The book has been awarded with book sense book of the year award for adult fiction 2007, ala alex award 2007 and many others. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. It may be slightly over hyped, but it certainly deserves of most of the praise its receiving. Suggested book and reading club discussion questions for water for elephants. I f youre looking for a good summer read, heres a place to start. Water for elephants is the story of jacobs life with this circus. What does the novel have to say about loyalty during hard times.
But generally i tend to agree with his stamp of approval. On our first date, my husband took me to see tod brownings freaks, a 1932 horror film with a distinctly diane arbus feel. Jacob jankowski, who is currently ninety or ninetytwo, tells the story of how he left his ivy league training as a vet and. The circus, the great depression, a complex elephant, equally complex love, the mists and twists of memory articulated in the utterly winning voice of a very old man whos seen it all. Subscribe to the oprahs book club newsletter sign up for the oprahs book club newsletter get more stories like this delivered to your inbox get updates on your favorite shows.
At the very least you know youre in for a story that will be well crafted and include colorful characters. The story is told as a series of memories by jacob jankowski, a 93yearold man who lives in a nursing home. Readers may find themselves churning through this book at a rapidfire pace, eager to see what lies ahead, then slowing down as they realize the pages are dwindling. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy.
No, im not organized or on top of things, i actually read. I read water for elephants for our book club, and i expected it to be as slow, dull, and superficial as most of the other books we have read. The circus train only had a limited amount of water on board, and elephants can drink 100300 litres per day approximately 2680 gallons. Book club discussion on kite runner khaled hosseini, books, 143 replies please recommend a classic that would be good for a book club. I got all caught up in the story and found it hard to put it down. Her works have been translated into fortythree languages, and have sold more than ten million copies worldwide. Water for elephants by sara gruen reading guidebook club. See actions taken by the people who manage and post content. At the waters edge, ape house, water for elephants, riding lessons, and flying changes. In the sections of the book set in the present, when jacob is in his 90s, he makes a big deal about his age and seems really upset by it. Jul 23, 2018 water for elephants by sara gruen is a must read a story about a 90yearold man remembering his days with a circus during the great depression.
Summary an atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of starcrossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932, by the bestselling author of riding lessons. In addition, you will explore gruens masterful storytelling techniques and how the worlds of aging and circus adventure intersect. Water for elephants we dont bake muffins book club. Pdf water for elephants book by sara gruen free download. Run away to the circus of 1932 by reading water for elephants by sara gruen with fellow global campus students.
Sara gruen is a awardwinning technical writer and a transplanted canadian who moved to the. Water for elephants by sara gruen water for elephants by. As you know, sara gruens water for elephants was made a runaway betseller by book groups across the country. Winner of the 2007 bookbrowse award for most popular book. How do the chapters about the older jacob enrich the story about jacobs adventure with the circus. Water for elephants by sara gruen water for elephants by sara gruen is a must read a story about a 90yearold man remembering his days with a circus during the great depression. Feb 02, 2012 the movie water for elephants stays close to sara gruens beloved book particularly with the 1930s circus memories section. Use these book club discussion questions on water for elephants to lead your book club s conversation on the story. In the book, jacobs narration takes place in his own mind. Joshilyn jackson, author of gods in alabama so much more than a tale about a circus, water for elephants is a compelling journey not only. Water for elephants is a book about memories, aging, and nostalgia. Use these book club discussion questions on water for elephants to lead your book clubs. My husband was not you all he just kept saying its just a book which made me more upset about the book.
My monthly book club meets tomorrow and for once im not going to be rushing off to starbucks to finish the monthly selection. Contact water for elephants book club on messenger. Ua book club to discuss water for elephants university of. Did this act as a spoiler or wet your appetite for the story. Water for elephants moves between a story about a circus and a story about an old man in a. The prologue gives a glimpse of a climatic scene later in the book. May 26, 2006 i read water for elephants for our book club, and i expected it to be as slow, dull, and superficial as most of the other books we have read. Water for elephants by sara gruen has been a book club favorite since its release in 2006. Sara gruen has a voice to rival john irvings, and i am hopelessly, unabashedly in love with this book. Her works have been translated into fortythree languages and have sold more than ten million copies worldwide. Cant say ive ever been curious enough about its workings to read a book revolving around one, but i am so glad i did because it was sooo much more than that.
At its finest, water for elephants resembles stealth hits like the giants house, by elizabeth mccracken, or the lovely bones, by alice sebold. The bookclubinabox discussion guide for this marvelous novel will uncover the mystery of how to carry water for elephants. Such is the case with sara gruens water for elephants. Do remember, however, that characters can change during the course of the book, and the jacob jankowski. Since i missed the water for elephants discussion, i had my husband read it with me.
