(He can keep this ’30s haircut, too. They adopted Rosie and a bunch of other circus animals, and Also, if you want a special treat, listen to it on audiobook. The story about Jacob's past ends first. With Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, Christoph Waltz, Paul Schneider. How does tragedy fit into the story? The historical fiction novel is a 20th century circus drama. but he's going to make the most of what he's got. I felt that one of the best things about Water For Elephants was the two Jacob's tellings of the story. SPOILER ALERT! In the end, fantasy wins, and the reader, like the rube visiting a circus, gets what he wants: a beautiful, escapist illusion. The David James. Hey guys, ever tried listening to an Audio Book? Judging from the talk of a famous circus disaster, and shot of Reese Witherspoon atop an elephant during a crowd stampede in the trailer, I wasn’t expecting her character, Marlena, the star attraction and wife of the cruel ringmaster August (Christoph Waltz), to live. A scene where the vet is pinned to the ground by a circus-tough to keep him from intervening while the circus-owner uses a "bull hook" in the brutal beating of a passive old elephant named Rosie is heart-wrenching - not just for the beating, but for the powerlessness of witnesses to come to the elephant's … Sara Gruen spares no detail in chronicling the squalid, filthy, brutish circumstances in which he finds himself. While love triumphs in the end, this story is too savagely told for a young audience. My book was water for elephants and the protagonist was Jacob. Helpful. The story Water for Elephants was beautifully told in the perspectives of teenage Jacob Jankowski on his adventure with the circus and dealing with grief, and 90 year Jacob, alone and forgotten in a nursing home with little patience for the people around him. Set in the 1930s, a former veterinary student takes a job in a travelling circus and falls in love with the ringmaster's wife. . sneaks in an extra ending or two, just for fun. Set in the 1930s, a former veterinary student takes a job in a travelling circus and falls in love with the ringmaster's wife. Water for Elephants (2011) Plot. 148 quotes from Water for Elephants: ‘When two people are meant to be together, they will be together. #2: “I give up on rage, which at this point has become a formality, and make a mental note to get angry again in the morning. final hints about his life with Marlena: they had a great life and a Jacob Jankowski is the main character in the book, Water for Elephants. It's an exciting, fast-paced novel, with lovable characters and an amazing cast of interesting circus performers. So even though it's He may not have a lot of time left, . . Water for Elephants is a fascinating read, filled with danger, acts of evil, overwhelming kindness, and enduring love. In the end, Jacob and Marlena are married and end up raising five children together. ), Jacob goes back on the road. During a conversation he has with a circus worker, Jacob offers some And like many books, Water for Elephants I hadn’t read Sara Gruen’s novel when I went to see the movie. Publication date: 26 May 2006 (1st edition). Water for Elephants is a fascinating read, filled with danger, acts of evil, overwhelming kindness, and enduring love. That would have been a terrible ending, so I’m glad it didn’t happen, but still: Who else was surprised that Jacob and Marlena got their happily ever after? In Water for Elephants, the Benzini Bros. train travels through the northeastern of the United States. Water for Elephants Every book has the same basic hero archetype; a protagonist that faces a problem and rises up to save the day. Rosie-Rosie is the elephant used in shows at the circus and, in the beginning, is a major problem for the circus. With two narratives come two endings. He is brought to the trailer to … © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. He is the main character of the book. I highly recommend this wonderful novel. If you haven’t seen Water for Elephants (or read the novel it’s based on), stop reading now. After his parents died in a horrible accident, Jacob decides to quit college and run away. 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 is not only a wonderfully written story, but also an historic account of the life of the Travelling Circus and Depression-era America. So, at --The Charlotte Observer "Novelist Sara Gruen sweeps her readers off their feet in the opening pages of Water For Elephants--and doesn't let go until she deposits them at the end of her fantastic tale of passion, madness and fancy. away and join the circus. I decided to not watch the movie when I heard it was coming out simply because I didn’t want to possibly ruin the experience I’d had with the book if the movie wasn’t up-to-par. It slips away, like a wave from shore. And like many books, Water for Elephants sneaks in an extra ending or two, just for fun. He makes the choice to Water for Elephants is one of my most favorite books. Walter and Camel are basically waiting for death from the beginning of the story. Water for Elephants is a delightful, moving book, and the ending was a very pleasant surprise. He closes the narrative on a happy For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. note, explaining that he and Marlena finally got to be together after 480 likes. so in a way, their story ends with a new life. This event is important because Jacob realizes that the circus life never left him. . Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. Water for Elephants is a 2011 American romantic drama film directed by Francis Lawrence and written by Richard LaGravenese, based on Sara Gruen's 2006 novel of the same name. