Reading Response #1

Reading Response: Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

“I am ninety. Or ninety-three. One or the other. When you're five, you know your age down to    the month. Even in your twenties you know how old you are. I'm twenty-three, you say, or maybe twenty-seven. But then in your thirties something starts to happen. Its a mere hiccup at first, an instant of hesitation. How old are you? Oh, I’m- you start off confidently, but then you stop. You were going to say thirty-three, but you're not. You're thirty-five. And then you're bothered, because you wonder if this is the beginning of the end. It is, of course, but it’s decades before you admit it. 
You start to forget words: they're on the tip of your tongue, but instead of eventually dislodging, they stay there. You go upstairs to fetch something, and by the time you get there you can’t remember what it was you were after. You call your children by the names of all your children and finally the dog before you get to his. Sometimes you forget what day it is. And finally you forget the year. 
Actually, it’s not so much that I’ve forgotten. It’s more like I’ve stopped keeping track. We’re past the millennium, that much I know- such a fuss and bother over nothing, all those young folks clucking with worry and buying canned food because somebody was too lazy to leave space for four digits instead of two- but that could have been last month or three years ago. And besides, what does it really matter? What’s the difference between three weeks or three years or even three decades of mushy peas, tapioca, and Depends undergarments?

I am ninety. Or ninety-three. One or the other.”(page 5)

          

I understand that this is a pretty decent size quote, it was just that it couldn't be broken up, I had to use it all. This is the first page of Chapter 1. I have never liked a beginning of a book as much as I like this one. I can't pen point exactly what it is, I just love it. It seems like such a strange topic to start with, but surprisingly it plays a dominate role in the novel. 

Jacob Jankowski is an elderly man in a nursing home, who has lived an exciting, unusual life. During Jacob's dreams you are taken back to when he was in his twenties, living life with the Benzini  Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth, a circus, during the prohibition. It is two parts of Jacob’s life being told in the same story, having chapters in the present and past. It amazes me how the author, Sara Gruen, is able to write for the character of Jacob, an old man with a strong desire to live a young live or is ready to die. There is definitely a darker, depressing side to this novel. It makes you really think about how much it sucks to get older. His opinion stops having the weight that it used to and he has no say in his life, because he is old, everyone else knows best. 



There is just so much to this book. In Jacobs younger life, as a vet for the circus, it becomes obvious that will be some romantic love connections, which is predictable, but I think the most inspiring relationship is between Jacob and the animals. Especially Rosie the elephant, who is the newest attention to the show. Everyone thinks she is a dumb animal that doesn't do anything but eat and go to the bathroom. Most think she is a waste of money and shouldn't have been boughten from the circus that left her behind, but I think Jacob has hope. I'm just getting to the start of their friendship but I can already tell that the bond they are going to have will be strong, just like some of the bonds he has with other animals.

“Come on, Bobo,” says Pete, reaching for the chimp.
The chimp’s hairy arms and legs tighten around me. 
“Come on now,” I say.
Nothing. 
“All right. One last hug and that’s it,” I say, pressing my face against his       dark fur.
The chimp flashes a toothy smile and kisses me on the cheek. (page 146)

There is no denying that the animals love Jacob, because Jacob has love for then animals. He shows gives them care in their very abusive conditions. He risks his life for the good of the animals and does everything he can for them. 

I'm pretty excited read what's going to happen next and to finish this book.