When in Wisconsin I found the book 'Water for Elephants' by Sara Gruen in a used book shop. I was really excited because I really want to see the movie that was recently out... and I'm not gonna hide that it is because I love Robert Pattinson! I was wonderfully surprised to find that I also LOVED the book.
I really liked the characters and that it is set in a circus. It was not what I expected about a circus story but instead a entirely other perspective. It is the side of the circus that you normally don't see and is set in the times of the traveling circus. It's the stories of the people who set up the tents and feed the tigers and about the juxpostion of the performers and workmen. I appreciate the work that the author did to research that culture at that time and the characters that came out of that. The circus being set during the prohibition also adds an interesting element to the story.
The array of characters was sensational. So many different personalities in this misfit group and the lead character's sense of right and wrong running through the interactions makes for excellent reading.A moody ringmaster, an angry clown, a caring horse performer, and an elephant with a language barrier just to name a few. I also really liked the two different time periods. The crotchety old man who had such a history made me smile. His spunkiness and outlook were entertaining and it was a great perspective on a life.
I'm not gonna say much more other than you should definitely read this book if you haven't and I'm even more excited to see the film!!
