Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen

This book was amazing. I haven't read a book I've liked so much in so long. One thing I love in a book is when you start with part of the ending. You know when you start with the end of a story and then have to go into reflection to catch-up. It makes for one heck of a hook. And this book has a killer hook; quite literally. And the best part is that it isn't really how you saw it in the first place; even though all the words were right there in front of you. It's just that the brain thinks in a certain perspective and until more information comes to light, that perspective doesn't change. Also, your moral compass kicks in and you start to think how can he be OK with what she did and never mention it again? As the story unfolds you start to understand how one might be OK with it. Then you find yourself questioning your own morals and what would you do in that situation. Then all is sort of lifted once you get to the end when you find that the author and your brain deceived your by a slight in perception.

I like how this book alternates between the past and the present time. It makes so the story doesn't get stagnant. Plus the present time part of the story fills in the life of the narrator after the circus life and you begin to piece this persons life together. You get a better sense of the character; from who he was in the past and who he is in the present. You get to see how this innocent boy develops into the confident man he is. And all the time you are wondering if the woman who committed the unspeakable act in the very beginning of the book is the yet to be named wife he talks about while in the present frame of mind.

The relationships forged in this book were great; between woman and man, friendship between human and animal, and friendships between the "classes" of the circus. The classes based both on the function of that person to the circus and their ethnicity. These relationships are made because of the presence, personality, and convictions the narrator possess. This book pulls on your heart strings in a variety of ways as well. There is cruelty to animals and people. There is the sadness of nursing homes and those forgotten in them.

What I find really interesting are the details to the circus. Pictures from various circus' are included in the book for some visual titillation. You get the sense of what it was really like for those working in the circus. The circus was so glamorous for those in the crowd, if what happened behind the scenes would have been common knowledge maybe people wouldn't have all run away to the circus. The information about the circus alone make for a good story. Everything else wrapped up in it make it a great story. And the icing on the cake...the polish elephant; who knew?

This book is a must read. Enjoy!

5 more books

So I've finished what I could of the Blue Blood series. The Van Alen Legacy was a good book by Melissa De La Cruz. It leaves you on a cliff hanger, waiting for the next book. This book had twists and turns coming from every which way. Just when you thought you had it figured out, something else would come and hit you off balance. The triangle between Oliver, Schuyler, and Jack is finally figured out due to one's self sacrifice. Mimi finds what she's looking and hoping for and then has it riped away. Bliss finally finds salvation, for the time being.

The next series I started is the Alpha and Omega series by Patricia Briggs. It is set in the same time frame as the Mercy Thompson series but it deals with the Marrock (the governing head of the werewolves) and his family and immediate issues more so than Mercy's. You learn a lot about Charles (one of the Marrok's sons) and a bit more about the Marrok. You even learn some more about Sam (the Marrok's other son). The setting of what an Omega is and the value of one is spelled out. The series starts out in the anthology On the Prowl which is a book that has a few other short stories by other authors. It was a good book, might even start another series because of it. Then you go to Cry Wolf and then Hunting Ground. I find the Mercy Thompson books more compelling character wise, not so dry, but the plots are equally as entertaining. Overall I liked the series and am looking forward to the next book.

Finally I come to another Sookie Stackhouse book. Dead in the Family. Charlaine Harris is an amazing writer but I have to say this wasn't my favorite of the series. I found Eric to be a grump and an all in all a pain in the butt. I didn't find the books to be as intense as I usually do. Usually I can't wait to get into them and have a hard time putting them down, this one was good and I'm glad I read it but I was more like, 'OK another development in the plot.' The Sam relationship was just sort of thrown in there and I didn't find a lot of lead in with much of anything to this book. I did like how the fae issues were touched upon some more, because I thought leaving it as is in the last book was a bad idea. However, Dermot was crazy in the series and now all of a sudden he isn't because of a kiss...that seems a little far fetched even for Sookie's world. I do like how Jason is getting more mature and involved in her sister's life and not as oblivious too. I did however read the spoiler chapter to the next Sookie Stackhouse novel and can't wait for that one.

Hope you enjoy!