Water for elephants book endings

While reading water for elephants i found the plot hyperbolic and excessively melodramatic and the characters little developed beyond their names. What makes water for elephants more intriguing is a third character, reminding us why christoph waltz deserved his supporting actor oscar for inglourious basterds 2009. Top 50 books with the best endings ever list challenges. The grand rapids press you need this elephant in your life. Water for elephants is fun, sweet and thrilling and will pull you into the mysterious life of the circus so far that you wont want to leave. It was the early part of the great depression, and for jacob, now ninety, the circus world he remembers was both his salvation and a living hell. Joshilyn jackson, author of gods in alabama so much more than a tale about a circus, water for elephants is a compelling journey not only under the big top, but into the protagonists heart. The circus, the great depression, a complex elephant, equally complex love, the mists and twists of memory articulated in the utterly winning voice of a very old man whos seen it all. Water for elephants by sara gruen at the best online ebook storage. The movie water for elephants stays close to sara gruens beloved book particularly with the 1930s circus memories section. As the headline suggests, were discussing the ending. Heres a brief look at incorporating the history behind water for elephants into the classroom. In striving to enrich the lives of all readers, teachingbooks supports the first amendment and celebrates the right to read. A national bestseller in canada and a new york times bestseller in the united states, this is a book destined to become a beloved fiction classic.

Aug 05, 2008 a meticulously researched, fastpaced, engaging and ultimately very satisfying novel set mostly ina depression era travelling circus. Even with the disagreement about the ending, my book club was in pretty unanimous agreement that water for elephants was a great book and one that we recommend to others. Water for elephants questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on water for elephants. I actually think it would make a great summer read for people who want to learn something while getting a good story. Water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month. Because of this, water for elephants is one of those few magical times when a movie is better than the book it is based on, when all the little details that generally engender people to love a. It was adult, and it was realistic, and i loved it. Water for elephants by sara gruen as a young man, jacob jankowski was tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the benzini brothers most spectacular show on earth.

If you havent seen water for elephants or read the novel its based on, stop reading now. The movie was pretty blah, pattison was bland, no chemistry with. A report came out last night about reshoots but we wanted to see how this all unfolded. As the sadistic august, waltz simmers with alternating charm and viciousness two qualities he perfected in his oscarwinning turn in inglourious basterds. Jul 23, 2018 water for elephants by sara gruen is a must read a story about a 90yearold man remembering his days with a circus during the great depression. The alternating glamour and squalor of the circus world gruen expertly conjures may truly be one of. In the sections of the book set in the present, when jacob is in his 90s, he makes a big deal about his age and seems really upset by it. I bought this book because of push advertising and regretted it. Water for elephants by sara gruen is a must read a story about a 90yearold man remembering his days with a circus during the great depression. Books, stories, and novels like water for elephants by sara gruen. Apr 14, 2020 theres not much that can beat the feeling of falling headfirst into a book full of twists, turns, and explosive plot points.

Sara gruen uses her talent as a writer to bring that world alive for the reader. Water for elephants movie tiein by sara gruen, paperback. He is portrayed as a bit of a rebel, arguing with other residents, complaining about the food. Water for elephants book ending vs movie ending showing 1.

Water for elephants was a completely different read for me. Water for elephants a dissapointed ending showing 150 of 116. Water for elephants is the new york times bestselling debut novel by sara gruen. I fell in love with the picture you chose for your book the first time i saw it. With its spotlight on elephants, gruens romantic pageturner hinges on. Oct 21, 2009 robert olen butler so much more than a tale about a circus, water for elephants is a compelling journey not only under the big top, but into the protagonists heart. It was the great depression and for jacob the circus was both his salvation and a living hell. Water for elephants is a story about an elderly man, jacob, who recalls an adventure in his younger years. I hate being so enamored with a book and then a crappy movie version comes along and tarnishes it. Gruens book is wellresearched and wellwritten, but some qualms with the ending discussed after a spoiler warning. An atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of starcrossed lovers, set in the circus. And like many books, water for elephants sneaks in an extra ending or two, just for fun. I read water for elephants for our book club, and i expected it to be as slow, dull, and superficial as most of the other books we have read. Just when you think the story might be over, you get another little bit of narrative.

As i was reading, i kept expecting something to exhibit water for elephants besides mcguinty. Apr 22, 2011 weve probably all seen a movie and wished it were 40 minutes shorter or read a book and thought, damn, this really could have been condensed and lost nothing. The top 50 books with the best ever endings, as rated by readers of. In the book, jacobs narration takes place in his own mind. Sara gruens book, water for elephants, was a runaway best seller an internationally acclaimed novel told as the reminiscences of an old man, jacob, about his experiences with a depressionera circus where he witnessed the brutalities inflicted on people and animals alike.

The story tells the journey of the main character, jacob, who ends up in the circus after an unfortunate event leaves him feeling lost. Water for elephants a depressionera circus provides the backdrop for sara gruens latest novel, water for elephants. The first time we hear gruen reference the title in the book is when jacob realizes one of his fellow nursing home patients is telling a white lie about working for the circus. The only place the movie veers from the original is in its details of the older, current jacob. With lines of startling beauty, haunting and evocative scenes and finelydrawn characters who dance off the page, readers can dip in and out of the novel, immersing themselves in jacobs memories. It is a book i have recommended to everyone who has asked me what book i would recommend. Water for elephants is a book that can be read and reread, recommended and handed off between friends. Trust us, water for elephants is going to be one of the surprise hits of 2011. Mar 01, 2011 water for elephants is an enchanting pageturner, the kind of book that creates a world that engulfs you from the first page to the last. On our first date, my husband took me to see tod brownings freaks, a 1932 horror film with a distinctly diane arbus feel. He plays the circus owner, who is married to the bareback rider and keeps her. Jacob janowskis luck had run outorphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on a rickety train that was home to the benzini brothers most spectacular show on earth. Theres something endearingly oldfashioned about a love story involving a beautiful bareback rider and a kid who runs off to join the circus. With gruens bestselling book as his source material here, lawrence concentrates on more domestic horrors missing in his other films.

