A Water For Elephants -

Water for Elephants — part love story, part survival thriller, all set on a rickety circus train. Jacob + Marlena + Rosie = one unforgettable ride. 🎪🐘💔

Reading the book today, one cannot help but view it through the lens of modern animal rights advocacy. Gruen did extensive research into the history of circus animal treatment, and the novel does not shy away from the brutality. The use of the bullhook, the cramped conditions of the stock cars, and the "electrocuting" of animals to force compliance are historical realities depicted in the narrative. A Water For Elephants

The emotional core of the story is the complex relationship between Jacob, Marlena (the beautiful star performer), and August (Marlena’s husband and the circus’s charismatic but volatile trainer). Water for Elephants — part love story, part