Veterinary school student jacob meets and falls in love with marlena, a star. Gruen has said that the backbone of her story parallels the biblical story of jacob in the book of genesis. The story is two guys got thrown off the train and jacob no point in telling a story if all you want to know is the end. In this movie water for elephants, robert pattinson plays a character named jacob, while in the twilight saga movies, for which he became famous, his nemesis name played by taylor lautner is jacob. A 42yearold asian elephant named tai most recently known for the role of rosie in foxs water for elephants was abused by its trainers in 2005, according to animal defenders international. Water for elephants movie tiein by sara gruen, paperback. Water for elephants is a 2011 american romantic drama film directed by francis lawrence and written by richard lagravenese, based on sara gruens 2006 novel of the same name.
Water for elephants moves between a story about a circus and a story about an old man in a nursing home. Water for elephants is a romantic drama about a circus vet set in the depression era and stars reese witherspoon and christoph waltz alongside. I dont know what her inspiration was but with dedicated research, she is able to describe, in detail, how it was to live in the 1930s, the great depression years. Elephants are known to comfort other elephants in distress and stand beside them touching with. Based on the acclaimed bestseller, water for elephants presents an unexpected romance in a uniquely compelling setting. Find books like water for elephants from the worlds largest community of readers. Water for elephants is a romantic period drama set in the depression. Mar 20, 2020 and if youre looking for some true goodnews and wonderinducing stories, check out this story about the successful reintroduction of fishers in washington state, this story about a pink manta. Faithful elephants tells the story of a zoo in tokyo that once held three elephants during the time of world war ii. The young man asks jacob to tell him what happened in 1931, and so the story begins. But the real story lies in how his life changed when the circus acquired. Baton rouge journal jacobs search for lost time is vivid and atmospheric, his story told with passion and an eye for the curious and entertaining detail. How does water for elephants connect with real life. Are the things that happen in the benzini brothers circus.
Drunk elephant viral story debunked by internet sleuths. Water for elephants behind the scenes interview no infrigement intended. The story is told as a series of memories by jacob jankowski, a 93yearold man who lives in a nursing home. Its the story of jacob, who runs away to the circus during the depression when his life falls apart around him.
Water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month. In one plot, jacob is a young guy just starting out in the world. Ninetyyearold jacob jankowski finds himself haunted by. An old jacob, played by hal holbrook, tells his story in. The animals are mangy, underfed or fed rotten food, and abused.
Water for elephants is a 2011 american romantic drama film directed by francis lawrence and. Heads up folks water for elephants is coming out as a movie soon and i. Water for elephants is the story of jacobs life with this circus. Ittells the story of jacob, a young man who joins the circus and ends up falling in love with both a woman and an elephant in different ways, thank goodness. Water for elephants is a romantic drama about a circus vet set in the depression era and. So its not written first person, she didnt work for a circus, etc.
Of course, that is part of the story and life in a circus at the time was no joy for animals or humans. Like water for elephants, her story is not just of heartache and triumphs, but also dark secrets and comic escapades. Water for elephants paperback water for elephants ity today what parts of water for elephants still hold true the benzini brothers circus disaster 1931 true story images water for elephants great circus disasters. Water for elephants in one plot, jacob is a young guy just starting out in the world. I want them to survive and thrive and do all their elephant things for millennia to come. Apr 28, 2011 is water for elephants based on a true story. The internet movie script database imsdb the webs largest. The benzini brothers is just a fictional 30s circus but there are some similar circus group in the 30s. I think my low opinion is partially my fault, because i drove into the story with high. And like many books, water for elephants sneaks in an extra ending or two, just for fun.
This informational text was definitely a wow book for me. By jim castagnera special to the history place 5211. I learned that the woman are in charge, they hand together and the male bulls are solitary. Dec 07, 2011 water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen who presently lives in canada. May 10, 2011 water for elephants is a romantic drama about a circus vet set in the depression era and stars reese witherspoon and christoph waltz alongside pattinson. Jacob, once it becomes known that he has veterinary skills. Water for elephants international elephant foundation. He is brought to the trailer to meet the circus owner and it is. It mostly stays true to the story, and the set and costumes gel perfectly.
