Water for Elephants

When first reading Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen, I thought that it was going to be very difficult. But, as it turns out, the slight challenge is nice and I quite enjoy it! I love Gruen's depiction of the circus and I can admit to looking up more information about circuses in the mid 1900s. Very interesting, indeed! I am very intrigued by the main character, Jacob's, story. I think that this book is much about vulnerability. Jacob lives a pretty good life. He goes to an Ivy league college and he is already set up with a veterinary career because his father owns a practice. But when his parents die in a terrible car crash, he is left with nothing. Because of the depression, the bank claims his house and the practice. Jacob is left with nothing, vulnerable to the open world. He drops everything and hops on a train that turns out to be the circus. He is again vulnerable there and this allows him to be set to do anything. He starts out by shoveling manure... not the greatest job but he accepts it. He then becomes a crowd pleasure; he tries to get people to see the side shows. When the big circus starts, he sees a beautiful performer... although he used to be too shy to talk to girls--to even associate with them at all. But, with his new acquired vulnerability he was able to talk to her and form an, eventually, unbreakable bond.