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Kandice

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Water for Elephants

by Sara Gruen (Goodreads Author)

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Reading for the 2nd time

read in April 2012

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Kandice said: " I've never been to a circus before.
When my family went to Vegas they always stayed at Excalibur. I remember when the hotel Circus Circus went up and I tried to beg my parents to stay there one year. They only took me into the lobby and I was running I've never been to a circus before.
When my family went to Vegas they always stayed at Excalibur. I remember when the hotel Circus Circus went up and I tried to beg my parents to stay there one year. They only took me into the lobby and I was running away. Lol. Clowns terrified me. Thanks Stephen King for your book IT that became the creepiest movie!
This book was intriguing only after the movie came out. Still have yet to see it. I always try to read a book before the movie. Always have, always will.
I have a grandmother who lives in Georgia and she told me that Water for Elephants movie was being filmed in parts of Tennessee that her husband was born and raised in. So with her excitement over that fact, I did my research. Found out it as a book first so waited to read it first.

Water for Elephants was a good book. I like the 1930's Depression era mixed with the the circus life. I also like how it has a present day feel to the story. My mother is a caregiver for an Assistant Living for the elderly, so going to pass this book along to her. She prides herself on being what Rosemary was for Jacob in the story.

But.. and there's always a but, the story was slow. I fell asleep somewhere in the middle where Jacob was on the train or they were stopped, but it was the sex scene for his loosing virginity to Barbara the cooch girl.
The story, don't get me wrong has all the potential to be great. But I agree with other readers that it felt rushed along. The author even says she was strapped for time with her deadline and all. So it shows.
The character Marlena is boring. You as the reader don't fall in love with her like Jacob has. And I think that's important to feel that connection with reader and characters. Also you had characters left open. Camel's history with his son, your left wondering what happened between them cause its never said. But I guess with his and Walter 's (aka - Kinko) death its just dead with him.

Overall I am happy I read it though. I know as an author writing books is difficult. So for Sara Gruen's 3rd book, not bad. *golf clapping* In the end I did fall in love with Jacob and Marlena. So that was achieved.

Happy reading,
-KRC ...more "

Apr 20, 2012 02:05PM · see review