many others. The narrator, our protagonist, is jacob jankowski, a ninety or ninety three year old man who wants, more than anything else, to sink his teeth in apples and to be able to walk independently. If youve read the book or even just the movie script, you may already know what these terms mean. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the. Water for elephants was the oneread book in my community this year. Sara gruens arresting new novel, water for elephants, explores. After he tells jacob to use another mans ration of water to bathe with. Its because of that damned bull, says the man in front of me. Water for elephants 2011 frequently asked questions imdb. Pdf water for elephants book by sara gruen free download. Director francis lawrence has used a few of these words in his tweets, as have the roustabouts and other performers in the film. Water for elephants was on the new york times best seller list for 12 weeks in 2006 and the paperback hit number one on the same list on july 8, 2007. The elephant is at least 10 feet tall, her skin is mottled and cracked like a scorched riverbed from the tip of her drunk all the way to her feet. Gruen transports us into the world of a thirdrate traveling circus during the great depression.
For me water for elephants is a story i wont forget. At the end of the book, when the nesci brothers swoop in and try to steal her liberty horses, she will have. The helicopters were up to the task, but, as it turned out, the harness wasnt. Water for elephants, 2011 the new york times best sellers fiction winner, sara gruen water for elephants sara gruen i didnt like it. You may hear strange phrases thrown around during filming like kinkers, and redlighted. Water for elephants movie tiein by sara gruen, paperback. Water for elephants is a book that can be read and reread, recommended and handed off between friends. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
Her plot points are not as predictable as they appear at first glance, and she is able to strike a nice balance alternating between young jacob and elderly jacob. During drinks, august states that he wants jacob to be the bull man, and jacob. And at least he was polite enough to not knock over the beer. It could handle the juvenile and adult female elephants, but not the huge african bull elephants. The equestrian director, august, is a brutal man who mistreats the animals in his care such as the new elephant, rosie and the people around. Use these book club discussion questions on water for elephants to lead your book clubs conversation on the story. Pdf water for elephants download full pdf book download. Only days before graduating from vet school in 1931, young jake learns his parents have died and left him penniless. May 26, 2006 water for elephants is the story of jacobs life with this circus. The film was released in the united states on april 22, 2011.
August shockingly doesnt mind and they drink a cheer to rosie. In a frame story, jacob as an old man a wonderful hal holbrook recounts. So a special harness was created to airlift the elephants and fly them out of the park using helicopters. 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. He is brought to the trailer to meet the circus owner and it is.
Monday man a man who would steal from the townspeople usually from. 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. Winner of the 2007 bookbrowse award for most popular book. In your opinion, what is the most courageous act in the book and why. Her works have been translated into fortythree languages and have sold more than ten million copies worldwide. The video was filmed at kruger national park, and shows the elephant being stopped in its tracks. The first edition of the novel was published in may 26th 2006, and was written by sara gruen.
I watched the filmmovie titled water for elephants before reading the book. The last notes of water for elephants linger long after the book ends. While reading water for elephants i found the plot hyperbolic and excessively melodramatic and the characters little developed beyond their names. Hi, this morning when i was on my way to work, my daughter, who is in 6th grade and will be 12 in july, asked me if she could read like water for elephants. I thought it would be useful to have a glossary of circus terms on the wfe film blog. The movie flashes back to 1931, as a young man younger jacob robert pattinson was preparing to take his final exam at vet school. The circus now enjoys a new found public adulation. Instead, water for elephants begins more seamlessly, at a modernday circus with a nice old man just wanting a break from the rain. To ask other readers questions about water for elephants, please sign up. Water for elephants is one of my most favorite books. Well, the phrase reinforces jacobs association with circuses.
Water for elephants, 2007, sara gruen water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month. May 26, 2006 water for elephants, 2007, sara gruen water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month. Elephants need a lot of room to roam, so habitat destruction and fragmentation not only makes it harder for them to find food, water, and each other, but it also puts them in increased conflict. He uses a torturous tool called a bull hook to make her obey. And when rosie, tortured by augusts bullhook, lies beaten and bleeding.
The book received a mixed reception here, but there was a preponderance of like over dislike among those who attended discussions. Younger jacob and older jacob each gets to have his say. Also, if you want a special treat, listen to it on audiobook. Water for elephants by algonquin books and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. It is a world filled with a menagerie of exotic animals, midgets, freaks, performers, and a sadistic circus. Her works have been translated into fortythree languages, and have sold more than ten million copies worldwide. In one plot, jacob is a young guy just starting out in the world. Jun 20, 2012 being enormous creatures, elephants are not easily transported. She rebelliously ran away from home as a teenager, married august, and joined the circus.
On our first date, my husband took me to see tod brownings freaks, a 1932 horror film with a distinctly diane arbus feel. And i saw that man, who wrote the book according to the command of the lord, till he opened that book concerning the destruction which those twelve last shepherds had wrought, and showed that they had destroyed much more than their predecessors, before the lord of the sheep. 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. September 21, 2012 welcome to the water for elephants film blog. Fortunately the situation changes when jacob discovers the animal is familiar with the polish language.
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. At the water s edge, ape house, water for elephants, riding lessons, and flying changes. African elephant, facts and photos national geographic. The young man asks jacob to tell him what happened in 1931, and so the story begins. In a few short weeks, water for elephants will begin filming. Water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing. My affection for water for elephants fox studios is essentially indefensible. The book went on to receive numerous awards and nominations as well as a film adaptation in 2011 starring robert pattinson and reese witherspoon. Water for elephants is a 2011 american romantic drama film directed by francis lawrence and written by richard lagravenese, based on sara gruens 2006 novel of the same name. Fans of the story looking for more gritty, circus related tales should check out the following books like water for elephants. Water for elephants script at the internet movie script database. Jacob is working overtime as the narrator of water for elephants. Water for elephants is it too adult for an 11 year old.
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