Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Water for Elephants is an engaging read right from the beginning. Set during the Depression, the story follows Jacob as a tragic event changes the trajectory of his life forever.

I saw the Ringling Bros. Circus in Madison Square Garden as a kid and I was mesmerized. Reading Water for Elephants shows some of the seedy under belly of train circuses in the 1920s and 1930s. In the author's notes, Sara Gruen lists a newspaper article about a circus photographer as the inspiration for the novel. I'm intrigued enough that I may try to track down some of her references and read them myself.


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