The film was released in the united states on april 22, 2011. 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. Young jacob is able to do whatever his heart desires including, jumping on. Water for elephants is mostly fantasy, punctuated with reality for the purpose of contrast.
Sara gruen spares no detail in chronicling the squalid, filthy, brutish circumstances in which he finds himself. The prologue features a younger version of jacob, who works at a circus and. It captures the mood of the 1930s, and we the audience really get a sense of what it must have been like to live in that time in history. The story follows jacob jankowski who was an old man living in a nursing home, as he looks back about a time that defined his life. Novelist sara gruen sweeps her readers off their feet in the opening pages of water for elephantsand doesnt let go until she deposits them at the end of her fantastic tale of passion, madness and fancy the last notes of water for elephants linger long after the book ends. Use these book club discussion questions on water for elephants to lead your book clubs conversation on the story. I am cautious about buying best sellers and water for elephants reminded me why. Differences between water for elephants book vs movie page 1. Water for elephants is the story of jacobs life with this circus. The last notes of water for elephants linger long after the book ends.
If you havent seen water for elephants or read the novel its based on, stop reading now. Winner of the 2007 bookbrowse award for most popular book. The only place the movie veers from the original is in its details of the older, current jacob. Rona brinlee of the bookmark in atlantic beach, fla. Dec 11, 2011 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. Feb 02, 2012 the movie water for elephants stays close to sara gruens beloved book particularly with the 1930s circus memories section. To ask other readers questions about water for elephants, please sign up. Sara gruen has written an utterly transporting novel richly full of the stuff of life. 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. But the book locked me in and all i could do was turn the pages until i reached page 331 and the story was complete. Download and read online for free water for elephants by sara gruen. A water for elephants discussion from reading group guides writers digest interview with sara gruen.
Speaking of descriptions, every strong smell is described as overwhelming. I storngly suggest this novel to a mature audience who wants to be enchanted by rich memories of the circus, and an old mans fight to maintain dignity and sanity in a changing world. The book begins with a quote from horton hatches the egg by dr. Only days before graduating from vet school in 1931, young jake learns his parents have died and left him penniless. I have read the book myself, seen the movie, and now enjoyed the audio version. The movie water for elephants stays close to sara gruens beloved book particularly with the 1930s circus memories section. Just when you think the story might be over, you get another little bit of narrative.
Water for elephants is gruens third book, it became one of the new york times. Sara gruen is the internationally bestselling author of water for elephants and at the water s edge. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading water for elephants. A corny fairy tale for adults lavished with cruelty to humans and animals with no redeeming virtue of.
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. There was nothing in the water for elephants movie that was too much for teens, but i would not take children under the age of to see, more for the frightening scene in the end and thematic elements than for the adult romantic elements. But be warned, this isnt the order of events in the book. Sara gruens very readable novel is a story of impossible love set in the circus world during the 1930s and is set to be made into a blockbuster film starring robert pattinson and reese witherspoon. It is, of course, but its decades before you admit it. In the book, jacobs narration takes place in his own mind. Water for elephants a depressionera circus provides the backdrop for sara gruens latest novel, water for elephants. Water for elephants quotes showing of 143 when two people are meant to be together, they will be together. Water for elephants was adapted into a major motion picture starring reese witherspoon, rob pattinson, and christoph waltz. The title, water for elephants, is almost a little inside joke with the reader once weve finished the book, that is. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of water for elephants by sara gruen. Hitting the road with no idea where he would end up, he stumbled across benzini bros. Water for elephants has a happy ending for jacob, but not for many other characters. Water for elephants book club discussion questions and answers.
I have read this book and the reason the name is water for elephant is because the. In the book, we see jacob as an old man in the nursing home throughout. Water for elephants, published in 2007, is sara gruens third novel. The story is told as a series of memories by jacob jankowski, a 93yearold man who lives in a nursing home. Water for elephants is the new york times bestselling debut novel by sara gruen. Learn water for elephants with free interactive flashcards. Water for elephants book ending vs movie ending showing 1. And then youre bothered, because you wonder if this is the beginning of the end.
