Oh, I liked Water for Elephants. I thought it was pure fiction though. It's one of those kind of books I don't usually read but keep seeing it everywhere so finally caved when I found it in a thrift store for 50 cents.
I loved Water for Elephants too - particularly how it dealt with aging. Of course the info about the depression and the circus people and animals were great too.
Flapper
Water for Elephants