An wonderful story....once I picked it up it was difficult to put down.

From the flap:
Though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski's ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell.

*Update*
July 30, 2007
This is on the way to cinnycat.

thanks so much for this one, alrescate! It looks amazing. I''ll write another journal entry when I''m finished reading!

I hate knowing who will be in a movie version of a book - especially if it is a sparkly vampire... An actor becomes ingrained with that character with just a mention that they will be in the movie version. I had to take this one off the shelf and read it before the movie trailers started appearing on TV, which would only make it worse. Water For Elephants is very flowing and easily readable, passing from event to event quickly, like a lot of best sellers (The Help, The Time Traveler's Wife), which I think is a big reason some of these books become best sellers to begin with. (Though a book like The Help has other qualities that make it a best seller, but being easily readable doesn't hurt!) There was no gazing out of the circus train's open door and taking in the scenery, which I like once in a while. I liked that most of the book took place with a behind-the-scenes look at the circus work (feeding the animals, the food tent for the workers) and traveling, instead of always taking place in the big tent. I did find that the 90 year old Jacob was more interesting than the circus Jacob, which was surprising, as I usually like anything circus related. I may have no idea how a 90 year old brain works, but often times I was wondering if a 90 year old had written the older Jacob chapters, and not Sara Gruen who is definitely not 90 (and yes the character's name is Jacob -- I'm not confusing him with the Twilight vampire... or is that the werewolf?) Also, the love triangle between Marlena, Jacob and August left me bored.. maybe because it also reminded me of Twilight. And that is the extent of my Twilight knowledge. I would have enjoyed the book a lot more knowing nothing about the movie. But over all, this was a good read.

Sent to Llednyl as part of a trade! Enjoy! thanks again for sharing alrescate!

Been waiting to read this book before seeing the movie. Thanks for the trade!