This book is a tough one for me to write a review about. It's like the number one selling book for how many weeks (years?) now? People friggin love this book and I'm torn between being completely honest and showing a bit of restraint to appease all your sensitive egos (wink wink). But after some serious consideration -after a beer actually- I have decided to fuck the masses! Wait, that came out wrong.... What I meant is, I'm going to be honest, despite the potential negative backlash (I can handle a light spanking though, if you choose to punish me... ).
So here it goes.... Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen is a good book, not great, not a "read again" book, but worth the read... *Wince* Are you gunna hit me now?
Please let me explain. I really enjoyed learning about the old school circus and the terrible lives of those stuck in that lifestyle: poor, starving, desperate and angry. The main character, Jacob, is a sad case. His story is gut-wrenching (really) so kudos to Sara for the development of his character. I also LOVED all the interaction and vivid description of the animals. There were times when I was reading with clenched fists ready to punch someone in the fucking head in anger over the animal abuse. However, Jacob and Marlena's compassion for the animals balanced out the abuse and calmed my homicidal rage a bit at least. Here is a lovely quote from Jacob about his devotion to the circus animals:
"It's impossible to describe how tenderly I suddenly feel towards them - hyenas, camels, and all. Even the polar bear, who sits on his backside chewing his four-inch claws with his four-inch teeth. A love for these animals wells up in me suddenly, a flash flood, and there it is, solid as an obelisk and viscous as water... There is no question that I am the only thing standing between them and the business practices of August and Uncle Al, and what my father would do- what my father would want me to do- is look after them, and I am filled with that absolute and unwavering conviction."
That made me warm and tingly inside, as I feel the same way towards all animals. And without giving away too many details to those of you that haven't had the opportunity to read it yet, the ending of the book makes you love Jacob even more! I have to admit that the image of Robert Pattinson as Jacob (not Twilight Jacob *wink*) may have raised him from 'like a lot' to 'love' in my mind.... and heart? (please forgive me).
So, before I start into what I didn't like, I'd just like to say to you all- read this book. I'm serious.When else will you have the chance to escape into world of a 1930's travelling circus?! Travelling on a train even, with a midget! This book provides wonderful details into a world that non of us will ever see.
But, it just wouldn't be right of me to leave out some of the things that ticked me off. The main offender was the emotional connection between Jacob and Marlena- or lack there of. I didn't really get it. I guess the book was missing that internal dialogue from Jacob's perspective that would have provided the reader with some insight into WHY he felt so attracted to her. I mean yes, they both liked animals, and yes, they were both attractive but, really? I would have loved more dialogue between the two of them about their feelings for each other, to get some idea why they had such a strong connection. I wanted to want them to get together, but in the end I didn't really care. I imagine that the movie has spent more time building their relationship and showing how they grew so fond of one another that they would risk their fucking lives for each other!
Also, and this may be due to my borderline obsession with creatures that go bump in the night, I found myself bored on more than one occasion. Like as I was reading on the train I was actually noticing what was going on around me- that's never a good sign. I don't think it was the writing style, the characters or even the flash-back-and-forth-between-the-past-and-the-present thing that was the problem. I think it was just the plot. Not enough action? Not enough sex, violence, drugs? I haven't quite been able to put my finger on it, but it might be that it was just too PG for this clearly desensitized, blood loving book slut.
Finally, I was delighted with the ending. It was fantastic. I love books that end well, even if it's the same old story where the bad guys lose and the good guys win. But more importantly, how often do the animals in a book or movie find peace and happiness? Not often. So I my raging inner animal activist was thoroughly satisfied when the animals (some, but not all unfortunately) had their happy ending too. *fist pump*
So congrats Sara Gruen. You wrote a good book and now you're a bazillionaire making movies with big stars. I will not be watching the movie despite my minor (major) obsession with Robert Pattinson. Instead of listening to the fucking message of the book, that using animals for human entertainment is BAD (abuse and such), the producers decided to use live animals in filming. So, I have a message for you money grubbing bastards: fuck you. Animals are not for our entertainment. And if I had a bull hook so help me god I would not be using it on animals...