Water for elephants summary water for elephants has two plots going on, both starring the same main character, jacob. Instead, water for elephants begins more seamlessly, at a modernday circus with a nice old man just wanting a break from the rain. The sweeping, intergenerational story of a vermont family, from wwii to the dawning of the 60s the most magisterial and moving novel of acclaimed author jeffrey lents career. Elephant trainers accused of abusing animal star of water for. I read it as an ebook etext on amazon kindle, and i was truly taken aback at the hardships faced in this true story. Oct 05, 2015 a true story of wild elephants and their love for one man africa lost an ardent conservationist this year, lawrence anthony, died of a heart attack on 2nd march, 2012. Bookmarks magazine a love letter to a colorful but terrifying past and an exciting story from cover to. Admittedly, water for elephants is a slow moving, old fashioned and more than a little anticlimactic movie. Just when you think the story might be over, you get another little bit of. The film was released in the united states on april 22, 2011. Somewhere roaming the vast wildlands of tsavo in southern kenya, theres an elephant who carries with her part of my heart. Apr 22, 2011 8 big differences between water for elephants book and movie apr.
A circus elephant, a love story, and a prohibitionera thriller. Ive never met an elephant, but i love them all anyway. Robert pattinson stars alongside tai the elephant in water for elephants and an animal rights group claim he has been abused the film of the abuse. The story is dark and violent and follows a storyline seen in so many films. Water for elephants trust botswana africa geographic. The movie flashes back to 1931, as a young man younger jacob robert pattinson was preparing to take his final exam at vet school. Wild elephants salutes the men who rescued their baby. Only days before graduating from vet school in 1931, young jake learns his parents have died and left him penniless. The novel, water for elephants include a number of major themes, here are 5 of the most evident themes seen throughout the novel. Sara gruen spares no detail in chronicling the squalid, filthy, brutish circumstances in which he finds himself. Water for elephants, published in 2006, is sara gruens third book and her most successful to date. As long as i know, the story is historical fiction by sara gruen.
It tells a story of a love between two people that overcomes incredible odds in a world in which even love is a luxury that few can afford. Jacob jankowski, a retired veterinarian living out his days in an assistedliving facility, drifts in and out of his memories. Sara gruen uses her talent as a writer to bring that world alive for the reader. Along the way, he falls in love with a performer and befriends an elephant named rosie. Water for elephants is the story of a veterinarian who runs away and joins the circus during the great depression. Sara gruen wrote water for elephants in 2006 as part of the national novel writing month. The name of the character jacob is the first clue and its pretty obvious. Nov 28, 2017 wild elephants salutes the men who rescued their baby elephant from a ditch magestic tuskers. May 04, 2011 water for elephants makes use of a framing device similar to one the screenwriter used for the bridges of madison county. Benzini brothers circus disaster 1931 true story images.
Use these book club discussion questions on water for elephants to lead your book clubs conversation on the story. Water for elephants by sara gruen 2006 this fast paced book is written in the first person. Stories similar to water for elephants books, stories, and novels like water for elephants by sara gruen. In the book water for elephants by sara gruen, there are some slight biblical themes if you look closely. These true stories include the hippo pickled in formaldehyde, the deceased fat lady being paraded through town and an elephant who repeatedly pulled out her stake and stole lemonade. Events lead him to joining the circus as their vet, working under their unstable boss august whose violent tendencies give everyone reason to be cautious around him, including his beautiful and quiet wife marlena, whom august is very possessive of and who jacob finds himself soon falling in love with. Water for elephants script at the internet movie script database. The group claims tai is the elephant that appears to cry out while performing a headstand in the video. The main character, jacob jankowski, is a 90 or 93 year old man he cant remember which. Water for elephants elephant was abused in 2005, says. How do the chapters about the older jacob enrich the story about jacobs adventure with the circus. Trailer created by aleanthea brewster, a librarian from candadian, texas summary.
The following quote from jacob, taken from the book, describes, in detail, the marvelous scene. Sara gruens arresting new novel, water for elephants, explores similar subject matter the pathetic grandeur of the depressionera circus. Oct 21, 2016 water for elephants is a romantic period drama set in the depression. One of them had a performance of elephant with the same name rosie. Interesting true story about the search for elephants serach water in tanzaina during the drought of 1994. Author interview sara gruen, author of water for elephants. What evidence does coutu use to support her claim that improvisation requires. Have you ever wondered if the story your reading have any hidden meaning to it. The circus train only had a limited amount of water on board, and elephants can drink 100300 litres per day approximately 2680 gallons. The elephant whisperer the incredible true story of wild. In the beginning of the novel, jacob mocks another resident of the nursing home who claims to have worked in the circus and carried water for the elephants. There, jacob impresses august christoph waltz, the boss, and his wife marlena reese witherspoon enough with his training that he is trusted with the new star attraction. I havent seen her for many years now, but i think of her often wondering if theres any truth about elephants never forgetting. Water for elephants makes use of a framing device similar to one the screenwriter used for the bridges of madison county.
