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Water for Elephants

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Water for Elephants

By: Sara Gruen
Narrated by: David LeDoux, John Randolph Jones, Various
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About this listen

Jacob Jankowski reflects back on his wild and wondrous days with a circus. In the Depression era, Jacob, finding himself parentless and penniless, joins the Benzini Brothers' "Most Spectacular Show on Earth". There he meets the freaks, grifters, and misfits that populate this world: Marlena, beautiful star of the equestrian act; August, her charismatic but twisted husband (and the circus' animal trainer); and Rosie, the seemingly untrainable elephant Jacob cares for.

©2006 Sara Gruen (P)2006 HighBridge Company Fiction Historical Fiction Women's Fiction Heartfelt Tear-jerking Elephant Feel-Good

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Critic reviews

"This marvelously exciting and satisfying book has been given the engaging audio production it deserves." ( Audiofile)
" Water for Elephants is fun, sweet and thrilling and will pull you into the mysterious life of the circus so far that you won't want to leave." ( Guardian)
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this was a superb tale, well crafted and smoothly narrated . I was transported to the circus and felt the graft and grime of the reality of a travelling show years ago, while being immersed in a love story.

excellent story, well told.

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The movie was okay, the book became one of my all time favourite books. The story itself is a good and interesting one but what made it for me was how the story was written. The language, the descriptions, the characters had nuance and depth in the perfect amount. The ending crowned the whole thing, the idea so refreshing and comforting.

One of the narrators' voices was gravelly which added authenticity even though it wasn't the most pleasant ever to listen to. I'd change nothing, it is superbly worth it to stick with the book even if that sort of thing annoys you.

Poignant, moving and gripping writing

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What did you like most about Water for Elephants?

I can't choose one aspect of this book. I thought both narrators were brilliant, the way the story switched between the young and old man were exceptionally good. I couldn't put it down.

What other book might you compare Water for Elephants to, and why?

I can't think of another book which so brilliantly juxtaposes two periods in a life. The handling of the old Jacob was particularly sensitive.

Have you listened to any of David LeDoux and John Randolph Jones ’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I haven't heard either of them before. I think they were both first class. John Randolph Jones made me cry more than once.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

From the beginning there were many and the ending was very good as well.

Any additional comments?

Read it and love it - although I know nothing about circus life it seemed very authentic and dreadful.

Great book. A definite must.

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A totally fulfilling and captivating story that held me throughout . Both narrators are first class.

Five stars

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Read very well, throughly enjoyable but for the love of god what is the music about!!!

Very entertaining

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To me it was written in John Steinbeck style regarding a man struggling in the Great Depression of the 1930s. A beautiful story, brutally honest about life for those struggling to earn a living in the Depression.

Amazing and beautiful story

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A really unusual story about life in a travelling circus in 1931. The story, about the adventures of Jacob, a middle-class college boy who joins the circus by accident, is vivid and enthralling. The animals are as important a part of the story as the humans, especially Rosie, the elephant and Queenie, the Jack Russell. The story is seen through the memory of Jacob once he has become 93, and lives in a nursing home, and the two story narrators are brilliant, bringing both the rough, tough world of a circus in the middle of prohibition and the depression and life for a frail old man in a nursing home to life in an unforgettable way.

Vivid and enthralling

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This was a thought-provoking, well-paced, deeply moving adventure story. I first came across the book after watching the film and being totally drawn into it - so much so that I wanted to not only read Sara Gruen's book, but also find out more about the train circuses of America. The film follows the book pretty faithfully, but I loved that the book allowed you to get to know the characters in so much more depth, and I particularly loved the narration by the older Jacob, which added a touching counterbalance to the excitement and danger of his younger days. It was beautifully narrated by both voice actors. Well worth a listen.

Excellent!

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This booked appeared to be quite different to my normal choice and it was, but I was hooked from the very start. Some parts make you squirm, some make you laugh out loud but an excellent story well told

Not what I expected

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I loved the fact that two different actors read for the different ages of the one man, this made it more visual. A hard listen at times because of the cruelty to humans and animals but it brought a harsh moment in history to life in vivid detail.

Compelling

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