Monday, April 25, 2011

Teaser Tuesday 82: Water for Elephants

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current book or recent read.
* Share a few “teaser” sentences from somewhere in the book.
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser!


Read this over the weekend and absolutely loved it. It's a good, fast read that is hard to put down. I had to force myself to take breaks and give my arm and shoulder a rest, as I am still suffering the pinched nerve, though it's feeling much better. There were times the writing was so vivid you could picture yourself in the situation and feel the anger, horror or despair of the characters, but there were also a few scenes that had me laughing out loud. This is from near the end of the book.




I’m facing a full-fledged stampede. The animal dens are all open, and the center of the menagerie is a blur; staring into it, I see bits of chimp, orangutan, llama, zebra, lion, giraffe, camel, hyena, and horse—in fact, I see dozens of horses, including Marlena’s, and every one of them is mad with terror.
(pg 308)


If you are intrigued or enchanted by the circus of a bygone era, you may be interested in my circus train photos, taken during two of the many years the Great Circus Train passed through Madison en route to Milwaukee. Baraboo's Circus World Museum loaned several of their wagons and other memorabilia for the filming of the recent film adaptation, which stars Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson.




ABOUT THE BOOK:
Water for Elephants
By Sara Gruen

Though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski's ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell.

Jacob was there because his luck had run out - orphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on this locomotive 'ship of fools'. It was the early part of the Great Depression, and everyone in this third-rate circus was lucky to have any job at all. Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, was there because she fell in love with the wrong man, a handsome circus boss with a wide mean streak. And Rosie the elephant was there because she was the great gray hope, the new act that was going to be the salvation of the circus; the only problem was, Rosie didn't have an act - in fact, she couldn't even follow instructions. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.



17 comments:

Shelley Munro said...

I'm glad the pinched nerve is a little better, Heather. I've noticed/heard the promo for the movie, but until I read your teaser I had no idea the book was about the circus. I learn something every day :)

Heather said...

Thanks, Shelley. Shoulder feels really good today--I hope this is a good sign. As for the movie, though I have known about it a year now I have not seen any previews. Must make a point of seeking out its trailer!

Confuzzled Shannon said...

Have you seen the movie as well.. I was wondering how it is compared to the book?

Ann said...

I've just finished reading Water for Elephants too; next up the movie!
Here's my TT:
http://thebookgatherer.blogspot.com/2011/04/teaser-tuesdays_26.html

Unknown said...

I can't wait to read this! It's next up on my TBR list and your teaser lines make it even more intriguing. Thanks for sharing.

Pamela said...

I loved this book. I can't wait to see the movie, I hope it sticks to the book really well. I'm also going to be rereading the book with my friends for a little book club we put together for ourselves. Great teaser!

Feel free to check out my teaser here.

Bex said...

I've seen a lot of this lately! Is it any good? :)

My TT can be found here!

Rebecca @ kindle fever

Jules said...

One that I want to read.

Great teaser!

Jules

http://thegreatthegoodandthebad.blogspot.com/

Heather said...

Shannon: No, have not yet seen the movie. I do hope to see it while it is in theaters, but probably won't get to do so.

Book gatherer: Good book, isn't it? I hope you enjoy the movie!

Kari: Thanks, I'm glad you like the teaser and hope you enjoy the book!

Heather said...

Pamela: Enjoy the reread with your friends. I also hope the movie sticks close to the book.

Bex: As mentioned in my intro, I loved it--does that answer your question? *g*

Jules: In some ways I wish that I had read this one sooner, but then I am also glad i waited so it will still be (fairly) fresh in my mind when I (finally) see the movie.

Alice Audrey said...

I would not want to be there right then.

Heather said...

Alice: Nor I, my friend. She really puts you in the middle of this scene, though. *shudders*

jlshall said...

Good teaser! Haven't read this one yet, but I know it's had some really great reviews. And it's on my "definitely someday" list!

Sally said...

Great teaser. Glad you enjoyed it. I have it on my kindle waiting to be read.
Sally.
http://theelifylop.blogspot.com/2011/04/teaser-tuesday-16.html

Heather said...

Joy: I hope "some day" comes soon -- I think you'd like this one!

Sally: Glad you liked the teaser, and hope you get to it soon! :)

Laurel-Rain Snow said...

I've been wanting to read this book! I bet it's the kind of book that takes us right into that world.

Thanks for sharing...and for visiting my blog.

Heather said...

Laurel-Rain: It really does take you into the world of the old train circuses. The author did an excellent job of researching this novel.