Water For Elephants...Kara's Thoughts

So I talked to Steph earlier today and she said post away! So, here I go. I finished Water For Elephants really quickly, partly because I had a 4-hour layover in Dallas, and partly because I found it to be a very quick read! (and I have a lot of time on my hands…) When I started this book I was wary because multiple people had told me that it was a “very good book.” I know that is kind of odd, but a book that is recommended to me over and over is either going to be really good or not live up to its hype, and I actually feel like this book lived up! (p.s. Kara as a non-academic writer uses a lot of (!!) ( smiles) and (…) hope I’m not being graded!)

I’ll just post some initial reactions to the book. I don’t want to post any spoilers because I don’t know where everyone is in the book! The main element of this book that really caught my attention was how Gruen weaves together the visions of “Old Jacob” and “New Jacob.” She does it in such a way that I felt I had a more in depth view of the character. I found myself thinking, ok, now I want to hear what Old Jacob has to say, ok now back to the young Jacob. I do think that the book was “predictable” in a sense. The version of my book has “book club discussion questions” at the end and one asked “how does the opening scene effect my reception of the story that follows?” Even after reading the opening pages I felt like I had a pretty good idea of who Rosie and Marlena were the only surprise for me was probably August’s connection to Marlena and to Jacob. I am glad that Gruen started with that opening scene because it provided a complete context for me. I’ve only been to the circus maybe twice in my life, (and once to Cirque du Soleil) so I think it was a smart move to open with that to get people into the circus frame of mind. (Using the pictures throughout the book was also a good move!)

My last little thought is about how much I loved the “Old Jacob” scenes. Since I am working with the elderly right now it just hit me how accurate these scenes were. She worked hard at accurately putting the reader into the mind of a person suffering from dementia, and I feel like she did a very good job. I think the scenes with “Old Jacob” pushed me to see a theme of the book I might not have, which is as cliché as it might be: living your life to the fullest. What am I doing? When I am 90 will I be looking back on something with such affection as Jacob does with the circus? What are the defining moments of my life? Ok, enough being cliché and corny, but I’m definitely in the depths of those questions for myself right now, and this book put those questions into perspective for me.

Ok, that’s all from me! Looking forward to blogging with y’all. Kara :)