'Water for Elephants' Book Review

Water for Elephants
Sara Gruen
335 pg., U.S. Paperback
Algonquin
5/5


One Star for Character Development
One Star for Plot
One Star for Flow
One Star for Conflict & Resolution
One Star for Ending

i. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
The main characters in this book are Jacob Jankowski, Marlena, and August. Jacob is a shy boy who studies veterinary training at Cornell College, but leaves the school upon finding his parents were dead. He finds himself sucked into the world of the circus, and meets August, an abusive trainer, and his wife Marlena, the equestrian trainer. Marlena strays from August, her abusive husband, and comes to love Jacob. The characters in this book show temptation, angst, but also sincerity, love, and compassion.
ii. PLOT
The plot of this story is told from a series of memories from an older version of Jacob Jankowski of his life in the circus at a young age. He encounters love, hate, abuse, neglect, yet also a new sense of happiness and joy in his new occupation.
iii. FLOW
Not much to say when describing the flow and how it deserved a star. So--it flowed perfectly.
iv. CONFLICT & RESOLUTION
The main conflict of this story is the building tension between circus members. The book is not really conflict-driven, but the conflict is definitely there. In the end, Marlena leaves August for Jacob the night that Jacob meant to kill August.
v. ENDING
Stated in the previous prompt, Marlena ends up with Jacob. Rosie the elephant kills August, which is seen at the beginning of the novel, but brought around to the end of the timeline.

The film adaption of this book is in theatres today.

--Riley