W is for Water for Elephants

About the Book

Water for Elephants is a book written by Sara Gruen and published in May of 2006. The story is told as a series of memories by Jacob Jankowski, a 93-year-old man living in a nursing home. The memories follow Jacob, who is a young Polish American preparing for his final exams as a Cornell University veterinary student. He has loving and supportive parents; when he gets news of their fatal car accident he runs away and joins a traveling circus. The traveling circus is a cruel environment, but when they hear of his training, they jump at the chance to employ Jacob as their vet. This is where Jacob builds a relationship with a clever (whiskey fiend) Rosie, the elephant. Jacob and Rosie's rider Marlena also start a relationship. Marlena is married to the cruel and schizophrenic trainer who threatens Jacobs life. The book is amazing; I read it a few years ago and absolutely loved it. 

About the Movie

Loving a book can be scary when you hear of a movie adaptation being released. Nevertheless, I looked forward to Water for Elephants (2011) starring the ever popular (at the time) Robert Pattinson as Jacob Jankowski, and Reese Witherspoon as Marlena. The parts I did like in the movie were Jacob and Rosie (the elephant) relationship. I think they captured the circus atmosphere well and Christopher Waltz portrayed the crazed August, Rosie's abusive trainer, Marlena's husband, and ultimately Jacob's nemesis. I did love to see the animals escaping on screen too!