water for elephants sara gruen

A novel about the back of house goings-on in the early days of the circus just meant for us rubes.

As I mentioned the overall premise of this book to friends (it’s about the circus, generally, is what I believe I said), I got many incensed reactions and strong feelings about the circus, especially clowns.  Being a globophobe myself and an advocate of animal rights in regards to circuses, I could understand people’s distaste.  What I can’t understand is that it’s in a book….it’s not real (not really, more on that later)…enjoy it!

So I did.  I really enjoyed this book.  I even learned some new language.  Carny language!  Now I can visit the Regina Ex or the Calgary Stampede and fit right in, except maybe for the whole lack of personal hygiene part.

So here’s some new circus language for you from the book:

  • a “First of May” means a rookie or a person new to the circus life
  • a “Rube” is a common person or customer of the circus.  The connotation is that rubes are generally dumb and easy with their money.
  • “Red-lighting” is when someone, sometimes a stowaway, was thrown off a moving train.  Usually, the people would be tossed at a crossing, or red-light, so they could find their way back to town.
  • a “kinker” is a circus performer
  • the “baggage stock” is a term for the work horses

There’s lots more fun with words to be had should you read this novel.  For now, let’s get to

The Gist of the Story



When we meet the main character, Jacob Jankowski, he is an old man living in a nursing home.  Frankly, I don’t have much positive to say for the nursing home chapters and I felt they were a waste of time.  So, moving on to chapter two, we are entreated to a much younger Jacob studying for his veterinarian finals at Cornell.  A crisis point: his parents are dead and destitute.  Jacob has no money or will to continue on to write his final exams and runs away.  It’s the 1920′s, so he hops a train.

Turns out, he hopped the circus train.

He makes a friend in a man named Camel, who then sets him up with various bad jobs.  Eventually, the ringmaster hears of Jacob’s schooling and installs him as the circus vet.

Jacob rooms in the performing horse part of the train with a dwarf clown named Kinko, who is quite cranky.  But, Jacob is so nice, he eventually wins him over.

Jacob also falls in love with Marlena, the horse performer, much to the angry dismay of her husband, August.  But, lucky for Jacob, nothing much happens between he and Marlena and he even seems to be befriended by August, sometimes.

All the while, the ringmaster, Al, pines for an elephant.  The show finally acquires one…but she won’t perform.  Everyone is upset because they aren’t being paid (the elephant is eating any profits).  August beats on the elephant.

Things from here dissolve into spoiler country and there is much to be spoiled.  But I won’t be the one to do it.

Even though the last chapters seem to fall apart, this is a great book overall, very exciting and thrilling.  Plus, it has an elephant – what could be better than that?

A short p.s.: read the author’s note in the back of the book describing the inspiration for Rosie, the elephant.  One of them was Topsy, sentenced to death for killing 3 men.  Methos of death?  A filmed experiment on alternating current which was performed by Edison.  Yes, that Edison.  You can watch the very grainy film here on YouTube and pray that we have come farther as a society in the humane treatment of animals.

First Lines, Last Words

Only three people were left under the red and white awning of the grease joint: Grady, me, and the fry cook.

For this old man, this is home.

Quotable

“Honey, I plan to marry you the moment the ink is dry on that death certificate.”

Book Rating

circus elephant sara gruen

Overall rating 4.77/5

Beside the Bed 4.6 Although I’m still quite confused about what it means to be a Canadian author, I am giving this one the benefit of the doubt.  Go Canuckian book!

Sleepless for the Story 4.9 Zoomed through this in two days.

Regifting this Read 4.8 This is one of those books you can give to either a man or a woman, young, old, Canadian or not.  Very universally enjoyable.

If you are not confused about what makes a Canadian author, but how I rate these books and what those ratings mean, see my book ratings chart for further details.

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