Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

This book left me with mixed feelings!  Some authors would rate that as a success if their story lingers long after the book has been read but that all depends on whether it’s for the right reasons or not.

Set in a dull and bleak America buckling under the weight of the Depression and Prohibition, Jacob Jankowski is more fortunate than most…that is until he suddenly finds himself orphaned, penniless and at the mercy of the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. The storyline was interesting enough because it’s very different from anything I’ve read before but I felt no connection to either of the main characters.  Despite bold displays of bravado in the beginning, Jacob soon loses his ‘grit’ (I would be inclined to use a less appropriate term here – please insert your own-) as he embarks on a journey of discovery of himself as a sexual being – dare I say anymore?  I’m not sure if his original bravado was just adrenaline because of his newfound circumstances…?!   Marlena – the love of Jacob’s life – is married to an older, violent man who happens to be Jacob’s boss.  The expected tensions between the two alpha males arise which culminates in flared tempers and flying fists.  Marlena’s seeming lack of personality and docility makes it hard to feel anything but pity for her.  The one character I did thoroughly enjoy though was the crotchety old man that is Jacob at the ripe old age of 93 (or so he thinks) but I couldn’t reconcile him with the young Jacob.

There are also a number of instances of animal cruelty dotted throughout the story which makes for some difficult reading.  I understand that such cruelty seemed to be a part of fabric of circus-life at the time and thus adds an element of authenticity to the story but that’s just not my thing and for that reason I am giving this book THREE COFFEE CUPS ☕☕☕