Sara Gruen: Agua para elefantes (Spanish language, 2007, Alfaguara)
466 pages
Spanish language
Published Nov. 7, 2007 by Alfaguara.
"Cuando el joven Jacob pierde todo, su familia y su futuro, y el mundo entero parece al borde del abismo en los difíciles an̋os treinta, se aventura en un circo ambulante para trabajar como veterinario. Transcurren tiempos de penuria y crueldad, pero también de ensuen̋o y plenitud, pues Jacob encuentra en el deslumbrante espectáculo de los hermanos Benzini la amistad, al amor de su vida a la traviesa elefanta Rosie."--P. [4] of cover.
A novel of star-crossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932. When Jacob Jankowski, recently orphaned and suddenly adrift, jumps onto a passing train, he enters a world of freaks, grifters, and misfits, a second-rate circus struggling to survive during the Great Depression, making one-night stands in town after endless town. A veterinary student who almost earned his degree, Jacob is put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It is there that he meets …
"Cuando el joven Jacob pierde todo, su familia y su futuro, y el mundo entero parece al borde del abismo en los difíciles an̋os treinta, se aventura en un circo ambulante para trabajar como veterinario. Transcurren tiempos de penuria y crueldad, pero también de ensuen̋o y plenitud, pues Jacob encuentra en el deslumbrante espectáculo de los hermanos Benzini la amistad, al amor de su vida a la traviesa elefanta Rosie."--P. [4] of cover.
A novel of star-crossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932. When Jacob Jankowski, recently orphaned and suddenly adrift, jumps onto a passing train, he enters a world of freaks, grifters, and misfits, a second-rate circus struggling to survive during the Great Depression, making one-night stands in town after endless town. A veterinary student who almost earned his degree, Jacob is put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It is there that he meets Marlena, the beautiful young star of the equestrian act, who is married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. He also meets Rosie, an elephant who seems untrainable until he discovers a way to reach her.
I loved this.
I loved the "elder looking back on his life" set up. I loved the conflict that ended, honestly, catharticly. And I loved the very end.
It was a great book that I tore through in about 2 sittings.
Pretty good. Another popular novel that comes with historical insights. Hard to rate... 3.5 - 3.75 stars?
This was a great read. It had everything: romance, sex, adventure, villains, animals...even a circus! The suspense kept me turning the pages, and the well-researched details gave the story verisimilitude. The only thing that rang a little false was the ending, but I won't give that away.
