Book: Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen

Jacob Jankowski, is what every old person is in the nursing facility, forgets his real age “ninety or ninety-three years old” as he says and other bits of his life. But one important part of his life that he doesn’t forget is when he accidentally joins a circus and makes his life out of it. He then reminisces and tells his story.

At twenty-three years old, Jacob was a veterinary student at Cornell University and has his adult life planned out. Study, graduate and be a licensed veterinarian just like his dad. But everything changes when his parents met a car accident and suddenly turning his whole world upside-down. With no home, no family, no money, he decides to leave his town and tried to never look back.

Then he basically jumps on a train and it was not just an ordinary one; but it was the train for the “Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth”. He then joins the circus as its official “veterinarian” as appointed by Uncle Al. He met August, the head trainer who mistreat the animals on the circus; Marlena, the star performer and the wife of August and Rosie, the elephant that he trains and works with most of the time. There was instant connection between the three of them, Jacob, Marlena and Rosie. So, somewhere along the way the lines went blurry, Jacob and Marlena fell in love with each other.

With August sensing of what’s happening between the two, he comes and warns Jacob. Marlena left the circus and stayed at a certain hotel. With Marlena out of the picture, Uncle Al comes forward and tells Jacob that August is mentally ill and threatens him to reunite the couple or else somebody from the workers will be red-lighted.
Uncle Al’s threat didn’t work. Jacob then visits Marlena at the hotel and slept with her. Declaration of their love for each other soon followed. Right after that, Marlena returns at the circus but doesn’t want to be near August, which makes Uncle Al angry.

Jacob planned to kill August but suddenly backs out and returns to their room, only seeing an empty one. He realizes that those workers occupying the room were red-lighted and he was supposed to be joining that bunch. Seeking revenge, those workers returns the circus. They released the animals from the cages which caused a stampede and making this the “Greatest Disaster of All Time”. August was killed during the stampede, because of Rosie, who plunges the stake that’s attached to her, and directly hitting him into his head.
With that, the circus was shut down. Jacob, Marlena and together with some of the animals from the circus began their life together.

Back to the present, Jacob is waiting for his children. They were supposed to be taking him to the circus show but it seems like there isn’t anybody coming for him. Jacob decides to go to circus alone and there he met Charlie, the manager. He begged Charlie to let him buy the ticket and watch the show. And being there and watching the show, Jacob just felt that he’s back to his home.

~ mandalovesrobsten