Ok, so that's enough outta me. Get the book. Read it. Don't go see the movie.
Peace.
So here it goes.... Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen is a good book, not great, not a "read again" book, but worth the read... *Wince* Are you gunna hit me now?
Please let me explain. I really enjoyed learning about the old school circus and the terrible lives of those stuck in that lifestyle: poor, starving, desperate and angry. The main character, Jacob, is a sad case. His story is gut-wrenching (really) so kudos to Sara for the development of his character. I also LOVED all the interaction and vivid description of the animals. There were times when I was reading with clenched fists ready to punch someone in the fucking head in anger over the animal abuse. However, Jacob and Marlena's compassion for the animals balanced out the abuse and calmed my homicidal rage a bit at least. Here is a lovely quote from Jacob about his devotion to the circus animals:
"It's impossible to describe how tenderly I suddenly feel towards them - hyenas, camels, and all. Even the polar bear, who sits on his backside chewing his four-inch claws with his four-inch teeth. A love for these animals wells up in me suddenly, a flash flood, and there it is, solid as an obelisk and viscous as water... There is no question that I am the only thing standing between them and the business practices of August and Uncle Al, and what my father would do- what my father would want me to do- is look after them, and I am filled with that absolute and unwavering conviction."
That made me warm and tingly inside, as I feel the same way towards all animals. And without giving away too many details to those of you that haven't had the opportunity to read it yet, the ending of the book makes you love Jacob even more! I have to admit that the image of Robert Pattinson as Jacob (not Twilight Jacob *wink*) may have raised him from 'like a lot' to 'love' in my mind.... and heart? (please forgive me).
So, before I start into what I didn't like, I'd just like to say to you all- read this book. I'm serious.When else will you have the chance to escape into world of a 1930's travelling circus?! Travelling on a train even, with a midget! This book provides wonderful details into a world that non of us will ever see.
But, it just wouldn't be right of me to leave out some of the things that ticked me off. The main offender was the emotional connection between Jacob and Marlena- or lack there of. I didn't really get it. I guess the book was missing that internal dialogue from Jacob's perspective that would have provided the reader with some insight into WHY he felt so attracted to her. I mean yes, they both liked animals, and yes, they were both attractive but, really? I would have loved more dialogue between the two of them about their feelings for each other, to get some idea why they had such a strong connection. I wanted to want them to get together, but in the end I didn't really care. I imagine that the movie has spent more time building their relationship and showing how they grew so fond of one another that they would risk their fucking lives for each other!
Also, and this may be due to my borderline obsession with creatures that go bump in the night, I found myself bored on more than one occasion. Like as I was reading on the train I was actually noticing what was going on around me- that's never a good sign. I don't think it was the writing style, the characters or even the flash-back-and-forth-between-the-past-and-the-present thing that was the problem. I think it was just the plot. Not enough action? Not enough sex, violence, drugs? I haven't quite been able to put my finger on it, but it might be that it was just too PG for this clearly desensitized, blood loving book slut.
Finally, I was delighted with the ending. It was fantastic. I love books that end well, even if it's the same old story where the bad guys lose and the good guys win. But more importantly, how often do the animals in a book or movie find peace and happiness? Not often. So I my raging inner animal activist was thoroughly satisfied when the animals (some, but not all unfortunately) had their happy ending too. *fist pump*
So congrats Sara Gruen. You wrote a good book and now you're a bazillionaire making movies with big stars. I will not be watching the movie despite my minor (major) obsession with Robert Pattinson. Instead of listening to the fucking message of the book, that using animals for human entertainment is BAD (abuse and such), the producers decided to use live animals in filming. So, I have a message for you money grubbing bastards: fuck you. Animals are not for our entertainment. And if I had a bull hook so help me god I would not be using it on animals...
Ok, so that's enough outta me. Get the book. Read it. Don't go see the movie.
Peace.
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