In the warm july temperatures, what could be better than a beach read for my book club. My book club read it a few months ago and we were almost unanimous in our love of this book. Sara gruen, new york times bestselling author of water for elephants richardson explores a premise thats highly unusual and utterly. 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. This book will make you smile one moment and then pull your heartstrings all the way down to davy joness locker.
Summary an atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of starcrossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932, by the bestselling author of riding lessons. The prologue gives a glimpse of a climatic scene later in the book. I got all caught up in the story and found it hard to put it down. When jacob jankowski, recently orphaned and suddenly adrift, jumps onto a passing train, he enters a world of freaks, grifters, and. Feb 25, 2008 book club discussion on kite runner khaled hosseini, books, 143 replies please recommend a classic that would be good for a book club. Water for elephants book discussion questions water for elephants moves between a story about a circus and a story about an old man in a nursing home. Discussion questions for water for elephants by sara gruen. Started in june 2010, we are still reading and some are still breeding. The story is told as a series of memories by jacob jankowski, a 93yearold man who lives in a nursing home. A 2006 novel by sara gruen, water for elephants centers around veterinary sciences dropout and his experiences as the vet for the benzini brothers most spectacular show on earth during the great depression.
Novel synopsis author information character analysis focus points and themes writing style and structure symbols important quotes from the novel book club discussion questions. Use these book club discussion questions on water for elephants to lead your book clubs conversation on the story. The story is told as a series of memories by jacob jankowski, a ninetythree yearold man who. The sixty and me community voted it as one of their favourite books. Use these questions on water for elephants by sara gruen to lead your book clubs discussion of this novel. Reading for your book club and socializing with your group members is a lot of fun, but sometimes it can be tricky to find a book that no one has read yet and everyone will enjoy. He also meets rosie, an elephant who seems untrainable until he discovers a way to reach her.
As the memories begin, jacob jankowski is twentythree years old and preparing for his final exams as a cornell university veterinary student when he. Reading guide for water for elephants by sara gruen. 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. Among other things, the bookclubinabox discussion guide for this marvelous novel will discuss surprising facts about circus life and elephants, and will certainly uncover the mystery of how to carry water for elephants. From the discussion questions at the end of the book looking at himself in the mirror, the old jacob tries to see beyond the sagging flesh. Read all 9 questions with answers, advice and tips about water for elephants discussion questions from moms communities. In what ways do the chapters about the young jacob contribute to a deeper understanding of the elderly jacobs life.
Discussion questions book club recommendationsdiscussion. Water for elephants is a book about memories, aging, and nostalgia. 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. Mount prospect public library book discussion questions. These book discussion questions are highly detailed and will ruin plot points. Her way of using the current happenings in the rest home to spark jacobs past memories of the circus is brilliant. The night circus, a reliable wife, water for elephants. Water for elephants delightful read with great discussions for book club. Paperback edition published by hodder and stoughton, 2007. Water for elephants is a moving tale about circus life during the depression era with quirky characters and complex emotions underlying the characters actions. In what ways and to what extent do the words pathetic grandeur describe the world that gruen creates in her novel. Book club discussion guide water for elephants by sara gruen the story is told as a series of memories by jacob jankowski, a ninetythree yearold man who lives in a nursing home. Water for elephants by sara gruen has been a book club favorite since its release in 2006. Book club discussion guide about the book mafiadoc.
My husband was not you all he just kept saying its just a book which made me more upset about the book. Listed here are discussion questions for the books the galesburg public library adult book clubs have read recently. These book club discussion questions reveal important details about water for elephants by sara gruen. Tips for book discussions from washington center for the book at seattle public library.
Readers voice book club kit for water for elephants by sara gruen sara gruen. Book discussions the fort washington reader and writer. Quotations used in this guide have been taken from the text of the. But when he seen that the circus was in town, he hobbled to the window to see the circus tent. The story opens with the protagonist, jacob, witnessing an awful crime during a stampede of circus animals. Just the theft of the priceless original handwritten manuscripts of f. 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. Ive, personally, not read any of her other books though so cannot say for sure. Book club discussion on water for elephants sara gruen. So i thought why not take advantange of the message board. Water for elephants reading between the wines book club. This months book club pick was water for elephants by sara gruen. Discussion questions water for elephants water for elephants moves between a story about a circus and a story about an old man in a nursing home. It is a fun read with enough substance for book clubs to have a full discussion.
Our host presented us with a water for elephants quiz, with prizes of lollipops to the top scorers. Bookclubinabox presents the discussion companion for sara gruens novel water for elephants novel first published in great britain by hodder and stoughton, london, 2006. Water for elephants by sara gruen book club discussion. Water for elephants, after being rejected by publishers initially, went on to become a new york bestseller and is available in 46 languages. Ive heard that sara gruens other books are not up to the same standards as water for elephants. Maybe youve already read the lovely bones, water for elephants, cutting for stone, the guernsey literary and potato peel pie society.
Book club discussion on kite runner khaled hosseini, books, 143 replies please recommend a classic that would be good for a book club. Readers voice book club kit for water for elephants by. In one plot, jacob is a young guy just starting out in the world. Water for elephants meets a discovery of witches in the night circus by erin morgenstern. It may be slightly over hyped, but it certainly deserves of most of the praise its receiving. Water for elephants by sara gruen reading guidebook club. Here are our readers favorite book club books of 2008.
