Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen

Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen. It's about a guy, who in 1931, finds out his parents have died suddenly in a car accident. The narrator and main character, Jacob Jankowski, is in the last weeks of school at Cornell University, completing his degree in veterinary medicine when he gets this horrible news. In addition, he also finds out that his parents have left him with nothing, including the vets office he was going to join with his father because the Depression and college fees have left them broke. In shock, Jacob runs away and joins the circus where he becomes the "vet" for 7 years taking care of horses, elephants, chimps, orangutans, hippos, big cats, dogs, giraffes and much more. The book is building up to some shocking occurrence but I am only 1/2 way through. I am, however, enjoying every minute this book. It is hilarious and the writer's ability to give such sweet and compelling details to the main characters relationship with the animals and other characters in the story is superb.

It was totally enjoyable and only took me two days to read. It was one of those books where you look forward to waking up so you can read it while drinking your morning coffee. I would give it 3 1/2 stars (out of 4). The only reason that I don't give it the other 1/2 is because it isn't quite up there with my all time favorites and at the beginning of the book, I knew the "twist" that was to be revealed in the last part of the novel. Also, I loved the story and the detail that the author gave to the circus people. She gave the reader several characters who were likable and who you, as the reader, were rooting for. Something that I've found recently in novels is that there aren't any characters that I feel a connection with or that I even like. I feel that many authors just don't give their readers characters with enough "umph" to them and they I'm not invested in their outcome. In Water for Elephants, I was totally invested and in fact engrossed in the characters lives. A definite recommendation.