Best ending 2915 books meet your next favorite book. Gruen has said that the backbone of her story parallels the biblical story of jacob in the book of genesis title. Water for elephants was adapted into a major motion picture starring reese witherspoon, rob pattinson, and. Overall, water for elephants was a book that grabbed me from the beginning. The book and movie endings were both good in their own way. Water for elephants is one of my most favorite books. This list is composed of books some of which have a few of the worst endings i. Differences between water for elephants book vs movie page 1.

Veterinary school student jacob meets and falls in love with marlena, a star performer in a circus of a bygone era. Water for elephants book vs movie add a difference. The alternating glamour and squalor of the circus world gruen expertly conjures may truly be one of the greatest shows. My main issue with the book water for elephants not the title i would have chosen. I would have given the book five stars if the books ending did not give a new meaning to cliche. Apr 22, 2010 even with the disagreement about the ending, my book club was in pretty unanimous agreement that water for elephants was a great book and one that we recommend to others. Dont judge a book by its cover instead, try and wait for the last line following our massively popular and lovingly selected list of the 100 best opening lines from books, its now time. In what ways and to what extent do the words pathetic grandeur describe the world that gruen creates in her novel. This depressionera tale of life with a thirdrate traveling circus centers on. At what point in his life did he seem to be the happiest. Water for elephants by sara gruen book club discussion.

The book ending was just kind of dry and i felt like the author did not really develop it. In the book, we see jacob as an old man in the nursing home throughout. These book club discussion questions reveal important details about water for elephants by sara gruen. He is particularly angry with one old man who says he once got the water for elephants in the circus. Its one of the few books that everyone has come back to me saying, water for elephants was so good. She wrote the book as part of national novel writing month.

The truth is, it is summer and i am desperate for a distraction away from my recent obsession with greys anatomy reruns fueled by netflixs instant queue. Sara gruen has written a rare book that is a great story, well written and bearing one of the happiest endings you will ever read. He is a jerk and gets people thrown off the train red lighted. Water for elephants july 5, 2006 a depressionera circus provides the backdrop for sara gruens latest novel, water for elephants. Read online water for elephants by sara gruen for free. August is the jerk ring master and the owner of the circus.

Gruen transports us into the world of a thirdrate traveling circus during the great depression. Although i wanted more emotion between marlena and jacob, its a romantic story, full of action, love for animals and a magnificent circus. In fact, the book even features photos from circuses around this time. Winner of the 2007 bookbrowse diamond award for most popular book. Immediately engrossed, i had a hard time putting it down as i read the story of jacob jankowski and his reminiscence of days with the benzini brothers most spectacular show on earthotherwise known as a train circus in.

Water for elephants book ending vs movie ending showing. Because who doesnt love a pachyderm and a happy ending. Water for elephants by sara gruen sophisticated dorkiness. In the beginning of the novel, jacob mocks another resident of the nursing home who claims to have worked in the circus and carried water for the elephants. Sara gruen is the internationally bestselling author of water for elephants and at the waters edge. Cant say ive ever been curious enough about its workings to read a book revolving around one, but i am so glad i did because it was sooo much more than that.

Her works have been translated into fortythree languages and have sold more than ten million copies worldwide. Water for elephants book ending vs movie ending showing 128 of. Books that defined a generation water for elephants. Water for elephants was adapted into a major motion picture starring reese witherspoon, rob pattinson, and christoph waltz. Your story took me to place i could only dream of going. Circus life in the early 1930s is quite obviously the most important historical aspect to water for elephants. Use these book club discussion questions on water for elephants to lead your book clubs conversation on the story.

The movie capitalised on the visual aspect inherent in the presentation on film, while the book ended on a high note for me, since it showed the possibility available to jacob for a happy and fulfilling life. Download and read online for free water for elephants by sara gruen. The setting of the story changes throughout the book. Read water for elephants absolutely for free at readanybook. Sara gruen has written an utterly transporting novel richly full of the stuff of life. Jacob is the moral center of the book, recognizing and, where possible, preventing those cruelties, and in the. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of water for elephants by sara gruen. Dec 21, 2011 the book and movie endings were both good in their own way. The story is told by its main character, jacob who is now confined to. The information was first brought to our attention, midday tuesday, from wfe extra, emily then this report came out later tuesday evening from whats playing havent seen the film myself, so cant comment, but i have read both the book and the script of which water for elephants the new film.

Find all the books, read about the author, and more. It all builds up to a surprise ending, one that if the writer has done her or his job correctly, will shock you and make. Water for elephants has two plots going on, both starring the same main character, jacob. Its from this nursing home that jacob tells his story, like he is looking back at all the adventures at the circus. A great title but i dont feel that the book reflected the significance needed for that name. In one plot, jacob is a young guy just starting out in the world.

Despite her often cliched prose and the predictability of the storys ending, gruen skillfully. I have to admit, when our book club picked this book, i thought it was going to be long and tedious. A veterinary student just shy of a degree, he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. Should the murderer in water for elephants be punished.