The theatrical release of the movie adaptation of Sara Gruen’s Water for Elephants is just a couple weeks away. And we’re excited to see this movie for a lot of reasons — not just because of Robert Pattinson’s swoon-worthy factor, but because the novel is simply AMAZING, and we can’t wait to see how it translates to the big screen.
And since we’re firm believers in reading the book BEFORE you see the movie, we’re spending all this week featuring the book Water for Elephants, and we’ve even got some cool surprises for you, thanks to our friends at Algonquin Books.
So first, here’s what the book is all about:
Though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski’s ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell.
Jacob was there because his luck had run out – orphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on this locomotive ‘ship of fools’. It was the early part of the Great Depression, and everyone in this third-rate circus was lucky to have any job at all. Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, was there because she fell in love with the wrong man, a handsome circus boss with a wide mean streak. And Rosie the elephant was there because she was the great gray hope, the new act that was going to be the salvation of the circus; the only problem was, Rosie didn’t have an act – in fact, she couldn’t even follow instructions. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.
And here’s a look at the upcoming movie adaptation:
For the comments: Have you read Water for Elephants? Share your thoughts below!
Novel Novice 
I read this last year and fell in love! One of my favorites now!
I just recently read this book when I seen a trailer for the movie. I always want to read the book first and I was so engrossed in this book I finished it in like 2 days. I can’t wait for the movie, but as always I know the movie won’t even touch the book’s flow of the story