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is revealed to have died a few years before Jacob was put into the nursing home. After finding out no one is coming for him, Jacob makes his way to the circus next to the nursing home on his own. He meets the manager, Charlie, and, after the performance, Jacob begs to be allowed to stay with the circus, selling tickets. Charlie agrees, and Jacob believes that he has finally come home.
364:– A little person with whom Jacob shares living quarters on the circus train. Initially, their relationship is rocky, but they develop a strong friendship. At the beginning of the story, he is known as Kinko. Walter is his real name and he only lets his friends call him by his actual name. He has a deep attachment to a
311:
The story then comes back to Jacob in the nursing home. Jacob is waiting for one of his children to take him to the circus. It is revealed that Jacob and
Marlena married and had five children, spending the first seven years with Ringling before Jacob got a job as a vet for the Brookfield Zoo. Marlena
280:
A few days later, after discovering that August has tried to see
Marlena, Jacob visits her in her hotel room. After he comforts her, they end up making love, and soon declare their love for each other. Marlena then returns to the circus to perform (and have secret meetings with Jacob), but refuses to
284:
One night Jacob climbs up and jumps each train car, while the train is moving, to August's room, carrying a knife between his teeth intending to kill August. However, Jacob backs out, leaving the knife on August's pillow to send a message. When Jacob returns to his train car, he finds that no one is
272:
The equestrian director, August
Rosenthul, is a brutal man who abuses the animals in his care (such as the new elephant, Rosie) and the people around him, though he can also be charming and generous. Jacob develops a guarded relationship with August and his wife, Marlena, with whom Jacob eventually
221:
The story is told through a series of memories by Jacob
Jankowski, a man living in a nursing home who can't remember if he is 90 or 93-years-old. In the nursing home, Jacob's life lacks excitement. He gets visited every Sunday by one of his five children and has good rapport with a kind nurse named
222:
Rosemary, but for the most part, Jacob's a tired old man whose life is highly regimented and scheduled. This all changes, however, when the circus parks right outside of the nursing home window, igniting Jacob's memories of his time working with the
Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth.
256:
belonging to the
Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. On the train Jacob is befriended by Camel, an old man and circus veteran, who persuades his companions not to throw Jacob off the train. Camel takes him under his wing and is able to find him odd menial jobs. When the owner of the
423:
In the beginning of the novel, Jacob mocks another nursing home resident who claims to have worked in the circus and carried the water for the elephants. The circus train only had a limited amount of water on board, and elephants can drink between 100 and 300 litres per day (approximately 26–80
291:
In the ensuing panic, Rosie (the elephant that August abused) takes a stake and drives it into August's head. August's body is then trampled in the stampede. During the ensuing melee Jacob was the only person who witnessed what truly happened to August. As a result of this incident, the
Benzini
273:
falls in love. August is suspicious of their relationship and physically assaults both
Marlena and Jacob. Marlena subsequently leaves August and stays at a hotel while she is not performing. Uncle Al then informs Jacob that August has paranoid
354:– The violent, abusive owner of the circus. He is known for red-lighting circus workers. If workers were deemed to have committed some particularly egregious offense, they were thrown off while the train was passing over a
334:– The main love interest and a star performer with the circus. She ran away from home to join the circus and marry August, the equestrian director. She enjoys a special rapport with the horses and cares for them deeply.
269:) for many years, is unable to move his arms or legs. Fearing Camel will be "red-lighted" (thrown off a moving train as punishment or as severance from the circus to avoid paying wages), Jacob hides him in his room.
296:
around his neck. Marlena and Jacob leave, taking with them a number of the circus animals including Rosie, Queenie, and
Marlena's horses. Jacob and Marlena begin their life together by joining the
378:– One of the first people Jacob meets when he jumps onto the train. He is a drunk who is instrumental in getting Jacob a job with the circus. When Camel gets "Jake Leg" from drinking contaminated
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245:. When Jacob learns that his parents' home has been mortgaged to pay for his tuition and that his father's practice will not become his own, he has an emotional breakdown and leaves his
427:
In a later flashback to Jacob's younger years, Jacob is brought to Uncle Al, the manager of the circus, who taunts him by asking, "You want to carry water for elephants, I suppose?"
344:, he is alternately charming and brutal, both to the humans and animals, particularly Rosie, a newly acquired elephant for the circus. Later in the book, it is suggested that he has
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467:(3.5 out of 5) with the summary stating, "Jacob’s search for lost time is vivid and atmospheric, his story told with passion and an eye for the curious and entertaining detail".
