Water for Elephants is told in two perspectives, one from Jacob Jankowski as an old man, and one as he reminisces about his youth and life in the circus. As a young man, Jacob lost his parents, lost his Ivy League College, and ultimately the only things he had ever known. He's a bum, a tramp now, and by luck he's jumped the train of Benzini Brothers Circus. Obviously, that's where the fun begins! 
 Water for Elephants, is enchanting, and arresting, but not in a fairytale sense, or even a idealistic sense, but simply from the realness and the uniqueness of Jacob's ventures. Circus life, really isn't a subject great literary masters write about, or a subject that classics are based on. It's interesting to see his life as he interacts with the animals, and the various staples of carnival fare - fat bearded ladies, to horse riders and exotic animals! As Jacob learns more and more about the circus life around him, he seems to catch the eye of the star act, Marlena. And here we go, a wondrous journey of circus life and romance all in one. 
 It's not a cutesy romance, or really an easy one, because Marlena's married. To a rather mean guy, and he's Jacob's boss. And then toss in the newly acquired elephant Rosie, actually the seemingly stupid elephant Rosie, and here we go, we've got a keeper! One little thing is that I really wish the story was longer, there was just this feeling of incompleteness as I neared the end, or perhaps it was the feeling of wanting more. Either way, I loved this novel, and I really recommend it. But I liked how the accounts of the story linked together, as did the ending and beginning. I'd love to actually see a great version of the movie, but with the standards this book raised I highly doubt it! Well, read the book at least, I'm sure it'll be better than that upcoming movie.