Scan barcode
mikalou's review against another edition
5.0
AMAZING NOVEL!! I have never been more pleased with a book that I didn't want to read. I hate any and all things circus, but Water for Elephants has changed my views. The main character, Jacob is so easy to fall in love with, even through all of his faults. This was a wonderful and sincere story. The only thing I hated about this novel was closing the back cover and leaving Jacob and his world.
amandahale's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. I have never even been to the circus, so it was awesome to have it described so vividly in the book that I could see it perfectly in my mind. There was plenty of action and I didn't feel the romance parts were too over-the-top sappy. It was a really quick read and I'm a little sad it's over!
mlb16's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
carolyn_clark's review against another edition
4.0
A really good book which I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
k8degr8's review against another edition
3.0
I'm vacillating between a 3-star and 4-star review here and here's why.
I completely enjoyed reading this book. In fact, I stayed up until 3 am to finish it. So, clearly, the author has conquered the whole "page-turner" thing. And I felt connected to the leading man and the "leading elephant."
But the book reminds me of a big juicy slice of pizza from a New York City joint. I can't put it down, love eating it, and certainly can't stop until I'm done. And it's tasty. But it's not a gourmet experience. It's just slapped together and pretty greasy.
Sometimes that's just what you want though. I somehow thought this would be more of a souffle (which it wasn't.)
Here's what seemed slap-dash / greasy to me: sentimental, mildly pedantic, cliched. The lead female character is described as physically attractive, but we never learn enough about her to actually care or have a complex experience of her.
And why in the world does it take our Polish-speaking hero so many chapters to add 2 and 2 regarding the Polish-speaking elephant (who is key to the plot)??? Just stretched my patience a bit. And the end sort of wraps up too quickly and easily in an seriously incredible way. (I do mean incredible here in the sense of "don't believe it.")
If only all of the plot points had been as nicely rendered as my favorite, in which we are led to believe (in an early chapter) that it is the woman lead character who murders the ringmaster - and whose secret about that murder our hero has kept all these years. But, in a delightful and satisfying twist, we finally circle back to this scene and it is revealed that the murderer is the much-abused elephant - and that the secret loyally kept was to this noble beast. This piece makes me want to forgive the rest, but I'm a sucker for animals.
I completely enjoyed reading this book. In fact, I stayed up until 3 am to finish it. So, clearly, the author has conquered the whole "page-turner" thing. And I felt connected to the leading man and the "leading elephant."
But the book reminds me of a big juicy slice of pizza from a New York City joint. I can't put it down, love eating it, and certainly can't stop until I'm done. And it's tasty. But it's not a gourmet experience. It's just slapped together and pretty greasy.
Sometimes that's just what you want though. I somehow thought this would be more of a souffle (which it wasn't.)
Here's what seemed slap-dash / greasy to me: sentimental, mildly pedantic, cliched. The lead female character is described as physically attractive, but we never learn enough about her to actually care or have a complex experience of her.
And why in the world does it take our Polish-speaking hero so many chapters to add 2 and 2 regarding the Polish-speaking elephant (who is key to the plot)??? Just stretched my patience a bit. And the end sort of wraps up too quickly and easily in an seriously incredible way. (I do mean incredible here in the sense of "don't believe it.")
If only all of the plot points had been as nicely rendered as my favorite, in which we are led to believe (in an early chapter) that it is the woman lead character who murders the ringmaster - and whose secret about that murder our hero has kept all these years. But, in a delightful and satisfying twist, we finally circle back to this scene and it is revealed that the murderer is the much-abused elephant - and that the secret loyally kept was to this noble beast. This piece makes me want to forgive the rest, but I'm a sucker for animals.
teeniereadsalot's review against another edition
3.0
This book was a quick read. I received it as a gift from someone who just LOVED this story and could not stop raving about it. It was quick paced. The story engaging, but it was also, in this reader's opinion, predictable. I knew from about the 3rd chapter in what would happen to the 2 main characters. The circus story kept me reading. The nursing home scenes made me sad. Which I guess was what the author was trying to do. I didn't hate it, but it's not a book I would put in my top 10 either.
needcoffeenow's review against another edition
4.0
Thoroughly enjoyable, interesting and educational!