Water for Elephants

by Sara Gruen in Audio Format

Now there is a new character to put on my favorite fictional people list, the novels hero, Jacob Jankowski. I loved the audio books inclusion of two voices portraying him, the young and older version. He is a wonderful character at any age but I especially loved the 90 (or 93) version, he can never remember his age as he grouses numerous times. He is cranky and troublesome and just an absolute wonderful protagonist in my opinion. The story begins in his nursing home when the circus comes to town. A retired lawyer suddenly seated at the same table gets Jacob's back up when he claims to the rapt ladies at their table that he used to carry "water for elephants". After Jacob calls the man a liar and gets ousted from the table soon he is telling us his own story that is centered around him and "The Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth". And what a terrific story it is, not romanticised, if you're an animal lover parts will leave you cringing, but it is such a moving story. Jacob will be a character I think about again and again.