Water For Elephants
- Sara Gruen
Water for Elephants is a book written by Sara Gruen that demonstrates the themes of love, courage, admiration, and suffering. The book begins at Cornell University in New York in the 1930's. Jacob Jankowski, the main character of the book, is in his last year of studying to become a veterinarian when the police barge into his final exam room, asking for Jacob. The police tell Jacob that his parents have been killed in a car accident and he is needed right away to identify the bodies at the police station. Jacob leaves with the police, his final exam sitting unfinished on the desk. Jacob realizes he has no job and no inheritance, since he was supposed to join his fathers practice. Jacob wanders around until he decides that he has nothing to lose, and jumps on a moving train that is passing by. Little does he know, but the train he jumps on belongs to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth Circus. A new life has just begun.
On the train, he meets Camel who helps him get involved with the circus by taking care of the circus animals. Jacob is happy to find a job until he meets August, a crazy schizophrenic, who is in charge of all the important animal acts. August is married to Marlena, a beautiful show girl, with whom Jacob instantly falls in love.
The circus travels around the United States and at one of the stops the head of the circus, Uncle Al, buys an elephant named Rosie. This is where the members of the circus run into a major problem. August tries and tries to train Rosie, but he can't. August starts to beat Rosie and threatens to kill the elephant. However, Jacob is soon able to train her and starts to show Rosie in the circus. As the book continues, Jacob and Marlena's relationship grows and so does August's jealously.
Nothing seems to be going right for Jacob at this point. August is starting to get more physical and starts beating up Marlena and Jacob, accusing them of having an affair. On top of that, Jacob's roommate, Camel, becomes paralyzed and he is threatened to be kicked off the train and killed. One night, Jacob leaves his car with plans to kill August, but chickens out. Meanwhile, several people are kicked off the train and killed, including Walter, his roommate, and Camel. A few men who survive being thrown off the train come back to the circus and set all the animals loose, creating a huge animal riot. During the riot, Rosie kills August by jamming a metal tent stake into his head. The circus is now a disaster and is forced to close.
Marlena and Jacob can finally be together! The couple try to save as many animals as they can, including Rosie, and join the Ringling Brothers Circus.
The book ends set in a nursing home where Jacob is currently living. Jacob explains to the nurse working he lived a good life, had five children with Marlena, and many circus stories. One day, Jacob sneaks out of the nursing home to go to a circus. At the circus, he is offered a job selling circus tickets and collecting money in the booth. He accepts and starts another chapter of his life.
On the train, he meets Camel who helps him get involved with the circus by taking care of the circus animals. Jacob is happy to find a job until he meets August, a crazy schizophrenic, who is in charge of all the important animal acts. August is married to Marlena, a beautiful show girl, with whom Jacob instantly falls in love.
The circus travels around the United States and at one of the stops the head of the circus, Uncle Al, buys an elephant named Rosie. This is where the members of the circus run into a major problem. August tries and tries to train Rosie, but he can't. August starts to beat Rosie and threatens to kill the elephant. However, Jacob is soon able to train her and starts to show Rosie in the circus. As the book continues, Jacob and Marlena's relationship grows and so does August's jealously.
Nothing seems to be going right for Jacob at this point. August is starting to get more physical and starts beating up Marlena and Jacob, accusing them of having an affair. On top of that, Jacob's roommate, Camel, becomes paralyzed and he is threatened to be kicked off the train and killed. One night, Jacob leaves his car with plans to kill August, but chickens out. Meanwhile, several people are kicked off the train and killed, including Walter, his roommate, and Camel. A few men who survive being thrown off the train come back to the circus and set all the animals loose, creating a huge animal riot. During the riot, Rosie kills August by jamming a metal tent stake into his head. The circus is now a disaster and is forced to close.
Marlena and Jacob can finally be together! The couple try to save as many animals as they can, including Rosie, and join the Ringling Brothers Circus.
The book ends set in a nursing home where Jacob is currently living. Jacob explains to the nurse working he lived a good life, had five children with Marlena, and many circus stories. One day, Jacob sneaks out of the nursing home to go to a circus. At the circus, he is offered a job selling circus tickets and collecting money in the booth. He accepts and starts another chapter of his life.