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Gag Gifts, Occasion Gifts - Water for Elephants: A Novel
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List Price: $13.95
Our Price: $9.77
Your Save: $ 4.18 ( 30% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Algonquin Books
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9781565125605
ISBN: 1565125606
Label: Algonquin Books
Manufacturer: Algonquin Books
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 350
Publication Date: 2007-04-09
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Studio: Algonquin Books
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Editorial Reviews:
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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, now ninety, the circus world he remembers 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 untrainable elephant who was the great gray hope for this third-rate traveling show. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and, ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating: 
Summary: A Great Read
Comment: A really enjoyable, fun read. It's not great literature, but there's plenty of plot intrigue and historical interest to get you hooked. This one kept me reading till 1 a.m. a few nights. A delight!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Comment: I & my husband both, enjoyed this book -- about how it feels to get old, while giving the inside story of how circus life was in the early 1900's.Great characters, book made me feel like I was there....
Customer Rating:
Summary: Under the big top, under the bright light...
Comment: What is a life worth? How do you judge if someone is worth saving? What does it mean to be human? What or who is really an animal? Why can an individual choose how to live but not how to die? Who has the power to answer these questions? How do you know that person is right?
Hidden beneath this easy-to-read though dark coming of age romance is a novel that prompts the reader to ask the above through the reminiscing of protagonist Jacob Jankowski who is prisoner in fact to old age and in feeling to a nursing home. The story begins as the circus rolls into town and the flood of Jankowski's past full of pleasure, joy, love, hate, regret & guilt washes over him.
Sara Gruen brings the Circus Culture of the mid 20th century to life through meticulous research, both the bright spot light and the grittier nature of transitory existence. Anyone who ever dreamed of running away to the big top or just dreamed of running away should read this book.
Customer Rating:
Summary: wonderful and entertaining
Comment: The main character I can sympathize with and can appreciate. You can really imagine what it would be like to be in his shoes in this book. It does a great job of explaining what that particular circus was like back then. I couldn't really picture it until I was able to read the book. Im glad I read it. No complaints! Especially if you love animals!!!
Customer Rating:
Summary: A SURPRISE READ
Comment: I bought this book on a whim. I live in a country where books written in English are hard to come by which forces me to buy from Amazon and pay almost double for a book I order because of the cost of postage. But I love to read, therefore I decided that I would give in to temptation and splurge.
And boy! was I rewarded! This book which describes the memories and dreams of an old man is a touching story of old age. Wonderfully written. Ms Gruen has talent.
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