The last notes of water for elephants linger long after the book ends. Were sharing 20 of the best book club books, plus the snacks and treats they pair so well with. 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. Water for elephants melinda strauss kitchen tested. It was my turn to host the book club meeting, which consists of me and three. The best serious white elephant gift ideas that everyone will. At its finest, water for elephants resembles stealth hits like the giants house, by elizabeth mccracken, or the lovely bones, by alice sebold, books that combine outrageously whimsical. Water for elephants sara gruen books the new york times. Feb 02, 2012 the movie water for elephants stays close to sara gruens beloved book particularly with the 1930s circus memories section. Water for elephants movie tiein by sara gruen, paperback. Elephant food couldnt be easier to overwinter, either. Elephant food portulacaria afra elephants food is a versatile succulent that has been known by many names around the world throughout its long reign of popularity. Aug 05, 2008 a meticulously researched, fastpaced, engaging and ultimately very satisfying novel set mostly ina depression era travelling circus.
Rob devoured the book and passed it along to another homeless man. Run away with the circus and the cast of water for elephants with this animal cracker snack mix. If its your turn to host, youll love these creative ideas that can make your book club party a real pageturner. Stories similar to water for elephants books, stories, and novels like water for elephants by sara gruen. Water for elephants is one of my most favorite books. Did this act as a spoiler or wet your appetite for the story.
But be warned, this isnt the order of events in the book. Here are the best white elephant gifts that will be subject to multiple steals. The walking book club the gail borden public libraryelgin, illinois. Use these book club discussion questions on water for elephants to lead your book club s conversation on the story. Marlena is applauded by the workingmen for giving food to a hungry. 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. See more ideas about good books, books to read and my books. I just recently joined a book club at the library and this was the first book that i read. Water for elephants is a book that can be read and reread, recommended and handed off between friends. Water for elephants by sara gruen book club discussion.
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. Sara gruen spares no detail in chronicling the squalid, filthy, brutish circumstances in which he finds himself. What does the novel have to say about loyalty during hard times. Book club tip ideas from book groups to enliven your meeting. I hate being so enamored with a book and then a crappy movie version comes along and tarnishes it. Water for elephants book club discussion questions thoughtco. Jul 12, 2007 at its finest, water for elephants resembles stealth hits like the giants house, by elizabeth mccracken, or the lovely bones, by alice sebold, books that combine outrageously whimsical. The story is told as a series of memories by jacob jankowski, a 93yearold man who lives in a nursing home. See more ideas about elephant, india for kids and tapestry of grace. If youre thinking of clearing out, it may be a while before you see food again. May 06, 2016 another allmale reading group, this one with a name even more insistently macho than that of the man book club, is the international ultra manly book club, of kansas city, kan. Jacob jankowski, a retired veterinarian living out his days in an assistedliving facility, drifts in and out of his memories. An atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of starcrossed lovers, set in the circus world circa.
Recipes and food for thought from your book club s favoritebooks and authors gelman, judy, krupp, vicki levy on. Only days before graduating from vet school in 1931, young jake learns his parents have died and left him penniless. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. To be honest, i dont think this book lived up to all the hype.
The circus train only had a limited amount of water on board, and elephants can drink 100300 litres per day approximately 2680 gallons. Recipes and food for thought from your book clubs favoritebooks and authors gelman, judy, krupp, vicki levy on. Run away with the circus and the cast of water for elephants with this animalcracker snack mix. How do the chapters about the older jacob enrich the story about jacobs adventure with the circus. Reading guide for water for elephants by sara gruen. Water for elephants, the seeds of a book club for the homeless were sown. 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. In the book, jacobs narration takes place in his own mind. Download and read online for free water for elephants by sara gruen.
In one plot, jacob is a young guy just starting out in the world. Use these questions on water for elephants by sara gruen to lead your book clubs discussion of this novel. Theyre a walkingtalking book clubthey walk first then talk about their book later. Elephant food heres a jade plant lookalike that should be in everyones windowsill. Buy water for elephants book online at low prices in india water.
How to plan the best book club party ever taste of home. But you should go get the book now water for elephants. The only place the movie veers from the original is in its details of the older, current jacob. Recipes and food for thought from your book clubs favoritebooks and authors. Terrific food and book pairing ideas from book clubs from coast to coast. I had wanted to read water for elephants for quite a while and was glad i was making the time to.
In the interview with author and the book club questions there is reference to the biblical story of jacob. Use these book club discussion questions on water for elephants to lead your book clubs conversation on the story. Book club members continually request ideas for dishes and drinks to serve at their gatherings. Elephant food portulacaria afra desert horizon nursery. There was nothing that i could vaguely remember about jacobs story that in any way was represented in this book. 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. May 26, 2006 water for elephants, 2007, sara gruen water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month. Water for elephants book club discussion questions and. 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. Pass a platter of stuffed mushrooms in honor of this book. This book will make you smile one moment and then pull your heartstrings all the way down to davy joness locker. 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. Run away with the circus and the cast of water for elephants with.
Originally from africa, it is extremely drought, heat, and sun tolerant, while also accepting more moisture than our desert succulents. The help by kathryn stockett, the kite runner by khaled hosseini, water for elephants by sara gruen, the book thief by. 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. Need a little inspiration for your book club s next read. Water for elephants by sara gruen book club discussion questions. She responds to the polish phrases he speaks to her, which gives jacob an idea. A water for elephants discussion from reading group guides writers digest interview with sara gruen. Love is a driving force in water for elephants, and its not limited to the love one human feels for another. When, due to a police raid, the club clears out, marlena and jacob get separated. Get a creative tip from a book club that savors their food and their reading. Read free book excerpt from water for elephants by sara gruen, page 1 of 7.
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. It was a cute story but i never felt any characterreader relationship with anyone in the circus. Books that defined a generation water for elephants. Winner of the 2007 bookbrowse award for most popular book. 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 animals are mangy, underfed or fed rotten food, and abused. Deepwoods hikers are often forced to scavenge for food, like mushrooms, to eat. Water for elephants sara gruen, 2006 algonquin books of chapel hill 350 pp.
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. Water for elephants, published in 2007, is sara gruens third novel. Weve got you covered for all the white elephant exchanges this holiday season whether its your office colleagues, book club friends or drinking buddies. Dont be the person that brings the gift no one wants. Laura is a new yorkbased freelance food writer with a degree in culinary arts from the. Water for elephants book club discussion questions and answers. Get ready for some fun book club talks that also touch on serious social issues. Buy the book get the party animal snack mix recipe. In what ways and to what extent do the words pathetic grandeur describe the world that gruen creates in her novel. Water for elephants is that rare novel with a story so.
Water for elephants by sara gruen at the best online ebook storage. The night circus, a reliable wife, water for elephants. People also love animals, and animals love them back. The prologue gives a glimpse of a climatic scene later in the book. These book club discussion questions reveal important details about water for elephants by sara gruen. Water for elephants has two plots going on, both starring the same main character, jacob. What are the roles and importance of faithfulness and loyalty in water for elephants. Dec 11, 2011 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.
May 26, 2006 water for elephants is the story of jacobs life with this circus. Sara gruen has a voice to rival john irvings, and i am hopelessly, unabashedly in love with this book. 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. It shouldnt be a surprise that in the prologue we cant tell whether jacob is talking about marlena or rosie when he uses the word she he loves them both and thinks of them both as individuals. A thousand splendid suns, memory keepers daughter, etc.