Spoiler-Free Review

I remember going to see the Water for Elephants movie back in the day, but after all these years I remember almost nothing about it. So I thought this would be a great audiobook to catch myself back up on the story – and I was right. This was amazing.

What’s Water for Elephants about?

This story follows a man named Jacob at two different points in this life: when he’s 90 (or 93, he can’t remember) in a nursing home, and back when he joined a circus after a tragic loss in his 20s.

This is one of my new favorite books. 

I knew from the first chapter that this was going to be a five-star read, and it didn’t disappoint. I listened to the audiobook and could hardly put it down. Not only is it well-written, evocative, and enchanting, but the story itself is so unique and expertly woven. 

In the chapters where Jacob is a young man, the setting and characters of the circus add such depth and richness to the storytelling. There were scenes that had me horrified, concerned, amused, entertained, or stressed – and sometimes several of those at once. I also really enjoyed the romance aspects.

This story also expertly navigates the subtle indignities of elder care. In the chapters where Jacob is 90, the author manages to evoke such indignation at the unfairness of it all – not just the disappointments of aging, like the body and mind betraying him or his children not taking him in, but in the ways he’s treated as well. Most of Jacob’s nurses and doctors treat him like a sick pet, not a person. They don’t ask his permission to give him new medication. They don’t ask if he likes the food. They don’t even ask before entering his room. All except for Rosemary, the one nurse with a little compassion. Her presence really highlights the stark difference in Jacob’s treatment by the others. 

Going back and forth between the past and present was the perfect choice for this story. Each informs the other, bringing new context and understanding with each chapter. The imagery was astounding at times, and the writing elicited such a range of emotions. At times the details made me laugh, and others made me tear up. It was so well-written and engaging. 

Plus, the narrators were excellent. They each conveyed emotion so well, even going to far as to get choked up while reading certain parts. Whenever the narrator read the antagonist’s lines, I felt such a visceral hatred toward that character – so the narrator did a great job embodying the way someone like him would talk. 

I savored the storytelling, the imagery, the narrative voice – it was just so well done. 

Should you read Water for Elephants?

I highly recommend this book. As an audiobook it was excellent, but the story itself also stands up on its own. If you like historical fiction and stories that flip between the past and present, you’ll definitely like this one. It may also be for you if you enjoy stories centered on circuses, animals, and justice.