Nov 01, 2011 water for elephants is an exciting, engaging pageturner. The book that we are reading is water for elephant by sara gruen. Eventually all types of children with all kinds of animal pets, from penguins to armadillos to skunks, band together and form a club where everyone is welcome including elephants. Water for elephants is written as a firstperson account and closely follows the life of jacob jankowski as flashbacks of his 20s, as he spends his old age in a nursing home. The everywoman book club, sponsored by the womens resource center at the university of alabama, will meet on thursday, july 24 at noon at the globe restaurant to discuss the book water for elephants by sara gruen. Put that triangle in an usual setting, and youve got yourself a story. Water for elephants has become one of the most beloved and bestselling novels of our time. With lines of startling beauty, haunting and evocative scenes and finelydrawn characters who dance off the page, readers can dip in and out of the novel, immersing themselves in jacobs memories. Water for elephants is a book that can be read and reread, recommended and handed off between friends. At what point in his life did he seem to be the happiest. In one plot, jacob is a young guy just starting out in the world. Sara gruen has written an utterly transporting novel richly full of the stuff of life.
The first edition of the novel was published in may 26th 2006, and was written by sara gruen. It was a cute story but i never felt any characterreader relationship with anyone in the circus. If you like water for elephants, you might like little heathens by mildred armstrong kalish seabiscuit by laura hillenbrand the adventures of miles and isabel by tom gilling. Surprising, poignant, and funny, water for elephants is that rare novel with a story so engrossing, one is reluctant to put it down. Book club discussion on water for elephants sara gruen.
Water for elephants, after being rejected by publishers initially, went on to become a new york bestseller and is available in 46 languages. Sara gruen spares no detail in chronicling the squalid, filthy, brutish circumstances in which he finds himself. Water for elephants is one of my most favorite books. Water for elephants by sara gruen book club discussion. I just finished the book last night and had to talk about it with someone. Reading guide for water for elephants by sara gruen. Her works have been translated into fortythree languages, and. Water for elephants book club discussion questions and. Should the murderer in water for elephants be punished. This months book club pick was water for elephants by sara gruen. Did it remind you of a book that you likeddisliked. This months book club discussion is on water for elephants by sara gruen.
The movie water for elephants stays close to sara gruen s beloved book particularly with the 1930s circus memories section. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 335 pages and is available in paperback format. Oct 01, 2007 this months book club discussion is on water for elephants by sara gruen. In what ways and to what extent do the words pathetic grandeur describe the world that gruen creates in her novel. The main characters of this fiction, historical story are jacob jankowski, rosemary. The benzini brothers most spectacular show on earth was his life. Join global connections program coordinator and book enthusiast kaitlin hennessy to discuss this novel during the online fiction book club. The henna artist opens a door into a world that is at. I decided to not watch the movie when i heard it was coming out simply because i didnt want to possibly ruin the experience id had with the book if the movie wasnt uptopar. Jacob jankowski is in his 90s and the movie starts with him looking back on his days with the circus. Discussion questions for water for elephants are listed.
Use these book club discussion questions on water for elephants to lead your book clubs conversation on the story. It was my turn to host the book club meeting, which consists of me and three other lovely ladies in my neighborhood. Use these questions on water for elephants by sara gruen to lead your book clubs discussion of this novel. Ua book club to discuss water for elephants university. Pieces from bicycle will be on display as well as a bespoke mural painted directly to the book clubs wall. Dont drink another drop of water until you see this. Water for elephants has two plots going on, both starring the same main character, jacob. College english water for elephants book club logo.
Ive been surprised through the years to see books that include recommendations from stephen king, they always vary in topic and genre. I just recently joined a book club at the library and this was the first book that i read. Water for elephants by sara gruen this is a great, glorious, bighearted novel set in a travelling circus touring the backblocks of america during the great depression of the early 1930s. It is the story of a circus veterinarian during the great depression who falls in love with a performer and her elephant. Bring your thoughts, rants and raves as we explore all the.
Books that defined a generation water for elephants. Pieces from bicycle will be on display as well as a bespoke mural painted directly to the book club s wall. Many times the best discussions are about books that the majority of the group disliked. I had wanted to read water for elephants for quite a while and was glad i was making the time to. Water for elephants sara gruen books the new york times. Water for elephants at the book club, features tropical fauna and flora, a long time passion of gattonis, as well as showcasing his preferred use of rotring pens, graphite and mask sculptures. Water for elephants was a completely different read for me. Dive in to the world of the great depression, the circus, and love. Initially, kinko is a grouchy, condescending performer a dwarf who wants nothing to do with jacob. May 26, 2006 water for elephants, 2007, sara gruen water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month.
Join the leading website for book clubs with over 35,000 clubs and 20,000 reading guides. Water for elephants sara gruen, 2006 algonquin books of chapel hill 350 pp. Free download or read online water for elephants pdf epub book. Water for elephants book discussion questions water for elephants moves between a story about a circus and a story about an old man in a nursing home. In the beginning of the novel, jacob mocks another resident of the nursing home who claims to have worked in the circus and carried water for the elephants. To be honest, i dont think this book lived up to all the hype. Water for elephants is a moving tale about circus life during the depression era with quirky characters and complex emotions underlying the characters actions. Whether youre a book club looking for some ideas about what to read or just want a good book to curl up in bed with this reading list. Its time for another installment of the barren bitches book brigade.
But his character develops, and we learn that he may be a dwarf, but he has a giant heart. Sara gruens awards include the 2007 book sense book of the year award, the cosmo fun fearless fiction award, the bookbrowse diamond award for most popular book, the friends of american literature adult fiction award and the alaalex award 2007. Join us in reading water for elephants by sara gruen. It was adult, and it was realistic, and i loved it.
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