Book #22, Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants

The more I read, the more I wish I were writing.  I read works like Water for Elephants and I am floored by the level of research and creativity that combine into this beautifully created story about Depression-era circuses.  The characters are vivid creations of humanity and uniquely gifted (or cursed) individuals struggling to eek out an existence.  There is love, danger, sex and even dancing elephants. 

But my absolute favorite part of this novel is the setting.  Gruen begins the novel in a nursing home in the mind's eye of a 90+ year old man, our narrator.  He is the story's protagonist, the young man who- faced with difficulties and loss of loved ones - runs off and stumbles upon a travelling circus.  The snippets of the story in the "present" - from his nursing home, or rather, assisted living facility - paint an honest and heart-wrenching portrait of that world.  Having watched my grandparents deteriorate over the past 7 years and then die in the later part of 2010, these sections of the novel were incredibly poignant.  It was difficult to read because it hit home so hard, but it also beautifully captured the truth of the experience.

Gruen's novel has recently been made into a film starring Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson.  I'm looking forward to watching this film when it comes on Netflix or Red Box (because, let's face it...who wants to spent $10 going out to a movie when you can spend $1 to watch it at home in a few months? Oh, and that $10 dollars is a single ticket...taking your spouse or best friend only makes the economic impact worse.)

Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants is an excellent read!  I would rate it PG-13 for some gritty descriptions, adult language, and violence.