Jacob, the books narrator and protagonist, worked as a vet and trainer of sorts at a circus. Marlena is almost killed by august until he gets a. Listen to water for elephants and water for elephants chapter summary new releases on your iphone ipad or android. Does he really run away with the circus at the end. Gorgeous, brilliant, and superbly plotted, water for elephants swept me into the world of the circus during the depression, and it did not let me go until the very end.
I actually think it would make a great summer read for people who want to learn something while getting a good story. Water for elephants by sara gruen at the best online ebook storage. 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. Novelist sara gruen sweeps her readers off their feet in the opening pages of water for elephantsand doesnt let go until she deposits them at the end of her fantastic tale of passion, madness and fancy. The animals are mangy, underfed or fed rotten food, and abused. Water for elephants original motion picture soundtrack licensed to youtube by adrev for a 3rd party, sme on behalf of t. This study guide consists of approximately 58 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of water for elephants. The circus train only had a limited amount of water on board, and elephants can drink 100300 litres per day approximately 2680 gallons. For interested readers rooting for a satisfying ending, water for elephants succeeds.
Water for elephants is a 2011 american romantic drama film directed by francis lawrence and written by richard lagravenese, based on sara gruens 2006 novel of the same name. Sara gruens water for elephants at the librarys book discussion group, and it. And like many books, water for elephants sneaks in an extra ending or two, just for fun. Water for elephants sara gruen books the new york times. Water for elephants is one of my most favorite books. Water for elephants book by sara gruen thriftbooks. In one plot, jacob is a young guy just starting out in the world.
I bought this book because of push advertising and regretted it. Water for elephants every book has the same basic hero archetype. Water for elephants taught the lifechanging lesson, that in the end, everyone returns home. The climax of the the book, water for elephants, is when several survivors who were redlighted return to the circus during one of the shows. Water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month. Read water for elephants absolutely for free at readanybook. How do the chapters about the older jacob enrich the story about jacobs adventure with the circus. Jacob jankowski, a retired veterinarian living out his days in an assistedliving facility, drifts in and out of his memories. Choose from 89 different sets of water for elephants flashcards on quizlet. Water for elephants resembles stealth hits like the giants house, by elizabeth mccracken, or the lovely bones, by alice sebold, books that combine outrageously whimsical premises with crowdpleasing romanticism. See more of official water for elephants movie on facebook. A thousand splendid suns, memory keepers daughter, etc. Water for elephants water for elephants is a romantic period drama that takes place in the depression era with a struggling circus full of misfits as its background. Best brother wedding speech kills crowd hilarious ending.
At its finest, water for elephants resembles stealth hits like the giants house, by elizabeth mccracken, or the lovely bones, by alice sebold, books that combine outrageously whimsical. 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. Gruen did extensive research before writing water for elephants. Veterinary school student jacob meets and falls in love with marlena, a star. Novelist sara gruen sweeps her readers off their feet in the opening pages of water for elephants and doesnt let go until she deposits them at the end of her fantastic tale of passion, madness and fancy. Aug 05, 2008 a meticulously researched, fastpaced, engaging and ultimately very satisfying novel set mostly ina depression era travelling circus. Sara gruen has a voice to rival john irvings, and i am hopelessly, unabashedly in love with this book. The book ending was just kind of dry and i felt like the author did not really.
Even with the disagreement about the ending, my book club was in pretty unanimous agreement that water for elephants was a great book and one that we recommend to others. What is the role of faithfulness and loyalty in water for elephants. In the end, fantasy wins, and the reader, like the rube visiting a circus, gets what he wants. When two people are meant to be together, they will be together. As the headline suggests, were discussing the ending. Water for elephants is a book that can be read and reread, recommended and handed off between friends. In the 1930s, 23yearold jacobs life changed drastically. Water for elephants questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on water for elephants. Water for elephants by sara gruen has spent weeks upon weeks on bestseller lists around the country. Water for elephants book ending vs movie ending showing 128 of. He is particularly angry with one old man who says he once got the water for elephants in the circus. Water for elephants is a delightful, moving book, and the ending was a very pleasant surprise.
