Book club water for elephants

Water for elephants by sara gruen water for elephants by sara gruen is a must read a story about a 90yearold man remembering his days with a circus during the great depression. Its time for another installment of the barren bitches book brigade. I just recently joined a book club at the library and this was the first book that i read. But generally i tend to agree with his stamp of approval. Sara gruen has written an utterly transporting novel richly full of the stuff of life. I decided to not watch the movie when i heard it was coming out simply because i didnt want to possibly ruin the experience id had with the book if the movie wasnt uptopar.

Join us in reading water for elephants by sara gruen. A thousand splendid suns, memory keepers daughter, etc. Water for elephants sara gruen, 2006 algonquin books of chapel hill 350 pp. The book has been awarded with book sense book of the year award for adult fiction 2007, ala alex award 2007 and many others.

Put that triangle in an usual setting, and youve got yourself a story. Initially, kinko is a grouchy, condescending performer a dwarf who wants nothing to do with jacob. Sara gruens awards include the 2007 book sense book of the year award, the cosmo fun fearless fiction award, the bookbrowse diamond award for most popular book, the friends of american literature adult fiction award and the alaalex award 2007. No, im not organized or on top of things, i actually read. College english water for elephants book club logo. The everywoman book club, sponsored by the womens resource center at the university of alabama, will meet on thursday, july 24 at noon at the globe restaurant to discuss the book water for elephants by sara gruen. The bookclubinabox discussion guide for this marvelous novel will uncover the mystery of how to carry water for elephants. See actions taken by the people who manage and post content.

Dont drink another drop of water until you see this. The only place the movie veers from the original is in its details of the older, current jacob. I hate being so enamored with a book and then a crappy movie version comes along and tarnishes it. Cant say ive ever been curious enough about its workings to read a book revolving around one, but i am so glad i did because it was sooo much more than that. Water for elephants book discussion questions water for elephants moves between a story about a circus and a story about an old man in a nursing home. Run away to the circus of 1932 by reading water for elephants by sara gruen with fellow global campus students. Join global connections program coordinator and book enthusiast kaitlin hennessy to discuss this novel during the online fiction book club.

Free download or read online water for elephants pdf epub book. To be honest, i dont think this book lived up to all the hype. Water for elephants melinda strauss kitchen tested. What does the novel have to say about loyalty during hard times. The henna artist opens a door into a world that is at. I got all caught up in the story and found it hard to put it down. Her works have been translated into fortythree languages, and. Book club discussion on water for elephants sara gruen. When a young boy with a small elephant for a pet is excluded from a pet club, the two embark on a mission to create a new club for pets. At the waters edge, ape house, water for elephants, riding lessons, and flying changes. Water for elephants has two plots going on, both starring the same main character, jacob. The main characters of this fiction, historical story are jacob jankowski, rosemary.

Water for elephants was a completely different read for me. Elephants follows the story of a jacob jankowski, a man in his 90s who lives in a nursing home. It was my turn to host the book club meeting, which consists of me and three other lovely ladies in my neighborhood. Sara gruen is a awardwinning technical writer and a transplanted canadian who moved to the. I had wanted to read water for elephants for quite a while and was glad i was making the time to. I f youre looking for a good summer read, heres a place to start. Joshilyn jackson, author of gods in alabama so much more than a tale about a circus, water for elephants is a compelling journey not only. Water for elephants moves between a story about a circus and a story about an old man in a. May 26, 2006 water for elephants, 2007, sara gruen water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month.

Discussion questions water for elephants water for elephants moves between a story about a circus and a story about an old man in a nursing home. With lines of startling beauty, haunting and evocative scenes and finelydrawn characters who dance off the page, readers can dip in and out of the novel, immersing themselves in jacobs memories. In the beginning of the novel, jacob mocks another resident of the nursing home who claims to have worked in the circus and carried water for the elephants. In one plot, jacob is a young guy just starting out in the world. Jul 23, 2018 water for elephants by sara gruen is a must read a story about a 90yearold man remembering his days with a circus during the great depression.

Many times the best discussions are about books that the majority of the group disliked. Water for elephants at the book club, features tropical fauna and flora, a long time passion of gattonis, as well as showcasing his preferred use of rotring pens, graphite and mask sculptures. Water for elephants sara gruen books the new york times. Water for elephants by sara gruen reading guidebook club. Water for elephants book club discussion questions thoughtco. Her works have been translated into fortythree languages, and have sold more than ten million copies worldwide. At what point in his life did he seem to be the happiest. Subscribe to the oprahs book club newsletter sign up for the oprahs book club newsletter get more stories like this delivered to your inbox get updates on your favorite shows. Bring your thoughts, rants and raves as we explore all the. The story is told as a series of memories by jacob jankowski, a 93yearold man who lives in a nursing home. In the book, jacobs narration takes place in his own mind. This months book club pick was water for elephants by sara gruen.

Water for elephants by sara gruen this is a great, glorious, bighearted novel set in a travelling circus touring the backblocks of america during the great depression of the early 1930s. Water for elephants by sara gruen has been a book club favorite since its release in 2006. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 335 pages and is available in paperback format. My monthly book club meets tomorrow and for once im not going to be rushing off to starbucks to finish the monthly selection. Use these book club discussion questions on water for elephants to lead your book clubs. Should the murderer in water for elephants be punished. Water for elephants is one of my most favorite books. Since i missed the water for elephants discussion, i had my husband read it with me. Eventually all types of children with all kinds of animal pets, from penguins to armadillos to skunks, band together and form a club where everyone is welcome including elephants.

