See actions taken by the people who manage and post content. These book club discussion questions reveal important details about water for elephants by sara gruen. He is portrayed as a bit of a rebel, arguing with other residents, complaining about the food. Summary an atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of starcrossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932, by the bestselling author of riding lessons. Just to get it out of the way early, robert pattinson does a decent enough job as the lead in the adaptation of the sara gruen bestseller water. While reading water for elephants i found the plot hyperbolic and excessively melodramatic and the characters little developed beyond their names. Whats the difference between water for elephants the book and water for elephants the movie. But the book locked me in and all i could do was turn the pages until i reached page 331 and the story was complete. The circus train only had a limited amount of water on board, and elephants can drink 100300 litres per day approximately 2680 gallons. 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.
Trust us, water for elephants is going to be one of the surprise hits of 2011. Jacob, once it becomes known that he has veterinary skills. 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. Classroom ideas posted april 12, 2011 by sara novel novice 5 comments there is so much to love about sara gruens water for elephants, from the lush and magical setting of a 1930s circus, to the sweeping forbidden romance, to the heartbreaking recollections of narrator jacob jankowski. The book, water for elephants, starts off in the present day, in a nursing home where the main character, jacob jankowski, lives. The climax of the the book, water for elephants, is when several survivors who were redlighted return to the circus during one of the shows. I liked the movie ending better, i like seeing all the pictures and montages of the family. The movie water for elephants stays close to sara gruens beloved book particularly with the 1930s circus memories section. Jacob jankowski, a retired veterinarian living out his days in an assistedliving facility, drifts in and out of his memories. It stars reese witherspoon, robert pattinson, and christoph waltz.
After his parents death, jacob jankowski is left penniless and homeless. Water for elephants was directed by francis lawrence, whose i am legend and constantine were not predictions of this relatively classic film. She wrote the book as part of national novel writing month. Sara gruen has a voice to rival john irvings, and i am hopelessly, unabashedly in love with this book.
Complete summary of sara gruens water for elephants. Novelist sara gruen sweeps her readers off their feet in the opening pages of water for elephantsand doesnt let go until she deposits them at the end of her fantastic tale of passion, madness and fancy. This summary of water for elephants includes a complete plot overview spoilers included. The film was released in the united states on april 22, 2011. Veterinary school student jacob meets and falls in. Use these book club discussion questions on water for elephants to lead your book clubs conversation on the story. Sara gruen spares no detail in chronicling the squalid, filthy, brutish circumstances in which he finds himself. Water for elephants has two plots going on, both starring the same main character, jacob. Water for elephants was a thoroughly engaging and mesmerizing read from the characters to the story itself. Water for elephants is a delightful, moving book, and the ending was a very pleasant surprise. The only place the movie veers from the original is in its details of the older, current jacob. In the book, jacobs narration takes place in his own mind. The last notes of water for elephants linger long after the book ends. Winner of the 2007 bookbrowse diamond award for most popular book.
Water for elephants is one of my most favorite books. I was astounded at the lack of research which became clear when i. Differences between water for elephants book vs movie page 2. 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. 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. Daily telegraph trust us, water for elephants is going to be one of the surprise. A novel 9781565125605 by gruen, sara and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Water for elephants trailer 20th century fox youtube. Water for elephants is the new york times bestselling debut novel by sara gruen. The book club disagreed on the ending of the story. 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. Water for elephants is a book that can be read and reread, recommended and handed. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. And like many books, water for elephants sneaks in.
Readers may find themselves churning through this book at a rapidfire pace, eager to see what lies ahead, then slowing down as they realize the pages are dwindling. In the book, we see jacob as an old man in the nursing home throughout. Water for elephants water for elephants audiobook, by sara gruen. Its from this nursing home that jacob tells his story, like he is looking back at all the adventures at the circus. Sara gruens arresting new novel, water for elephants, explores similar subject matter the.
The movie was pretty blah, pattison was bland, no chemistry with. Sara gruens very readable novel is a story of impossible love set in the circus world during the 1930s and is set to be made into a blockbuster film starring robert pattinson and reese witherspoon. The animals are mangy, underfed or fed rotten food, and abused. I hate being so enamored with a book and then a crappy movie version comes along and tarnishes it.
Water for elephants is a book that can be read and reread, recommended and handed off between friends. Apr 22, 2011 8 big differences between water for elephants book and movie apr. If you havent seen water for elephants or read the novel its based on, stop reading now. Water for elephants is a 2011 american romantic drama film directed by francis lawrence and written by richard lagravenese, based on sara gruens 2006 novel of the same name. Water for elephants book by sara gruen thriftbooks. In one plot, jacob is a young guy just starting out in the world. Jan 18, 2011 based on the acclaimed bestseller, water for elephants presents an unexpected romance in a uniquely compelling setting.