It makes me very sad that this story about drunken elephants raiding a wine store is definitely not true, tweeted gorman. Aug 01, 2016 first it talks about grandma but not grandpa, so i took me to the internet to research. Are the things that happen in the benzini brothers circus in. Jankowskirobert patterson tells his story to obrien, starting in 1931 when he was a 23yearold veterinary medicine student at cornell. Pdf water for elephants download full pdf book download. Jul 23, 2018 water for elephants by sara gruen is a must read a story about a 90yearold man remembering his days with a circus during the great depression. Water for elephants can be an unnerving view for animal lovers. The denver post so compelling, so detailed and vivid, that i couldnt bear to be torn away from it for a single minute.
This is where almost all of the action of the story took place. The bright, infectiously enthusiastic sara gruen couldnt be further from the seedy circus subculture portrayed in water for elephants, her blockbuster novel thats getting the hollywood treatment in an eagerly anticipated new movie. Water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen who presently lives in canada. May 26, 2006 water for elephants is the story of jacobs life with this circus. There, he works as the shows vet, and falls ever more in love with marlena, the star of the circus and. I only wish the focus was broader with water for elephants than just the love triangle but then this is jacobs story to tell which is a reminder to consider how much really happened, especially. He is perhaps known best as the elephant whisperer, but he was also a founder of the earth organization in 2003. Water for elephants questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on water for elephants. Sarah gruen sets her story among the freaks and geeks and captive animals of a traveling circus during.
Water for elephants behind the scenes interview youtube. After his parents death, jacob jankowski is left penniless and homeless. Water for elephants has two plots going on, both starring the same main character, jacob. Essentially, this is a retelling of the standard lovetriangle tale. The circus was the main setting of the book, water for elephants. Gruen did extensive research before writing water for elephants. To ask other readers questions about water for elephants, please sign up. How do the names of many of the characters reflect names of characters in the biblical account. Aug 23, 2015 as long as i know, the story is historical fiction by sara gruen. Fake animal news abounds on social media as coronavirus.
Every few chapters, the narrative switches from one jacob to the other. In a nutshell, water for elephants trust is working with the authorities to install and maintain as many boreholes over as large an area as possible in this part of eastern botswana. Water for elephants is a romantic drama about a circus vet set in the depression era and stars reese witherspoon and christoph waltz alongside pattinson. The book, water for elephants, starts off in the present day, in a nursing home where the main character, jacob jankowski, lives. An old jacob, played by hal holbrook, tells his story in flashback to a. The prologue reveals the secret before the story even begins. The ron clark story 2006 base on the true story movie. Elephant trainers accused of abusing animal star of water. The setting of the story changes throughout the book. Beautifully written, water for elephants is illuminated by a wonderful sense of time and place. Water for elephants book club discussion questions and.
Water for elephants is a story about an elderly man, jacob, who recalls an adventure in his younger years. The story of jacob jankowski, an orphaned veterinary student who runs away with the circus and falls in love with sequined star marlena, thrums with. Its from this nursing home that jacob tells his story, like he is looking back at all the adventures at the circus. Visually, the movie is just what you picture when reading the book, and that makes it magical. We recently finished reading sara gruens water for elephants at the librarys. In what other ways does water for elephants parallel the story of the biblical jacob. Water for elephants star electrocuted and beaten with. The best thing about water is the telling of the story by jacob jankowski, who is a 90 or 93 year old vet depending on how you look at it, now confined in a residential nursing home and looking back into his past. Water for elephants book club discussion questions and answers. Another article in our series highlighting water for elephants. Overall, if you loved the book, you will love the movie. I have heard stories of both types of redlighting actually happening in the. So much more than a tale about a circus, water for elephants is a compelling journey not only under the big top, but into the protagonists heart. Water for elephants by sara gruen 2006, hardcover for.
When jacob jankowski arrived for the first time at the circus where he worked, he was in awe. There is a great deal of animal abuse and even if it is simulated, it feels real. May 09, 2011 a 42yearold asian elephant named tai most recently known for the role of rosie in foxs water for elephants was abused by its trainers in 2005, according to animal defenders international. Is water for elephants based on a true story answers. The theme of love love is the most evident theme throughout the novel. Your story took me to place i could only dream of going. But if theres any doubt, elephants have been observed helping those who are injured by bringing them food and water, grieving for family members who have died, and burying their dead. These book club discussion questions reveal important details about water for elephants by sara gruen.