Water For Elephants
By: Kendra Oxley
Gruen captures the true essence of life amongst carnie folk during the Great Depression without the need to cash in on the ‘razzle dazzle’ of the big red top that so many writers do.
Having ‘New York Times Bestseller’ on the cover of a book is a feat in itself, however for good or for bad it automatically raises reader’s expectations. Water for Elephants surpasses these expectations as it allows readers from all walks of life to be transported into the world of The Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth.
Jacob Jankowskis is a ninety year old struggling to conform to the formalities of living in a rest home; his memories of his youth are vividly unravelled in a way that makes you feel as if you are right there on his shoulder throughout his journey.
In the heart of the Great Depression Jacob was one of the few who had a successful future paved out for him. He was about to complete his final veterinarian examinations which would allow him to work alongside his father at their family practice. His path is distorted after finding out that his parents have been killed in a car crash. Jacob is left orphaned and penniless with nowhere to go.
Following a breakdown Jacob is unable to complete his final examinations and throws everything away by running. With nowhere to sleep he unknowingly finds himself as a stowaway on the train of The Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth.
The plot tends to lack pace and is primarily focused around the love triangle, with the exception of Rosie. Rosie is an underestimated elephant who adds an element of comic relief to the novel and becomes the silent star of the book.
Jacob struggles to see a way out of a life filled with such debauchery. It is not until the greatest circus disaster of American history happens that Marlena, Rosie and himself are freed from the constraints of The Benzini Brothers.
The film adaptation of Water for Elephants, directed by Francis Lawrence, is set to be released in New Zealand during May and has an award winning cast including Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz. The cast may be reputable but transporting the magic that lies beneath the hatred, death and chaos of the book to screen will be a daunting task. But like any film adaptation it is essential to read the book first, and ‘Water for Elephants’ is a book that should be on the top of any good book list.