His stay here is cut short by the death of his parents. 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. See more of official water for elephants movie on facebook. 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. Recommending new books each month to spark lively conversation. Download and read online for free water for elephants by sara gruen. Water for elephants book club discussion questions and answers. Book group discussion questions 347 a conversation with the author. Two years later she got laid off, and instead of looking for another job, she decided to take a gamble on writing. Water for elephants by sara gruen book club discussion.
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. When two people are meant to be together, they will be together. Aug 01, 2016 it tells the simple story of a group of elephants looking for water during a drought in tanzania. After his parents death, jacob jankowski is left penniless and homeless. Water for elephants is a story about an elderly man, jacob, who recalls an adventure in his younger years. Water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month. The circus was the main setting of the book, water for elephants.
Summary an atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of starcrossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932, by the bestselling author of riding lessons. I hate being so enamored with a book and then a crappy movie version comes along and tarnishes it. The henna artist opens a door into a world that is at. 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. The grand rapids press you need this elephant in your life. Water for elephants by sara gruen at the best online ebook storage. Williams is the protagonist of vicki crokes splendid new book, elephant company. A novel of starcrossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932. So much more than a tale about a circus, water for elephants is a compelling journey not only under the big top, but into the protagonists heart. Reading group notes water for elephants 2 about sara gruen sara gruen is a awardwinning technical writer and a transplanted canadian who moved to the states in 1999 for a technical writing job. 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. Events lead him to joining the circus as their vet, working under their unstable boss august whose violent tendencies give everyone reason to be cautious around him, including his beautiful and quiet wife marlena, whom august is very possessive of and who jacob finds himself soon falling in love with. Gruen transports us into the world of a thirdrate traveling circus during the great depression. The alternating glamour and squalor of the circus world gruen expertly conjures may truly be one of the greatest shows.
Should the murderer in water for elephants be punished. Protected contact and positive reinforcement are cornerstones for working humanely and effectively with captive elephants. When jacob jankowski, recently orphaned and suddenly adrift, jumps onto a passing train, he enters a world of freaks, grifters, and misfits, a secondrate circus struggling to survive during the great depression, making onenight stands in town after endless town. Elephants need a lot of room to roam, so habitat destruction and fragmentation not only makes it harder for them to find food, water, and each other, but it also puts them in increased conflict. College english water for elephants book club logo. On our first date, my husband took me to see tod brownings freaks, a 1932 horror film with a distinctly diane arbus feel. I really like that it names a specific country and place not just generic africa and that it includes an authors note and resources for further learning at the back of the book.
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. Sara gruen is a awardwinning technical writer and a transplanted canadian who moved to the. Sara gruen uses her talent as a writer to bring that world alive for the reader. Water for elephants is a best book club book for discussion, about the bond of love, trust, hope, and survival that grows between a circus trio during the depression. Novelist sara gruen sweeps her readers off their feet in the opening pages of water for elephantsand doesnt let go until she deposits them at the end of her fantastic tale of passion, madness and fancy. 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. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. The story is told as a series of memories by jacob jankowski, a 93yearold man who lives in a nursing home. This study guide consists of approximately 58 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of water for elephants.
When jacob jankowski arrived for the first time at the circus where he worked, he was in awe. Meanwhile, camel becomes incredibly sick, and the group discovers he has jake. Jacob jankowski, a retired veterinarian living out his days in an assistedliving facility, drifts in and out of his memories. Water for elephants is a book that can be read and reread, recommended and handed off between friends.
May 22, 2006 listen to water for elephants audiobook by sara gruen. When jacob jankowski, recently orphaned and suddenly adrift, jumps onto a passing train, he enters a world of freaks, drifters, and misfits, a secondrate circus struggling to survive during the great depression, making onenight. A water for elephants discussion from reading group guides writers digest interview with sara gruen. First, young jacob is found on the campus of cornell university in ithaca, new york. Water for elephants is one of my most favorite books. At what point in his life did he seem to be the happiest. The following quote from jacob, taken from the book, describes, in detail, the marvelous scene. The last notes of water for elephants linger long after the book ends. Sara gruen has written an utterly transporting novel richly full of the stuff of life.
Water for elephants book club discussion questions thoughtco. 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. Books that make excellent choices for discussion groups have a good plot. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of water for elephants by sara gruen. Every few chapters, the narrative switches from one jacob to the other. The inspiring story of an unlikely hero and the animals who helped him save lives in world war ii.
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. Download the historicalfiction, romance novel 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. A thousand splendid suns, memory keepers daughter, etc. She wrote the book as part of national novel writing month. Many years before, jacob is a student at cornell university, studying veterinarian medicine in order to join. It is the nature of short stories that their action builds to a. 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. 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. Sanctuary means providing a safe haven and natural habitat, dedicated solely to elephant wellbeing. This is where almost all of the action of the story took place. To what extent do the chapters concerning the elderly jacob enhance the.
In striving to enrich the lives of all readers, teachingbooks supports the first amendment and celebrates the right to read. Use these questions on water for elephants by sara gruen to lead your book clubs discussion of this novel. How do the chapters about the older jacob enrich the story about jacobs adventure with the circus. Water for elephants is the new york times bestselling debut novel by sara gruen. Use these book club discussion questions on water for elephants to lead your book clubs conversation on the story.
Water for elephants has two plots going on, both starring the same main character, jacob. Collaboration and sharing of best practices leads to better management, treatment and care for elephants everywhere. Mar 01, 2011 water for elephants was a completely different read for me. There are three main settings in water for elephants. In what ways and to what extent do the words pathetic grandeur describe the world that gruen creates in her novel. But be warned, this isnt the order of events in the book. In one plot, jacob is a young guy just starting out in the world. Water for elephants sara gruen, 2006 algonquin books of chapel hill 350 pp. African elephant, facts and photos national geographic.
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