Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

5/5 Stars

B&N:

As a young man, Jacob Jankowski was tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. It was the early part of the Great Depression, and for Jacob the circus world was both his salvation and a living hell. A veterinary student just shy of a degree, he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It was there that he met Marlena, the beautiful equestrian star married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. And he met Rosie, an un-trainable elephant who was the great gray hope for this third-rate traveling show. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was ultimately their only hope for survival.

My Review:

I have not seen the movie for this book yet (so I don't know if they changed anything in the movie or not), but I do plan on it. I bought this book a few years ago, but didn't read it until a year or two ago with my book club.

And, I didn't write a review at that time and honestly forget what I liked/didn't like about it...but I must have really liked it because I did rate it 5/5 Stars on goodreads right after I read it.

I do remember getting it at a yard sale but not really being interested in reading it. Why would I be interested in a carnival setting... well good thing I was "forced" to read it with book club because I loved it. I loved everything about the setting and time period and the overall story. I usually always suggest this book to people when they ask me what to read.