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Add in Hal Holbrook — as the elderly version of Robert Pattinson’s Jacob (who hops the circus’ train, becomes its veterinarian, and falls for Marlena) — recounting this tale solo, and it seemed like it was Titanic on land. I was so convinced Marlena would die that even as she and Jacob walked toward one another after Rosie the elephant rescued her from August, I was waiting for one of the cats that had been let out of its cage to pounce on her. Word Count: 674. It is, of course, but it's decades before you admit it.” ― Sara Gruen, Water for Elephants. If you haven’t seen Water for Elephants (or read the novel it’s based on), stop reading now. Delicious." Lisa Schwarzbaum reviews ‘Water for Elephants’, ‘Water for Elephants’: 5 exclusive EW portraits, Credit: SPOILER ALERT! the end of the book, it's a new beginning for our leading man. . Water for Elephants is the story of Jacob's life with this circus. Source: Ann Guidry, Critical Essay on Water for Elephants, in Literary News makers for Students, Gale, Cengage Learning, 2009. There is an “us and them” mentality in the circus between performers and workers. Just when you think the Showing all 6 items Jump to: Summaries (5) Synopsis (1) Summaries. The book was published in 2006 by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. the end of the book, despite the fact that he's ninety-three years old huge family, and a lot of cool stuff happened to them. Then Marlena I’d love for him to find a well-written film that showed that side of him. Secondly, Waltz needs to do a movie with Baz Luhrmann. I hate being so enamored with a book and then a crappy movie version comes along and tarnishes it! Then I let myself drift, because there’s really no fighting it.” #3: “I cling to my anger with every ounce of humanity left in my ruined body, but it’s no use. And they've got a baby on the way – Through her … There How does tragedy fit into the story? Every RuPaul's Drag Race season 13 runway look, ranked, Spread the love with EW's Valentine's Day gift guide, The Masked Dancer revealed: Every unmasked celebrity on season 1. That's right: bonus ending. Discuss Walter and Camel’s fates. It’s the one you only really get to see on talk show appearances or Twilight movie commentary tracks. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from Shmoop and verify that you are over the age of 13. Having everything taken from you and being stuck in an old ancient body is the worst injustice. they made plans to join an even better circus. Since the trains used in the movie were located in Southern California, filmmakers had to use CGI (computer-generated imagery) to transform arid mountains into lush green hills with the appropriate skyline in the background.. How the Fillmore & Western Railway Trains Were Chosen The animals are mangy, underfed or fed rotten food, and abused. Old age is so UNFAIR. Read more Totally hot.) The five children Jacob spoke of not visiting him often enough at the nursing home were with Marlena.). I highly recommend this wonderful novel. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Water for Elephants is the third novel by the Canadian-American author Sara Gruen. Water for Elephants has a happy ending for Jacob, but not for many other characters. Other than my shock over the happy ending, I left the theater with two other thoughts: Pattinson was perfectly acceptable in this role. of the story ends, Jacob and Marlena don't know yet what the future Water for Elephants is mostly fantasy, punctuated with reality for the purpose of contrast. As the headline suggests, we’re discussing the ending. story might be over, you get another little bit of narrative. (! The only thing I jotted down was “Hello, ma’am” — how he greeted a giraffe. Water for Elephants is proof that author Sara Gruen understands storytelling techniques. Gruen wrote the book as part of the National Novel Writing Month. When a circus is in town and his children aren't able to take him, Jacob runs away from the nursing home and goes to circus and gets a job there. Water for Elephants Questions and Answers - Discover the eNotes.com community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on Water for Elephants Last Updated on May 5, 2015, by eNotes Editorial. died, Jacob got stuck in the nursing home, and things went downhill. be out in the world again, to take his life back. The end of Water for Elephants was … As the headline suggests, we’re discussing the ending. Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants captures the sounds, smells and sights of the circus. Water for Elephants has a happy ending for Jacob, but not for many other characters. (Even though I believe people should find love again after their partner dies, it’s always weird to hear someone at the center of an epic movie love story talk about having children with someone else because for us, only five minutes as gone by, right? holds, but they're excited about it. Discuss Walter and Camel’s fates. story about Jacob's past ends first. are only two ways for Jacob to get out of his predicament: die, or run He closes the narrative on a happy note, explaining that he … August died. Instead, Water For Elephants begins more seamlessly, at a modern-day circus with a nice old man just wanting a break from the rain. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Directed by Francis Lawrence. wraps up the events he's been sharing about life in a nursing home. It worked for Jacob once before, right? We were spared that here. 27 people found this helpful. The two readers, David LeDoux and John Randolph Jones, did a wonderful job of bringing both Jacobs (young and old) to life. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. I watched with my pen in hand, ready to jot down moments when he was amazingly good or awesomely bad. © 2021 Shmoop University Inc | All Rights Reserved | Privacy | Legal. "Water for Elephants" goes back and forth from Jacob's life in the circus to his old age in a nursing home. Water for Elephants is the touching story of Jacob Jankowski, a ninety-three-year-old man, who is reminded of his colorful past when a circus sets up next door to his assisted-living center. . For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. He is seen through two different perspectives. 'Water for Elephants' ending: Was it what you were expecting? Just when you think the story might be over, you get another little bit of narrative. This first ending That’s the Pattinson I like best, the flirt with a sense of humor. Sometimes it's just more convenient. ... And then you're bothered, because you wonder if this is the beginning of the end. 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May 2006 ( 1st edition ) part of the book, Water for Elephants ' ending: was it you! For Jacob, but not for many other characters a horrible accident Jacob.
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