Reviews with content warning for Gore - Water for Elephants

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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jenna_justi2004's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative slow-paced

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

4.0

Lots of thoughts. I love the different perspectives, Jacob from when he’s 93 and then when he’s like 20 something maybe even younger. The romance was kinda meh, I’m glad it wasn’t the main focus at least in my opinion. I’m really upset that old guy and Walter died. Walters last moments must have been horrifying. I’m glad Jacob took Queenie in. And Rosie especially. I’m also glad she killed august. I wonder how Marlene knew the baby wasn’t augusts baby. The abuse that Rosie sustained was unbearable and unbelievable it was the most horrific descriptions I have ever read in a book. Which also made me hate the hook at the same time. Also the ending, it was literally amazing. I’m so glad he can like die doing something he loves doing, you know in a circus at the very. It’s one of the best ways to end the book I feel like.

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jasminn_perez's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious 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

3.0

i was disappointed in the writing. there were so many times where i was questioning what the fuck was going on and why i was reading abt it. the love story was ass bro. like ive read fan fiction that was better written. made me so sad. marlena pissed me off too that bitch was always crying about something. howeverrr i was surprised at how well this book kept my attention like i was entertained fs. i love walter and i actually cried i miss him sm. jacob and walter had a better relationship progression than him and marlena liiikkee. august got what he deserved tbfh and it was a satisfactory ending to him :)). rosie slayed always. i pictured jacob as like a nerdy lookin rob and i was satisfied he was pretty sexy. i am excited to watch the movie. but also why tf was he yelling all the time. this book changed my views on old ppl actually. like being in a home sounds so sucky and when his family forgot abt him i cried so bad. it also made me happy that he rejoined the circus at the end :3

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cammiem8's review

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adventurous sad medium-paced

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

3.0

I can’t quite put my finger on why I didn’t enjoy this book more. I love books about old timey cheating, but the love story just didn’t quite grip me. The plot had enough turns to keep me engaged and I did listen through it very quickly. I also didn’t care much for the parts of the book set much later with the old man, I didn’t think the framing device added much of value.

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