Book Review – Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Rich Brushstrokes of Life in a Traveling Circus
Nov 15, 2009
On the New York Times best-seller list for twelve weeks, this book’s main strength lies in Gruen’s skilful descriptions of the glamour and also seediness of circus shows, along with her use of the jargon of the era including words like “kink” (performer) and “rubes” (audience).
Water for Elephants: Plot
The story is narrated by Jacob Jankowski, a nonagenarian reminiscing about his glory days at the Benzini Brothers’ Most Spectacular Show on Earth. During the Great Depression, young Jacob was on the brink of attaining his veterinary degree from Cornell University when he is shattered by his parents’ deaths and plunged into destitution. He then jumps onto a moving train and is thrust into the world of a travelling circus – of freaks, performing animals, illusions, and swindlers struggling to survive in an increasingly deteriorating economy.
As a fresh-faced college kid with no street experience, initially Jacob is treated with derision by his peers, but he quickly gains acceptance when he is put in charge of managing the animals at the menagerie. Here he encounters many unusual characters, including Walter, a surly dwarf who eventually becomes a good friend; buxom Barbara from the “cooch” (strip) show; Earl and Blackie who “redlight” people (throw them off the train); and calculative manager Uncle Al.
The one who changes his life, however, is Marlena, the stunning equestrienne who he falls in love with. Standing in the way of the illicit lovers is August, Marlena’s violently schizophrenic husband who is also Jacob’s boss.
One minor flaw with the plot, however, is the convenience of several plot twists. Certainly, they are not illogical, but having everything work out in the protagonist’s favour is somewhat unfulfilling. The lively illustrations of circus life compel readers to proceed, however there is a lack of suspense of whether the requisite happy ending would be achieved.
Characters - Lively Protagonists, Underdeveloped Antagonist
The main protagonist Jacob is fleshed out at two different points of his life. Young Jacob is a dynamic character, transforming from innocent college boy to a determined, passionate and resourceful young man. Old Jacob, although crotchety and disagreeable, manages to evoke sympathy as a frustrated man trapped and fighting against the inevitable ageing of his body.
His love interest Marlena is an equally vibrant character. Though she is often physically powerless against her husband, she does have a mind of her own and is certainly no damsel in distress.
August is one of the most interesting characters, devastatingly charming but also unpredictably dangerous during his mood swings. However, the potential to develop this character further was not fully realised, as it is difficult to fully with August despite his compelling personality, mainly due to his clear but overly simple motivations.
Themes of Love, Struggle and Old Age
The themes of Water for Elephants are fairly straightforward – love, friendship, and the will to survive and protect what one holds dear. Another sub-theme which emerges is not within the main story of the circus, but within the present day: the tragedy of old age. The daily struggle faced by Jacob, as an old man abandoned at a nursing home by his five children, is parallel to the struggle he recounts of his life at Benzini. The way the elderly are viewed as a nuisance to the community, and are treated as patients rather than humans, is a topic which is particularly relevant to the world today.
Liner notes
In the liner notes, Gruen reveals that she had incorporated historically accurate details into her story including the Jamaican ginger paralysis suffered by Camel, the Ringling Brothers Circus, and fascinating elephant-related anecdotes from which it is difficult to separate fact from fiction even in recorded circus history.
Overall, Water for Elephants is a simple but charming tale, a pleasant read for a lazy weekend afternoon.
Water for Elephants (ISBN 978-1-74175-295-3) was published in 2006 by Allen and Unwin.
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