Water For Elephants-Discussion *May Contain Spoilers*

[BrattyMeg]

LOVED this book! I'll be back with my review and some discussion. Feel free to discuss the book as you read/finish!

[Julie Billingsley]

I just picked this up for the Kindle. It's only $4.17 right now!

[Teresa]

Yah! I started reading this a few days ago. I was hooked from the first chapter.

[TanyaH666]

ooh i read this book about a month before the movie came out! LOVED it!! I was actually sad when it ended, i loved it that much.

[Giseli Freitas]

I started to read it last Friday and finished my reading just yesterday. Gotta LOVE this book!! Can't wait to see the movie.

[lhaslem]

I just finished this one as well - quick and easy read - really enjoyed it and can't wait to see the movie

[ZaCola3]

I read this a few years ago-but bought it for my Kindle since it was so cheap-it is defiantly worth the second read...I've just started so I'll be back with more insight!

[Lauramarie]

Finished it about a week or more ago and loved it!

[Keely~B]

I read it quite a while a long time ago but I loved it. I'm glad to see everyone's enjoying it so far.

[BrattyMeg]

1. To what extent do the chapters concerning the elderly Jacob enhance the chapters recounting the young Jacob’s experiences with the Benzini Brothers circus? In what ways do the chapters about the young Jacob contribute to a deeper understanding of the elderly Jacob’s life?

2. How does the novel’s epigraph, the quote from Dr. Seuss’s Horton Hatches the Egg, apply to the novel? What are the roles and importance of faithfulness and loyalty in Water for Elephants? In what ways does Gruen contrast the antagonisms and cruelties of circus life with the equally impressive loyalties and instances of caring?

3. Who did you, upon reading the prologue, think murdered August? What effect did that opening scene of chaos and murder have on your reception of the story that follows?

4. In connection with Jacob’s formal dinner with August and Marlena in their stateroom, Jacob remarks, “August is gracious, charming, and mischievous” (page 93). To what extent is this an adequate characterization of August? How would you expand upon Jacob’s observation? How would you characterize August? Which situations in the novel reveal his true character?

5. August says of Marlena, “Not everyone can work with liberty horses. It’s a God-given talent, a sixth sense, if you will” (page 94). Both August and Jacob recognize Marlena’s skills, her “sixth sense,” in working with the horses. In what ways does that sixth sense attract each man? How do August and Jacob differ in terms of the importance each places on Marlena’s abilities?

6. After Jacob puts Silver Star down, August talks with him about the reality of the circus. “The whole thing’s illusion, Jacob,” he says, “and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s what people want from us. It’s what they expect” (page 104). How does Gruen contrast the worlds of reality and illusion in the novel? Is there anything wrong with pandering to people’s need for illusion? Why do we crave the illusions that the circus represents?

7. Reflecting on the fact that his platitudes and stories don’t hold his children’s interest, the elderly Jacob notes, “My real stories are all out of date. So what if I can speak firsthand about the Spanish flu, the advent of the automobile, world wars, cold wars, guerrilla wars, and Sputnik—that’s all ancient history now. But what else do I have to offer?” (page 110). How might we learn to appreciate the stories and life lessons of our elders and encourage people younger than ourselves to appreciate our own?

8. Looking at himself in the mirror, the old Jacob tries “to see beyond the sagging flesh.” But he claims, “It’s no good. . . . I can’t find myself anymore. When did I stop being me?” (page 111). How would you answer that question for Jacob or any individual, or for yourself?

9. In what ways and to what degree do Uncle Al’s maneuvers and practices regarding the defunct Fox Brothers circus reflect traditional American business practices? How would you compare his behavior with that of major businessmen and financiers of today? What alternative actions would you prefer?

10. As he lies on his bedroll, after his night with Barbara and Nell, Jacob cannot empty his mind of troubling visions, and he reflects that “the more distressing the memory, the more persistent its presence” (page 143). How might the elderly Jacob’s memories corroborate or contradict this observation? What have been your experiences and observations in this regard?

11. In his Carnival of the Animals, Ogden Nash wrote, “Elephants are useful friends.” In what ways is Rosie a “useful” friend? What is Rosie’s role in the events that follow her acquisition by Uncle Al?

12. After Jacob successfully coaches August in Polish commands for Rosie, he observes, “It’s only when I catch Rosie actually purring under August’s loving ministrations that my conviction starts to crumble. And what I’m left looking at in its place is a terrible thing” (page 229). What is Jacob left “looking at,” how does it pertain to August’s personality and Jacob’s relationship with August, and what makes it a “terrible thing”?

