Water for Elephants Review

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen is my favorite book that I've read this year. The title alone drew me in, but I had no idea what to expect. I'm so glad I chose to read this book thougha nd I highly recommend it.

Water for Elephants is set in the depression when people would do just about anything for a little cash. It is a story about a traveling train circus, how the workers and animals are treated, the friendships that are formed, the friends who are lost and the power of love.

The whole story is told by an old man in a nursing home who can't even remember how old he is. He says he is either 90 or 93. He has never told anyone about his experiences with the circus life he left behind, but he shares that part of his life through his memories with the reader.

Gruen does a fantastic job of creating real characters that are likable and dispisable. You end up rooting for certain characters and wishing others would get what they deserve. She also does a great job of giving human characteristics to the elephant.

Water for Elephants is an interesting look at a life I, otherwise, never would have known anything about. It is easy to read and once you get hooked, it is a real page turner.