Based on the acclaimed bestseller, water for elephants presents an unexpected romance in a uniquely compelling setting. Water for elephants has a happy ending for jacob, but not for many other characters. I actually think it would make a great summer read for people who want to learn something while getting a good story. The title, water for elephants, is almost a little inside joke with the reader once weve finished the book, that is. Water for elephants sara gruen, 2006 algonquin books of chapel hill 350 pp. He is particularly angry with one old man who says he once got the water for elephants in the circus. The band starts playing very fast and the redlighters set all the circus animals loose. Sep 07, 2016 i bought this book because of push advertising and regretted it.
Also, if you want a special treat, listen to it on audiobook. Water for elephants book ending vs movie ending showing. Water for elephants ending woda dla sloni napisy pl hd duration. Only days before graduating from vet school in 1931, young jake learns his parents have died and left him penniless. 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.
Water for elephants original motion picture soundtrack. 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 prologue features a younger version of jacob, who works at a circus and. Differences between water for elephants book vs movie page 1. Water for elephants final scene cam rus 2011 youtube. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of water for elephants by sara gruen. As much as the story focuses on the growth of jacobs masculine independence, gruen did not fail to surrender the lives of the cruel. Included throughout the book are portrait gems from the archives of the circus world, and that only added to the imageries already saturated in my mind. 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. But be warned, this isnt the order of events in the book. Please share your thoughts on the book water for elephants. They create a plan to completely ruin the circus for good. The setting of the story changes throughout the book.
Later in the book, it is suggested that he is a paranoid schizophrenic, to explain his violence. Read the book then got the audio cd for my daughter who has a disability it was good loved it. Skim down to the end of spoilers note if you dont want. The book ending was just kind of dry and i felt like the author did not really develop it. Water for elephants is the story of jacobs life with this circus. On our first date, my husband took me to see tod brownings freaks, a 1932 horror film with a distinctly diane arbus feel. Download and read online for free water for elephants by sara gruen. Water for elephants is a story of unspeakable love, of untold secrets, and ultimately learning that life is meant to be lived as the main spectacle of a glorious headlining show, not some cheap, dingy, forgettable sideshow. Water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month. I decided to not watch the movie when i heard it was coming out simply because i didnt want to possibly ruin the experience id had with the book if the movie wasnt uptopar.
Just when you think the story might be over, you get another little bit of narrative. I didnt want to leave the pages that exposed the truth of jacob and marlenas affection or the cruelties of uncle al and august. Jacob, the books narrator and protagonist, worked as a vet and trainer of sorts at a circus. Feb 02, 2012 the movie water for elephants stays close to sara gruens beloved book particularly with the 1930s circus memories section. In reading water for elephants in less than one day, i found that happened to me. Water for elephants book ending vs movie ending showing 128 of. Oct 06, 2015 water for elephants 2011 bdrip 1080p rus. Sara gruen has written an utterly transporting novel richly full of the stuff of life. Gruen transports us into the world of a thirdrate traveling circus during the great depression. Were considering expanding this synopsis into a fulllength study guide to deepen your comprehension of the book and why its important. This book is every bit the fabulous escapist entertainment that the big top once was. As the headline suggests, were discussing the ending. The screenplay is by richard lagravenese, whose the horse whisperer also showed a sympathy for the personalities of animals. May 26, 2006 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.
If you like water for elephants, you might like little heathens by mildred armstrong kalish seabiscuit by laura hillenbrand the adventures of miles and isabel by tom gilling. Water for elephants by sara gruen sophisticated dorkiness. A brilliantly crafted and deeply moving novel, water for elephants is the tale of jacob jankowski, now in his nineties, who spends his remaining days fondly drifting through the memories of his early depressionera youth which was spent in the company of circus freaks, clowns and misfits. Sunday express you are so immersed in circus life that you are completely blinded by the thrilling, fatal dazzle of sequins and sawdust.
Veterinary school student jacob meets and falls in love with marlena, a star. The story is told as a series of memories by jacob jankowski, a 93yearold man who lives in a nursing home. For interested readers rooting for a satisfying ending, water for elephants succeeds. A water for elephants discussion from reading group guides writers digest interview with sara gruen. People talk of writing styles, character development, and whether a writer is established enough to have a book that is already as popular as it is and have a hollywood movie being made about it. Book ending vs movie ending michael dec 21, 2011 03. An atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of starcrossed lovers, set in the circus.
The two readers, david ledoux and john randolph jones, did a wonderful job of bringing both jacobs young and old to life. That book, of course, went on to become one of the topselling novels of our time. Although her first two novels sold several hundred thousands of copiesand riding lessons was a best sellerher third release, water for elephants, was initially turned down by her publisher at the time, forcing gruen to find another publisher. Water for elephants movie tiein by sara gruen, paperback. Water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing. And like many books, water for elephants sneaks in an extra ending or two, just for fun. Water for elephants book ending vs movie ending showing 1.
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