A review by readformehaikuforyou
Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen
4.0
“Life is the most spectacular show on Earth.”
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen is set during the 1920s/1930s prohibition and depression era. It tells the story of an orphaned Jacob Jankowski who doesn’t quite finish vet school, but finds himself a part of a traveling train circus as their resident veterinarian.
Told in a dual timeline, Jacob moves in and out of the present day as he remembers his time with the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Adequately described as ‘gritty’ this story is a heartbreaking, frustrating, yet worthwhile read.
Though it’s hard to choose, brevity tends to be best, so here’s one thing I adored and one thing I didn’t.
✔️ I adored the back and forth timeline.
I am a sucker for timeline jumps. It is such a neat way to tell a story and listening to Jacob as a 90 (or 93) year old tell his story was heart wrenching. Bringing in his voice was so important, especially in these two very different portions of this life.
✖️ I was absolutely disgusted by the animal abuse.
However, this wasn’t an issue with the book. Animal abuse was prevalent in circuses and it’s always important that this is known and discussed. It was just incredibly difficult to read about.
There are loads of content and trigger warnings in this book. Here are the ones I can remember coming up.
⚠️ animal abuse, spousal abuse, mental illness portrayed negatively, murder, racism, classism, alcoholism, non consensual sexual encounters.
Quotes that stuck:
“With a secret like that, at some point the secret itself becomes irrelevant. The fact that you kept it does not.”
“When you are five, you know your age down to the month. Even in your twenties, you know how old you are. I'm twenty-three you say, or maybe twenty-seven. But then in your thirties, something strange starts to happen. It is a mere hiccup at first, an instant of hesitation. How old are you? Oh, I'm--you start confidently, but then you stop. You were going to say thirty-three, but you are not. You're thirty-five. And then you're bothered, because you wonder if this is the beginning of the end. It is, of course, but it's decades before you admit it.”
“The more distressing the memory, the more persistent it’s presence.”
“Age is a terrible thief. Just when you're getting the hang of life, it knocks your legs out from under you and stoops your back. It makes you ache and muddies your head and silently spreads cancer throughout your spouse.”
“Is where you’re from the place you’re leaving or where you have roots?”
“Being the survivor stinks.”
“The whole thing's illusion, and there's nothing wrong with that. It's what people want from us. It's what they expect.”
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen is set during the 1920s/1930s prohibition and depression era. It tells the story of an orphaned Jacob Jankowski who doesn’t quite finish vet school, but finds himself a part of a traveling train circus as their resident veterinarian.
Told in a dual timeline, Jacob moves in and out of the present day as he remembers his time with the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Adequately described as ‘gritty’ this story is a heartbreaking, frustrating, yet worthwhile read.
Though it’s hard to choose, brevity tends to be best, so here’s one thing I adored and one thing I didn’t.
✔️ I adored the back and forth timeline.
I am a sucker for timeline jumps. It is such a neat way to tell a story and listening to Jacob as a 90 (or 93) year old tell his story was heart wrenching. Bringing in his voice was so important, especially in these two very different portions of this life.
✖️ I was absolutely disgusted by the animal abuse.
However, this wasn’t an issue with the book. Animal abuse was prevalent in circuses and it’s always important that this is known and discussed. It was just incredibly difficult to read about.
There are loads of content and trigger warnings in this book. Here are the ones I can remember coming up.
⚠️ animal abuse, spousal abuse, mental illness portrayed negatively, murder, racism, classism, alcoholism, non consensual sexual encounters.
Quotes that stuck:
“With a secret like that, at some point the secret itself becomes irrelevant. The fact that you kept it does not.”
“When you are five, you know your age down to the month. Even in your twenties, you know how old you are. I'm twenty-three you say, or maybe twenty-seven. But then in your thirties, something strange starts to happen. It is a mere hiccup at first, an instant of hesitation. How old are you? Oh, I'm--you start confidently, but then you stop. You were going to say thirty-three, but you are not. You're thirty-five. And then you're bothered, because you wonder if this is the beginning of the end. It is, of course, but it's decades before you admit it.”
“The more distressing the memory, the more persistent it’s presence.”
“Age is a terrible thief. Just when you're getting the hang of life, it knocks your legs out from under you and stoops your back. It makes you ache and muddies your head and silently spreads cancer throughout your spouse.”
“Is where you’re from the place you’re leaving or where you have roots?”
“Being the survivor stinks.”
“The whole thing's illusion, and there's nothing wrong with that. It's what people want from us. It's what they expect.”