Title: Water for Elephants
Author: Sara Gruen
ISBN: 1565124995
Publisher/Location: Algonquin Books
Year of Publication: 2007
Pages: 364
Genre: Historical Fiction
Amazon Link: Kindle Edition: http://amzn.to/1CTddgW
Water for Elephants offers a lot to the reader: humor, suspense, love, action, and a smooth plot. The last point about the plot is intriguing because Gruen has essentially woven two stories together into one: the story of young Jacob Jankowski and that of old Jacob. The book tells the story of how the young Jacob runs away from his life and ends up on a circus train. He becomes the circus' veterinarian and falls in love with Marlena, one of the circus' top stars. Jacob spends three and a half months with the circus and seems to figure out who he is (as well as who he isn't). He meets all sorts of characters (Camel, Kinko/Walter, Barbara, Ezra, etc) who, through different encounters, help him define himself as a man with convictions.
This novel is historical fiction as it is partially set in 1931, but it is also somewhat a coming-of-age story as Jacob grows from being a college dropout to a man who stands up for his friends (whether they are human or pachyderms).
The juxtaposition of old and young Jacob provided a solid characterization of his personality. The way Gruen describes Jacob's reactions to several events in the book makes me feel as though I could tell you how he would react in other situations. I feel like I know him really well -- almost as well as he does himself.
This book really made me laugh and cry. The old Jacob's insights into being elderly in a nursing home bring back my own personal experience being the kid of a registered nurse who worked most of her career in long term care. Jacob's narrative about his neighbors, the nurses, and how it feels to be an elderly person in a nursing home put into words some of the memories I have of nursing homes and their residents. Gruen really pointed out the deeper issues of aging, using Jacob to give a voice for those who may not be able to (i.e., the Ipphy Baileys of the world).
Jacob as an old man is a cantankerous, crotchety, lovable character. You really see how his older personality is shaped by his young self. He seems the stereotypical "old man" at first, but knowing his backstory (and all he went through in such a short period of time) reveals the crotchetiness is more like a security blanket to protect his vulnerability brought on by aging.
Gruen's writing really makes the characters come to life in this book. One character, however, really stuck out to me: August. He is the director of animals and Jacob ends up working for him when he becomes the circus' veterinarian. The other Benzini Brothers crew members know to steer clear of August because of his bad tempter. August is described by Uncle Al as a paranoid schizophrenic near the end of the book to explain his changing moods and violent behavior. This really bothered me because it's a perpetuation of misinformation about a mental illness.
Whether Gruen included it to illustrate the evilness of Uncle Al (by covering up his abusive behavior) or if she included it because she herself is also misinformed, I am not sure. So we're all on the same page (and soapbox): Schizophrenia is NOT multiple personalities. Multiple personalities is actually called Dissociative Identity Disorder (which was called Multiple Personality Disorder). I'm no psychiatrist or psychologist, but August's behavior is the classic pattern of behavior of an abuser. Charm and charisma alternate with violence as the abuser tries to maintain power and control of his victim.
I also really appreciated Gruen's descriptions of Rosie the elephant in Water for Elephants. The afterward of the book included an interview with Gruen wherein she describes her research into circus trains and elephants. She mentions how much she learned during her research and her writing proves that. You can just picture Rosie's open-mouthed smile and the playful way she reaches for things. Jacob's evolving relationship with Rosie is one of the highlights (both heartwarming and humorous) of the story.
There was one thing that bothered me a little about this book and I'm not sure if it makes me a prude or if I should attribute it to the story being narrated from the perspective of a 23-year-old young man: the descriptions of sex, lust, and all that. I felt it really made the book a little more vulgar than it should have been. I really enjoyed Gruen's writing for the rest of the book, but these scenes felt like they were written for a romance novel (you know the ones, with Fabio on the cover).
Personally, I think this story could have been just as great without the graphic descriptions. I mean, I suggested my mom read this book! Of course, that recommendation came after reading the first bit of the book before I got to Barbara's act in Chapter 3. After I read that chapter, I kinda wished I didn't recommend it! Of course, my mom (Hi, Mama!) is a grown woman and can handle that kind of stuff. But it made me feel a little skeevy! I just don't like to read about that stuff in my books.
Overall, I would recommend this book -- possibly with the forewarning about some graphic scenes. I really liked the story, the characters, and the level of details surrounding the circus.
