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So I am halfway through Water for Elephants and I can't put it down. I'm reading it between breaks at work or while I'm waiting for meetings. I'm reading it during lunch, on the bus, while I'm waiting for the bus and whenever I have the slightest break.

I'm going to dive right in with some of the questions posted on the reading guide.

How does everyone feel about the juxtaposition between the old Jacob and the young Jacob? What do you feel you learn about the old Jacob from his life in the Circus?

For myself, this story brings to light something that I've often thought about. I think that often older people are forgotten and that younger generations feel that their stories are no longer interesting. I beg to differ, however, in that the older generations have so much more to offer than any young fad out there. I love listening to my grandmother's stories as, not only are they interesting, but it's important to understand her amazing contributions that has made such a big impact on my life. I find that Jacob's story is incredibly interesting, fictional or not, and I wonder if his children ever asked him about it?

I am on page 149 right now and I too have trouble putting this book down ;-) Unfortunatly I don't have a lot of time to read right now and I read slowly. Not a good combination with a book like this.

I enjoy the back and forth between young and old Jacob. I was hooked from the beginning and liked Jacob right away.

I do agree that people have a tendency to dismiss older people and I think it's a shame. My own father was 50 when they had me, and when I was a teenager I used to love listening to his stories and he had quite a few interesting ones. Sometimes I could listen to the same stories several times. Unfortunatly my father died when I was 17, otherwise I would still be listening to his stories today.

My point is that not a lot of people take the time for the "little things" anymore; like listenings to old peoples stories. I think that's a shame, and when I read about old Jacob it makes me sad that a man who has seen and done so much, and is basically still so vital and clear-minded, has to live with a bunch zoombies who can't chew their own food.

My thoughts so far, looking forward to the rest of the book.

I thouroughly enjoyed how the ending tied everything together. How Jacob began his adult life by running away with a circus and was reaching the end of his adult life and making another attempt to run away and join the circus. He was really inspiring.

I've also just finished the book and enjoyed it, it raises lots of issues about the importance of the individual's contribution not just on a local level but to history in general. I think it's only just being recognised  that history is not just about dates and big events but about the stories of the individuals who lived through that time or event. That's why it's so important that books like this are well researched (as this one is). 

 I agree with what's been said about the role of the elderly in our society, I think the author makes a very valuable point about how younger people view the elderly and just see the external signs of aging and how the elderly view themselves, essentially a young person in an older person's body and how frustrating that must be. It's a clever devise to tell Jacob's story though his memories as this is often just the way elderly people in his situation think - as he himself says there's only so much you can discuss about last night's dinner. Maybe this highlights some of the failings in certain institutions that look after the elderly that they fail to see the eldery as individuals with individual needs and that their success or failure may rely on a few thoughtful and kind nurses/carers.

I didn't find the ending fitted with the rest of the book - it was very  'nice' but after such a hard hitting and gritty account it seemed that the author just ran out of steam and put in a happy ending to cheer herself and all of us up! 

The book also raises big questions about the history of the time which I'm sorry to say I'm fairly ignorant of like why did the depression happened, why was there prohibition, how did people get away with 'red lighting'.

There's so much in this book I'm sure there will be lots more discussion about it. 

I'm new and 'happen' to be reading this. So many 'happens'. I 'happened' to get a weird neuro disorder and 'happened' to get put into a nursing home at 42 y/o for nearly a year!!!!! AAAGGH!! Horrid institutions is my judgment.

I could totally relate to Jacob's desire for real food. I tell you, nurses like the one in the book can totally make the difference!! I got out 6 yrs. ago & am still friends with some of the people who cared for me.

Our culture doesn't value and honor elders like so many cultures did/do. I feel marketing and economics has taken hold relinquishing the concept of elder to old... to disposable, dispensable, worn out, torn up, broken, devalued.... It is a very sorry state of affairs but seldom do we look to elders with interest, reverence and respect like we used to.

My main problem with the switching back and forth is that I get tied up in one world and then get slammed into the other...leaving part of me always hanging. Which I suppose is good and keeps the pages turning!

Our library copies are all checked out, so I've been sneaking into a local bookstore to read when I get a chance (not having the money to spend on new books right now.) I'm halfway through and HATE not having a copy at my apartment!

Jacob's love for the animals - and for human animals - is really beautiful; having something to throw himself into so soon after his parents' passing may well have saved his life...but I must say, I've always been scared to death of circuses, and the last two media exposures I've had to them (Neil Gaiman's/Jim Henson's movie Mirrormask and now Water For Elephants) don't make them any more attractive. Harsh, false, brutal worlds, they seem.

 

allegria_joy

I finished the book, so there may be spoilers in this comment...

Is a spectacle spectacular with nobody to see it? I think Jacob's telling of his story to the man (and its reception as valued truth) at the end is important. So is Rosemary seeing Jacob as a real person, more than a decrepit body. So is Jacob seeing the real wrongness of the way the Benzini Bros. circus was run. These people not only see reality, they take action accordingly...and thereby validate the truth of what they see.

 

allegria_joy