Minutes September Book: Water for Elephants

Minutes September Book: Water for Elephants


by Sara Gruen


(chosen by KM)


KM chose this book on the recommendation of her GP who is also in a bookclub and often shares advice and feedback about book choices. She said that she had flown through this book and that it was a great read.


Sara is a Canadian-born dual citizen (Canadian and American) who moved to the United States in 1999 for a technical writing job. When she was laid off two years later, instead of looking for another job, she started writing fiction full-time. She’s currently working on Ape House, her fourth novel.

Sara lives with her husband, three children, two dogs, two cats, three goats, and horse in an environmentalist community.


(biographical details sourced from the author's own website)


What the publisher says about the book:

A great, glorious, big-hearted novel set in a travelling circus touring the back blocks of America during the great depression of the early 1930s. It's a story of love and hate, trains and circuses, dwarves and fat ladies, horses and elephants - or, to be specific, one elephant, Rosie, star of the Benzini Bros Most Spectacular Show on Earth . . .

What we discussed about the book:

• The extent to which the detailed research of the depression era and circuses enhanced the atmosphere and experience of this book
• The manner in which Sara Gruen wrote this book - she started with a very detailed outline
• The inclusion of mini-plots and themes within the story -e.g prohibition, elderly care
• Did Jacob have dementia?
• What was the nature of August's mental state? How did we feel about his treatment of animals?
• Was Walter the archetypal clown - happy smile, but so sad?
• The careful observation of the dialogue between the working men. In what ways was this created by Gruen?
• Were there parallels between this story and that of Jacob in the Bible?
• The use of symbolism in the story - eg the crossover between Rosie/Rosemary...rosemary is the symbol for remembrance.
• What did water represent throughout the book?
• Was the ending credible? Could it only happen in a circus?

Then we were sidetracked into:

• The issue of homelessness during the Great Depression. What type of people became hobos? What were the circumstances that caused this?
• Elderly care. Why are there not enough places? Is the standard of care offered adequate? How do we wish to be cared for when we are elderly?
• Can elephants physically smile?
• Do circuses still have animal performances?
• Our own memories of childhood circuses: popcorn, sawdust, circus trucks, animals.
• Why do clowns scare children?

And in other news:

• We discussed the paucity of good part-time jobs for mums returning to the workforce
• We talked about night-nannies and sleep schools to train babies and toddlers to sleep through the night

Ratings:

Ratings range: 7 to 9.5
Ratings average: 7.94

Next book: In Defence of Food by Michael Pollan