Every few chapters, the narrative switches from one jacob to the other. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. Recipes and food for thought from your book club s favorite books and authors. Use these book club discussion questions on water for elephants to lead your book club s conversation on the story. Book club discussion guide water for elephants by sara gruen. Readstogo a novel of starcrossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932. Water for elephants summary water for elephants has two plots going on, both starring the same main character, jacob.
Bookclubinabox presents the discussion companion for sara. How to create a 21 day fix meal plan for the whole family. What does the novel have to say about loyalty during hard times. Questions for book clubs about water for elephants. Water for elephants book club discussion questions and answers. Gruens masterful storytelling techniques show how the worlds of aging and circus adventure intersect. May 26, 2008 this months book club pick was water for elephants by sara gruen. How do the chapters about the older jacob enrich the story about jacobs adventure with the circus. Scott fitzgerald, kept in the vaults at princeton university. Water for elephants is a book that can be read and reread, recommended and handed off between friends. 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. Gruen did a wonderful job of evoking the time period and the circus life. Summary an atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of starcrossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932, by the bestselling author of riding lessons when jacob jankowski, recently orphaned and suddenly adrift, jumps onto a passing train, he enters a world of freaks, grifters, and. While he was at dinner, one of the new comers to the nursing home was saying how he gave water to the elephants.
Water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month. This is our last book for 2008 we have a dinner in december. This bookclubinabox pdf discussion guide 77 pages for sara gruens novel water for elephants includes. Book club discussion guide about the book water for elephants by sara gruen the story is told as a series of memories by jacob jankowski, a ninetythree yearold man who lives in a nursing home. A novel of starcrossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932. This fantasy creates a world that can enchant readers.
The very best discussion questions for little fires everywhere by celeste ng. In what ways is water for elephants a survival story. The hunger games book club discussion questions and answers. 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. 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. Beautifully written, water for elephants is illuminated by a wonderful sense of time and place. As the memories begin, jacob jankowski is twentythree years old and preparing for his final exams as a cornell university veterinary student when he receives. Book club questions book club discussion questions. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. 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. To what extent do the chapters concerning the elderly jacob enhance the. I just finished the book last night and had to talk about it with someone. At the beginning of water for elephants, he is living out his days in a nursing home, hating every second of it. It is the story of a circus veterinarian during the great depression who falls in love with a performer and her elephant.
It tells a story of a love between two people that overcomes incredible odds in a world in which even love is a luxury that few can afford. Get ready for some fun book club talks that also touch on serious social issues. Should the murderer in water for elephants be punished. It tells a story of a love between two people that overcomes incredible odds in a world in. Posts about discussion questions and answers written by rf416rf. Water for elephants was a completely different read for me. Since i missed the water for elephants discussion, i had my husband read it with me. Water for elephants is the touching story of jacob jankowski, a ninetythreeyearold man, who is reminded of his colorful past when a circus sets up next door to his assistedliving center. When jacob jankowski, recently orphaned and suddenly adrift, jumps onto a passing train, he enters a world. Suggested book and reading club discussion questions for water for elephants. Sara gruen has written an utterly transporting novel richly full of the stuff of life. A thousand splendid suns, memory keepers daughter, etc. His life wasnt always like this, however, because jacob ran away and joined the circus when he was twentyone. Water for elephants moves between a story about a circus and a story about an old man in a nursing home.
This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion and a free quiz on water for elephants by sara gruen. Water for elephants book club discussion questions thoughtco. Water for elephants by sara gruen depicts a number of themes discussed below. Discussing the immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca sloot optional book discussion. Oct 01, 2007 this months book club discussion is on water for elephants by sara gruen. Sep 05, 2016 when you choose a popular book club book, you can often find a wealth of book discussion questions already written for you.
The piano teacher book club discussion questions published december 11, 2011 by rf416rf. When jacob overhears a man at the assistedliving center claim to have been a water boy for the elephants on a circus, jacob knows the man is lying because jacob himself once worked as a vet on a traveling. Water for elephants sara gruen, 2006 algonquin books of chapel hill 350 pp. At what point in his life did he seem to be the happiest. Jan 04, 2008 book club discussion on kite runner khaled hosseini, books, 143 replies please recommend a classic that would be good for a book club. The benzini brothers most spectacular show on earth was his life. Water for elephants has two plots going on, both starring the same main character, jacob. To what extent do the chapters concerning the elderly jacob enhance the chapters recounting the young jacobs experiences with the benzini brothers circus. Discussion questions for water for elephants are listed.
It was adult, and it was realistic, and i loved it. My monthly book club meets tomorrow and for once im not going to be rushing off to starbucks to finish the monthly selection. The best book club picks for 2020 for busy moms who want fun books 10minute trader joes meals. If not, you can visit the publisher or authors website and find online reading guides. 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. Jacob jankowski is in his 90s and the movie starts with him looking back on his days with the circus. This months book club discussion is on water for elephants by sara gruen. Surprising, poignant, and funny, water for elephants is that rare novel with a story so engrossing, one is reluctant to put it down. Water for elephants book discussion questions water for elephants moves between a story about a circus and a story about an old man in a. Many books have reading guides at the end of the book that are perfect to use for your book club.
Water for elephants is illuminated by a wonderful sense of time and place. Water for elephants book club discussion questions and. Water for elephants has a happy ending for jacob, but not for many other characters. Did this act as a spoiler or wet your appetite for the story.