The book that we are reading is water for elephant by sara gruen. Use these book club discussion questions on water for elephants to lead your book club s conversation on the story. Sara gruen spares no detail in chronicling the squalid, filthy, brutish circumstances in which he finds himself. It was adult, and it was realistic, and i loved it. Water for elephants is a book about memories, aging, and nostalgia. The benzini brothers most spectacular show on earth was his life. Ive been surprised through the years to see books that include recommendations from stephen king, they always vary in topic and genre. The prologue gives a glimpse of a climatic scene later in the book.

Water for elephants by sara gruen water for elephants by. Dec 11, 2011 water for elephants book discussion questions water for elephants moves between a story about a circus and a story about an old man in a nursing home. Pieces from bicycle will be on display as well as a bespoke mural painted directly to the book clubs wall. At its finest, water for elephants resembles stealth hits like the giants house, by elizabeth mccracken, or the lovely bones, by alice sebold. Water for elephants book club discussion questions and. This months book club discussion is on water for elephants by sara gruen. My husband was not you all he just kept saying its just a book which made me more upset about the book. Water for elephants is a moving tale about circus life during the depression era with quirky characters and complex emotions underlying the characters actions.

In addition, you will explore gruens masterful storytelling techniques and how the worlds of aging and circus adventure intersect. How do the chapters about the older jacob enrich the story about jacobs adventure with the circus. Jacob jankowski is in his 90s and the movie starts with him looking back on his days with the circus. May 26, 2006 i read water for elephants for our book club, and i expected it to be as slow, dull, and superficial as most of the other books we have read. At the very least you know youre in for a story that will be well crafted and include colorful characters. Water for elephants is a book that can be read and reread, recommended and handed off between friends. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Join the leading website for book clubs with over 35,000 clubs and 20,000 reading guides. Ua book club to discuss water for elephants university of. Oct 01, 2007 this months book club discussion is on water for elephants by sara gruen. In the sections of the book set in the present, when jacob is in his 90s, he makes a big deal about his age and seems really upset by it.

It was a cute story but i never felt any characterreader relationship with anyone in the circus. A water for elephants discussion from reading group guides writers digest interview with sara gruen. If you like water for elephants, you might like little heathens by mildred armstrong kalish seabiscuit by laura hillenbrand the adventures of miles and isabel by tom gilling. Discussion questions for water for elephants are listed. Feb 02, 2012 the movie water for elephants stays close to sara gruens beloved book particularly with the 1930s circus memories section. I read water for elephants for our book club, and i expected it to be as slow, dull, and superficial as most of the other books we have read. Winner of the 2007 bookbrowse award for most popular book. Contact water for elephants book club on messenger. Water for elephants we dont bake muffins book club. The movie water for elephants stays close to sara gruen s beloved book particularly with the 1930s circus memories section.

Books that defined a generation water for elephants. Water for elephants is the story of jacobs life with this circus. I just finished the book last night and had to talk about it with someone. Water for elephants has become one of the most beloved and bestselling novels of our time. Nov 01, 2011 water for elephants is an exciting, engaging pageturner. Sara gruen has a voice to rival john irvings, and i am hopelessly, unabashedly in love with this book. Water for elephants, after being rejected by publishers initially, went on to become a new york bestseller and is available in 46 languages.

But his character develops, and we learn that he may be a dwarf, but he has a giant heart. Reading guide for water for elephants by sara gruen. Such is the case with sara gruens water for elephants. Did it remind you of a book that you likeddisliked. Summary an atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of starcrossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932, by the bestselling author of riding lessons. Use these questions on water for elephants by sara gruen to lead your book clubs discussion of this novel. Do remember, however, that characters can change during the course of the book, and the jacob jankowski. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. It may be slightly over hyped, but it certainly deserves of most of the praise its receiving. Pdf water for elephants book by sara gruen free download. Suggested book and reading club discussion questions for water for elephants.

Book club discussion on kite runner khaled hosseini, books, 143 replies please recommend a classic that would be good for a book club. On our first date, my husband took me to see tod brownings freaks, a 1932 horror film with a distinctly diane arbus feel. As you know, sara gruens water for elephants was made a runaway betseller by book groups across the country. In what ways and to what extent do the words pathetic grandeur describe the world that gruen creates in her novel. Ua book club to discuss water for elephants university. Use these book club discussion questions on water for elephants to lead your book clubs conversation on the story. Suggested book and reading club discussion questions for water for.

Did this act as a spoiler or wet your appetite for the story. Her works have been translated into fortythree languages and have sold more than ten million copies worldwide. The circus train only had a limited amount of water on board, and elephants can drink 100300 litres per day approximately 2680 gallons. It is the story of a circus veterinarian during the great depression who falls in love with a performer and her elephant. Water for elephants by sara gruen book club discussion. The circus, the great depression, a complex elephant, equally complex love, the mists and twists of memory articulated in the utterly winning voice of a very old man whos seen it all. Whether youre a book club looking for some ideas about what to read or just want a good book to curl up in bed with this reading list. Water for elephants is written as a firstperson account and closely follows the life of jacob jankowski as flashbacks of his 20s, as he spends his old age in a nursing home. Jacob jankowski, who is currently ninety or ninetytwo, tells the story of how he left his ivy league training as a vet and. Dive in to the world of the great depression, the circus, and love. Surprising, poignant, and funny, water for elephants is that rare novel with a story so engrossing, one is reluctant to put it down. Readers may find themselves churning through this book at a rapidfire pace, eager to see what lies ahead, then slowing down as they realize the pages are dwindling. Pieces from bicycle will be on display as well as a bespoke mural painted directly to the book club s wall. The first edition of the novel was published in may 26th 2006, and was written by sara gruen.