May 26, 2006 water for elephants is the story of jacobs life with this circus. It stars reese witherspoon, robert pattinson, and christoph waltz. With a showmans expert timing, gruen saves a terrific revelation for the final pages, transforming a glimpse of americana. All of the important quotes from water for elephants listed here correspond, at least in some way, to the paper topics we created on water for elephants and by themselves can give you great ideas for an essay by offering quotes about other themes, symbols, imagery, and motifs than those already mentioned. I hate being so enamored with a book and then a crappy movie version comes along and tarnishes it. After jacob is released from guard duty outside the cooch tent, he finds a quiet place to sit and rest.
Her works have been translated into fortythree languages and have sold more than ten million copies worldwide. The book ending was just kind of dry and i felt like the author did not really develop it. The author, sara gruen allows readers to read the book from two perspectives, one from young jacob and the other from older presentday jacob. The readers and critics had said it was too depressing and didnt end well. Trust us, water for elephants is going to be one of the surprise hits of 2011. I meant what i said, and i said what i meantan elephants faithfulone hundred percent.
The phony tone of the narrator, jacob, and the simple onedimensional sentences irritated me the most. While reading water for elephants i found the plot hyperbolic and excessively melodramatic and the characters little developed beyond their names. Please share your thoughts on the book water for elephants. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
Dec 21, 2011 read the book then got the audio cd for my daughter who has a disability it was good loved it. My book was water for elephants and the protagonist was jacob. Based on the acclaimed bestseller, water for elephants presents an unexpected romance in a uniquely compelling setting. When jacob overhears a man at the assistedliving center confess to having been a water boy for the elephants in a circus, jacob knows the man is lying because jacob himself once worked.
There is an us and them mentality in the circus between performers and workers. I liked the movie ending better, i like seeing all the pictures and montages of the family. In water for elephants, the story is told through jacob jankowski at two different parts in his life. And like many books, water for elephants sneaks in an extra.
As much as the story focuses on the growth of jacobs masculine independence, gruen did not fail to surrender the lives of the cruel. 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. She wrote the book as part of national novel writing month. Sometimes i think that if i had to choose between an ear of corn or making love to a woman, id choose the corn. Water for elephants is the touching story of jacob jankowski, a ninetythreeyearold man, who is reminded of his colorful past when a circus sets up next door to his assistedliving center. When jacob overhears a man at the assistedliving center confess to having been a water boy for the elephants in a circus, jacob knows the man is lying.
This book was influenced by very important literary movements, such as romanticism, realism, regionalism, and naturalism. Speaking of the aftermath the book club disagreed on the ending of the story. It has, she says, one of the happiest endings you will ever read. The two readers, david ledoux and john randolph jones, did a wonderful job of bringing both jacobs young and old to life. Apr 22, 2011 8 big differences between water for elephants book and movie apr. Gruen transports us into the world of a thirdrate traveling circus during the great depression. 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.
Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Water for elephants has two plots going on, both starring the same main character, jacob. Sep 27, 2010 author sara gruen at the seattle central library 927. Water for elephants is an upcoming 2011 drama film based on sara gruens novel of the same name, directed by francis lawrence and starring robert pattinson as jacob jankowski, reese witherspoon as. They create a plan to completely ruin the circus for good. Water for elephants book ending vs movie ending showing.
1492 712 864 1328 1519 352 1259 870 773 802 334 1549 640 693 1656 1161 362 1459 567 1053 100 1382 900 1593 1082 400 1357 1241 1359 840 883 616 199 1497 1568 252 100 476 1436 169 106 996 319 363 835