Reviews with content warning for Murder - Water for Elephants

I didn't have any expectations for this one, but I was interested in reading this before watching the movie - and it's a really great book. Unusual and emotionally engaging. As well as packed with adventure, drama and fantastic characters.

I watched the film adaptation after I finished the book - it was frustratingly crap. Can’t recommend it.

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butternana's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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amy_joy's review against another edition

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challenging emotional sad medium-paced

3.0

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bookcaptivated's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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rebwenhall's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I read this book when I was younger and I just re-read it. This book takes me through a roller coaster of emotions. I love the chapters of Jacob when he’s an old man and still has a love for the circus.

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veronicachp's review against another edition

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adventurous tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

4 star: Would re read and recommend, but had some gripes with it.

This book has been on my TBR for literally 10 years, and on my bookshelf at home for jist about as long. I honestly assumed I wasn't going to like it and kept putting off reading it, so consider me pleasantly surprised. My main gripes are that a lot of the "gritty" scenes and dialogue feel like they're tossed in there for shock value and not really blended in, and I wish there was a little more emotional development for everyone. The whole novel, including some pretty major character deaths, just reads as kind of stiff, impassive. I would have liked for there to be a little more insight to the characters reacting/processing things and some more focus on the side characters. BUT since it is written from Jacob's perspective and he is not omniscient I can somewhat forgive the whole book being the Jacob and Marlena show. Also TW: If you, like me, struggle with emetophobia, many scenes in this book will make you uncomfortable. Lotta throwing up in this bad boy.

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itshrewsbury's review against another edition

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reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

I really enjoyed the setting for the book! A circus during the Great Depression? How interesting, but the book tends to fall flat when it comes to characters that aren’t Jacob. The love interest, Marlena, has no real agency and no real flaws, so the romance aspect of the book tanked for me. When it comes to how a circus runs though, absolutely top tier!

16+

TW/CW: Misogyny, animal death, violence, nsfw scenes, slurs/anti-semitism, murder

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