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circus, Alan J. Bunkel, "Uncle Al," learns of Jacob's training as a vet, he is hired to care for the circus animals. This leads Jacob to share quarters with a
785:
388:– An elephant that Uncle Al buys from another circus. She is believed to be useless until it is discovered that she understands commands only in
288:
As the story climaxes, several circus workers who were red-lighted come back and release the animals, causing a stampede during the performance.
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allow August near her, which makes Uncle Al furious. Not long after her return to the circus, Marlena discovers that she is pregnant.
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veterinary student when he receives the devastating news that both of his parents have died in a car accident. Jacob's father was a
285:
there, except for
Queenie. He then realizes that Walter and Camel were red-lighted and that he was also supposed to have been too.
398:– A nurse in the nursing home where Jacob lives who is especially kind to Jacob, despite the fact that he can be very rude to her.
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324:– The protagonist, a 93-year-old nursing home resident reminiscing on the time he spent as a circus veterinarian during the
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as Charlie O'Brien. The character of "Uncle Al" was removed, and instead August is both the owner and animal trainer.
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and utters a threat: reunite August and Marlena as a happily married couple or Walter and Camel get red-lighted.
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265:, Queenie. A few weeks later Jacob is summoned to examine Camel, who, after drinking "Jake" (adulterated
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September/October 2006 issue, a magazine that aggregates critic reviews of books, the book received a
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in June 2023. It was announced on September 12, 2023 that the musical would begin previews on
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1016:"Grant Gustin Will Make Broadway Debut in WATER FOR ELEPHANTS; Additional Cast Revealed"
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Brothers circus is shut down. Soon after, Uncle Al's corpse is found with a makeshift
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on February 24, 2024 with an opening night set for March 21. The cast will include
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198:. The novel is set in a 20th-century circus. Gruen wrote the book as part of the
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Gruen has said that the backbone of her story parallels the biblical story of
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2007, USA, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, a division of Workman Publishing,
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2006, USA, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, a division of Workman Publishing,
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Interview begins at 3-minute mark. Nanowrimo.org. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
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was released in theaters on April 22, 2011. The film was directed by
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In the dark of night, Jacob jumps on a train, later learning it is a
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began presentations in 2023 and opened on Broadway in spring 2024.
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340:– Marlena's husband and the head animal trainer. As a classic
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played the older Jacob Jankowski. Other cast members include
408:
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A film adaptation produced by Flashpoint Entertainment and
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named Walter (who is known as Kinko to the circus) and his
382:, Jacob and Walter hide him in their car and care for him.
170:
511:
Winner of the 2007 BookBrowse award for most popular book
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for 12 weeks in 2006 (peaked at No. 7 on August 20, 2006)
969:"20th Century Fox shoots McCloud River No. 18 in action"
740:
WrimoRadio interview with Sara Gruen, November 29, 2008.
923:
New York Times Best Seller list for paperback fiction
300:. Later, Jacob becomes the chief veterinarian at the
990:"Water For Elephants Musical Sets 2024 Broadway Bow"
547:, Pub date December 15, 2006, Large print hardback
665:A musical adaptation of the novel with a book by
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937:"Railroad museum prepares for excursion program"
934:
440:
237:and Jacob had planned to join his practice in
225:As his memories begin, Jacob is a 23-year-old
19:For the film adaptation of the same name, see
987:
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348:as an explanation for his violent outbursts.
988:Culwell-Block, Logan (September 12, 2023).
392:. She is often the target of August's rage.
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639:No. 18., built in 1914. It was filmed in
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368:named Queenie (a possible allusion to
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332:Marlena Rosenbluth (formerly L'Arche)
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1109:Novels based on the Book of Genesis
935:Cofer, Brittany (August 15, 2010).
786:"Water for Elephants By Sara Gruen"
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229:preparing for his final exams as a
13:
1089:Canadian novels adapted into films
1079:American novels adapted into films
855:Garner, Dwight (January 7, 2007).
815:Nominess for the 2006 Quill Awards
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569:, Pub date June 1, 2006, Audiobook
14:
1120:
1037:
1014:Wild, Stephi (November 3, 2023).
558:, Pub date May 1, 2007, Paperback
536:, Pub date May 26, 2006, Hardback
249:school just short of graduation.
633:Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
518:Best Seller list on July 8, 2007
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514:The paperback hit No. 1 on the
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370:a short story by Truman Capote
209:was released in 2011, while a
90:Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
1:
834:"2007 Alex Awards selections"
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661:Water for Elephants (musical)
561:2006, USA, Highbridge Audio,
352:Alan J. Bunkel aka "Uncle Al"
315:
25:Water for Elephants (musical)
1099:Fiction about animal cruelty
942:Chattanooga Times Free Press
539:2006, USA, Thorndike Press,
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200:National Novel Writing Month
194:by Canadian–American author
7:
480:nominee for General Fiction
10:
1125:
1074:American historical novels
925:. Retrieved July 12, 2007.
911:2007 The BookBrowse Awards
820:February 23, 2007, at the
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641:Ventura County, California
580:Water for Elephants (film)
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493:Best Novel of 2006 nominee
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21:Water for Elephants (film)
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752:Interview with Sara Gruen
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913:(retrieved May 20, 2007)
766:. Readinggroupguides.com
669:and music and lyrics by
508:No. 1 pick for June 2006
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1084:American romance novels
267:Jamaican ginger extract
216:
23:. For the musical, see
1094:Novels set in circuses
697:as Mr. Jankowski, and
649:Chattanooga, Tennessee
637:McCloud River Railroad
631:The film featured the
620:as Rosie's caretaker,
471:Awards and nominations
346:paranoid schizophrenia
308:, where they settled.
1069:Algonquin Books books
1064:Novels about adultery
890:"picks for June 2006"
764:"Reading Group Guide"
719:"NaNoWriMo Media Kit"
298:Ringling Bros. Circus
1059:2006 American novels
1044:Sara Gruen's website
949:on December 15, 2014
796:on September 9, 2015
699:Paul Alexander Nolan
596:as Jacob Jankowski,
491:Entertainment Weekly
366:Jack Russell terrier
263:Jack Russell Terrier
176:PS3607.R696 W38 2006
33:Water for Elephants
635:No. 610 and former
184:Water for Elephants
125:331 (first edition)
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16:Novel by Sara Gruen
861:The New York Times
671:PigPen Theatre Co.
655:Musical adaptation
231:Cornell University
32:
1104:Epistolary novels
857:"Inside the list"
673:premiered at the
612:as Kinko/Walter,
598:Reese Witherspoon
586:Fox 2000 Pictures
338:August Rosenbluth
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594:Robert Pattinson
590:Francis Lawrence
500:Best Seller list
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1023:. Retrieved
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953:December 15,
951:. Retrieved
947:the original
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874:February 25,
872:. Retrieved
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838:. Retrieved
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798:. Retrieved
794:the original
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768:. Retrieved
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723:. Retrieved
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693:as Marlena,
687:Grant Gustin
664:
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606:Hal Holbrook
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235:veterinarian
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101:May 26, 2006
29:
1025:November 4,
999:October 21,
800:January 14,
701:as August.
618:James Frain
604:as August.
485:Alex Awards
478:Quill Award
1053:Categories
705:References
689:as Jacob,
667:Rick Elice
616:as Camel,
614:Jim Norton
506:Book Sense
424:gallons).
316:Characters
247:Ivy League
196:Sara Gruen
189:historical
187:is a 2006
77:Historical
51:Sara Gruen
896:April 25,
869:0362-4331
840:April 25,
836:. Ala.org
790:Bookmarks
770:April 25,
725:April 25,
622:Ken Foree
487:selection
437:Bookmarks
431:Reception
164:813/.6 22
86:Publisher
994:Playbill
818:Archived
679:Broadway
396:Rosemary
342:batterer
243:New York
151:61362217
65:Language
681:at the
645:Georgia
523:Release
411:in the
403:Concept
356:trestle
306:Chicago
294:garrote
239:Norwich
68:English
974:Trains
867:
647:; and
565:
554:
543:
532:
390:Polish
47:Author
483:2007
476:2006
419:Title
409:Jacob
386:Rosie
376:Camel
122:Pages
117:Print
73:Genre
1027:2023
1001:2023
955:2014
898:2010
876:2023
865:ISSN
842:2010
802:2023
772:2010
727:2010
563:ISBN
552:ISBN
541:ISBN
530:ISBN
217:Plot
145:OCLC
131:ISBN
435:In
304:in
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
