Water for Elephants: A Review

Water for Elephants, a novel by Sara Gruen, tells the story of young Jacob Jankowski as he reminisces about his transition from upstanding veterinarian-in-training to fully integrated circus worker. The novel involves Jacob as an old man in a nursing home, struggling to cope with his wavering vitality and familial connection by filtering his surroundings through the memory of his youth in the traveling circus, The Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth.

After Jacob loses his parents in a fatal car crash, he runs away from his orderly life at Cornell, where he has been studying to be a veterinarian. Penniless and lonely, he jumps a train in the middle of the night - a decision that places him into the hands of fate. This train ends up being a circus train, and through the goodwill of August, the equestrian director, and the rough but lovable dwarf, Walter, Jacob becomes a vital part of circus life, as he uses his knowledge of animals to become the circus’ very own veterinarian.

Jacob’s newfound sense of belonging is jeopardized, however, when a friend becomes irreversibly ill and Jacob works to prevent him from being ‘redlighted,’ when the circus goes into debt over a supposedly stupid elephant, and when Jacob falls in love with Marlena, August’s wife and the circus’ star performer. Jacob shows his resourcefulness by befriending and training Rosie, the elephant, who becomes the show’s biggest money maker after Jacob crosses her language barrier. However, his desire to do the right thing and to protect Marlena pits him against the politics and shady practices of greedy Uncle Al, the manager of the circus, and against August, whose jealousy and violence ostracize him from both his wife and his friend.

This novel presents a vivid and delightful insider’s look at circus life during the 1930’s, while still engaging with the class and ethical issues of that setting. Jacob is unendingly likeable as a protagonist, and the cast of colorful supporting characters provides entertaining and haphazard scenarios of both humor and loyalty. However, the overall plot remains rather formulaic, occasionally feeling rushed and shying away from the details which would really bring the story to life. The dual development of Jacob as both an old man and a youth progress the novel on several stages with depth and delight, but underdeveloped main characters, such as Marlena, who acts more as device for Jacob to do good than anything else, and predicable plot devices keep this novel at the level of enchanting, but not challenging.