13. How did you react to the redlighting of Walter and Camel, and eight others, off the trestle? How might we see Uncle Al’s cutthroat behavior as “an indictment of a lifetime spent feigning emotions to make a buck” (in the words of one reviewer)?

14. After the collapse of the Benzini Brothers circus and Uncle Al’s having “done a runner” (page 314), Jacob realizes, “Not only am I unemployed and homeless, but I also have a pregnant woman, bereaved dog, elephant, and eleven horses to take care of” (page 317). What expectations did you entertain for Jacob and Marlena’s—and their menagerie’s—future after they leave the Benzini Brothers circus? How do the elderly Jacob’s memories of Marlena and their life together confirm or alter those expectations?

15. At the end of the novel, Jacob exclaims, “So what if I’m ninety-three? . . .why the hell shouldn’t I run away with the circus?” (page 331). What would you project to be the elderly Jacob’s experiences after he runs away with the circus the second time? How does his decision reflect what we have learned about his early years?

16. Sara Gruen has said that the “backbone” of her novel “parallels the biblical story of Jacob,” in the book of Genesis. On the first night after his leaving Cornell, for example, Jacob—as did his biblical namesake—lies “back on the bank, resting my head on a flat stone” (page 23). In what other ways does Water for Elephants parallel the story of the biblical Jacob? How do the names of many of the characters reflect names of characters in the biblical account?


Some questions to ponder..I'll be back in the next day or so to answer them myself

[Julie Billingsley]

Finished the book! It was pretty good. I do a lot of reading during my meal breaks but quickly learned I couldn't read this book during those. It always seemed they had someone slitting the throat of a horse or whatever when I was eating. gag.

Okay, I have a question. Remember when it was hinted that Silver Star was fed to the cats? Then Jacob went to the cat car and saw it was clean and he was surprised. I'm assuming because they didn't feed Silver Star to the cats??? So what happened to Silver Star? Do you think they fed him to the people??

[Amy Carey]

I must be in the minority. I finished it but wasn't crazy about this book. I think it needed to be longer and fleshed out a little more maybe? I just didn't feel a connection and a lot of details were "left out".

I do think Silver Star was fed to the cats. I think the point later when he talks about the cages being clean, I don't think they had been fed at all that day? OR did I miss something?

[Julie Billingsley]

Originally Posted by MizAmyLou

I must be in the minority. I finished it but wasn't crazy about this book.

I'm with you on this... I said it was pretty good, but to me that means like a 7.5/10 The animal cruelty alone knocked it down a lot in my estimation. Of course, I can understand why the author put the cruelty in the book, but I don't have to like reading about it. There was so much of the story that just disgusted me. I'm sure it was a fairly accurate historical fiction piece about circus life in that time however.

On the romance side of things, I don't think it was well written. I thought the romance could have had a bigger build up. More stolen glances, more conversation, more romance overall.

I will say I don't plan on seeing the movie now. shrug.

[livelys]

I feel a lot more positive about this book than I did going in - I thought it was going to have been over hyped, and I admit to not overly enjoying historical novels usually either.

As it turned out, I enjoyed the story - though there were many unpleasant parts, as you've mentioned, but I find most historical novels like that, if they are even vaguely accurate to the times, & hence my normal avoidance of them!

I listened to the story, rather than read it - the story being well told by 2 actors to correspond with the ages of Jacob, and perhaps this made a big difference to how I feel about it?

I did think the author touched on lots of subjects, but didn't overdwell any - perhaps this was a missed opportunity? I was close to tears listening to how the older Jacob felt about being in the care home - too close to recent events in my own life.

I think the cats got the horse for dinner, I'm afraid - recycling circus style circa. 1930

It was the redlighting which majorly disturbed me, and the attitude to human rights, let alone the treatment of animals (or total disregard for it I should say). Thank goodness for a big portion of the world, life has changed so much in the 80 years or so since the times the book was set in - though I'm willing to bet that in parts of our planet, some of the tragic things detailed in the book wouldn't be as surprising or shocking....

[Giseli Freitas]

I really enjoyed the book. Of course the animal cruelty was hard, but... what about the 'human cruelty'? That circus owner (I forgot the name ). Disgusting to say the least.
One of the themes that I most enjoyed to read (I know this will sound weird, but I'll try to explain) was the nursing home. I know! LOL But that's just because it gaves me lots to think about and some perspective. It was like a slap in my own face, kwim?
If there's anything I didn't like at all was the ending. It was very unconvincing to me.