After hearing lots of hype for the book several summers ago and the recent film that hit theaters, I finally decided to read Water for Elephants. It was a great story—obviously well-researched, interesting, and well-written. The novel is about Jacob Jankowski, a Cornell veterinary student who joins the circus after tragedy strikes his parents and turns his world upside-down. The book is riddled with violence, love, and—my favorite part—the commentary of 93-year-old Jacob recalling his past.

One thing that bothered me about the novel was the constant anthropomorphism of the animals, and the repetitiveness of their descriptions. Nearly every time the elephant, Rosie, made an appearance in the book, she was described as having “her mouth open in a smile.” It got a bit old after awhile. The historical aspects of the book, however, were very interesting. Overall, it was a great read (and a great summer book for the beach).

Availability: USMAI
Review Submitted by: Jordan Gaines
Rating: Highly Recommended