Joshilyn jackson, author of gods in alabama so much more than a tale about a circus, water for elephants is a compelling journey not only. Water for elephants study guide consists of approx. Immediately download the water for elephants summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching water for elephants. Charlie enters the book in the secondtolast chapter and plays a small but pivotal role. 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. Jan 18, 2011 based on the acclaimed bestseller, water for elephants presents an unexpected romance in a uniquely compelling setting.
Veterinary school student jacob meets and falls in. On our first date, my husband took me to see tod brownings freaks, a 1932 horror film with a distinctly diane arbus feel. 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. In one plot, jacob is a young guy just starting out in the world. Set in the 1930s, a former veterinary student takes a job in a travelling circus and falls in love with the ringmasters wife. Find books like water for elephants from the worlds largest community of readers.
The man agrees, saying that jacob will go down in the records book as the oldest man to run away with the circus. Water for elephants is proof that author sara gruen understands storytelling techniques. 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. Set during the great depression, water for elephants tells the story of a young man who leaves his life as a cornell university veterinary student after losing both his parents in a car accident, and jumps onto a train that happens to house the benzini brothers most. Water for elephants is a book that can be read and reread, recommended and handed off between friends. A thousand splendid suns, memory keepers daughter, etc.
Jacob then asks the man for a job as a ticket taker for the circus, saying theres nothing wrong with him other than that he is old. Water for elephants is a story about an elderly man, jacob, who recalls an adventure in his younger years. 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. Sparknotes are the most helpful study guides around to literature, math, science, and more. Water for elephants by sara gruen at the best online ebook storage. These book club discussion questions reveal important details about water for elephants by sara gruen.
Water for elephants essay appraisal, hoa and reo asset. The circus train only had a limited amount of water on board, and elephants can drink 100300 litres per day approximately 2680 gallons. 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. Sunday express you are so immersed in circus life that you are completely blinded by the thrilling, fatal dazzle of sequins and sawdust. Each week, our editors select the one author and one book they believe to be most worthy of your attention and highlight them in. Start studying water for elephants chapter summaries. Trust us, water for elephants is going to be one of the surprise hits of 2011. Goodreads members who liked water for elephants also liked. Find sample tests, essay help, and translations of shakespeare. With lines of startling beauty, haunting and evocative scenes and finelydrawn characters who dance off the page, readers can dip in and out of the novel, immersing themselves in jacobs memories. Download and read online for free water for elephants by sara gruen.
The water for elephants community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. Sara gruen has a voice to rival john irvings, and i am hopelessly, unabashedly in love with this book. But when he seen that the circus was in town, he hobbled to the window to see the circus tent. Marlena works with eleven horses on a routine shown under the big top. 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. Every few chapters, the narrative switches from one jacob to the other. Written by claire cornwall and other people who wish to remain anonymous. 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. Marlena ran away from home to join the circus and married august, the head animal trainer. 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. Water for elephants has two plots going on, both starring the same main character, jacob. Apr 22, 2011 8 big differences between water for elephants book and movie apr.
Veterinary school student jacob meets and falls in love with marlena, a star. 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. Unlike the other brave boys of their generation, ellis and hank are not off fighting hitler. Based on the acclaimed bestseller, water for elephants presents an unexpected romance in a uniquely compelling setting. The last notes of water for elephants linger long after the book ends. When jacob overhears a man at the assistedliving center claim to have been a water boy for the elephants on. Jacob is working overtime as the narrator of water for elephants. 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. Water for elephants by sara gruen essay freebooksummary. I hate being so enamored with a book and then a crappy movie version comes along and tarnishes it. Through her careful research of a fascinating topiccircuses of the 1920s and 1930sgruen not only draws. Click below for more about water for elephants by sara gruen.
Aug 14, 2011 water for elephants summary a veterinary student abandons his studies after his parents are killed and joins a tr. Daily telegraph trust us, water for elephants is going to be one of the surprise. Water for elephants summary these notes were contributed by members of the gradesaver community. Jacob says that he was able to give her everything he ever promised her. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of water for elephants by sara gruen. The story is told as a series of memories by jacob jankowski, a 93yearold man who lives in a nursing home. Water for elephants by sara gruen summary study guide. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. I bought this book because of push advertising and regretted it. Water for elephants trailer 20th century fox youtube.
This book is every bit the fabulous escapist entertainment that the big top once was. Only days before graduating from vet school in 1931, young jake learns his parents have died and left him penniless. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. Water for elephants summary supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. I was astounded at the lack of research which became clear when i. Jacob jankowski, a retired veterinarian living out his days in an assistedliving facility, drifts in and out of his memories. I have not read the novel even though i plan to do it now so im only offering my views on the movie. A water for elephants discussion from reading group guides writers digest interview with sara gruen. Water for elephants summary water for elephants has two plots going on, both starring the same main character, jacob. Sara gruen uses her talent as a writer to bring that world alive for the reader. Use these book club discussion questions on water for elephants to lead your book clubs conversation on the story. Sara gruen has written an utterly transporting novel richly full of the stuff of life. Sep 07, 2016 i bought this book because of push advertising and regretted it.
Water for elephants is one of my most favorite books. 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. Water for elephants chapter summaries flashcards quizlet. 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. Click here for the complete analysis of the entire book. Stories similar to water for elephants books, stories, and novels like water for elephants by sara gruen. For elephants in the epic mutiny of religious beliefs and show up as we have it here. Water for elephants is the new york times bestselling debut novel. Rosie couldnt do the teams from the beginning, so august remained very aggressive and ready to beat it, bu. 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. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Water for elephants is a book that can be read and reread, recommended and handed.
Marlena is the main love interest in the book, water for elephants, and also a performer at the circus. When jacob overhears a man at the assistedliving center claim to have been a water boy for the elephants on a circus, jacob knows the man is lying because jacob himself once worked as a vet on a traveling circus. While reading water for elephants i found the plot hyperbolic and excessively melodramatic and the characters little developed beyond their names. While he was at dinner, one of the new comers to the nursing home was saying how he gave water to the elephants. First let me say this is one of my all time favorite books i would really suggest you reading it if you havent already. Ok, ill try to tell you a bit of what i thought about water for elephants, without spoiling anything. The book turned out to be about elephants because i had just finished reading sara gruens water for elephants.
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