Her works have been translated into fortythree languages, and have sold more than ten million copies worldwide. That they make an implausible pair has less to do with the age gap. A circus elephant, a love story, and a prohibitionera thriller. In april 2011, the film water for elephants, starring reese witherspoon and robert. Read water for elephants absolutely for free at readanybook. Apr 22, 2011 reese witherspoon talks about her new film water for elephants, the importance of the circus during the depression era, what was involved with her training and the overall message of the film. Water for elephants, published in 2006, is sara gruens third book and her most successful to date. Jacob janowskis luck had run outorphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on a rickety train that was home to the benzini brothers most spectacular show on earth. Veterinary school student jacob meets and falls in love with marlena, a star performer in a circus of a bygone era. Apr 22, 2011 weve probably all seen a movie and wished it were 40 minutes shorter or read a book and thought, damn, this really could have been condensed and lost nothing. Reese witherspoon water for elephants interview youtube. How reese witherspoon got in circusstar shape for water.
Water for elephants is one of my most favorite books. Is it ok for kids to read books outside their reading levels. Goodreads members who liked water for elephants also liked. I liked everything about water for elephants an unusual and yet believable romance between a lowly stable boy robert pattison and an elephant dame reese witherspoon overseen by a maniacal and jealous circus boss christaph waltz. May 22, 2006 jacob janowskis luck had run outorphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on a rickety train that was home to the benzini brothers most spectacular show on earth. Based on the acclaimed bestseller, water for elephants presents an unexpected romance in a uniquely compelling setting. Water for elephants elephant was abused in 2005, says animal rights group. Reese witherspoon is dazzling as marlena, though dare i say it. Sara gruens very readable novel is a story of impossible love set in the circus world during the 1930s and is set to be made into a blockbuster film starring robert pattinson and reese witherspoon. Reese witherspoon says kissing sick robert pattinson wasn. Robert pattinson falls hard for reese witherspoon in the film adaptation of the bestselling novel water for elephants and the question on everyones mind is whether.
Veterinary school student jacob meets and falls in love with marlena, a star. Sara gruen mines fertile territory in water for elephants. Read online water for elephants by sara gruen for free. Water for elephants was adapted into a major motion picture starring reese witherspoon, rob. Sara gruens book, water for elephants, was a runaway best seller an internationally acclaimed novel told as the reminiscences of an old man, jacob, about his experiences with a depressionera circus where he witnessed the brutalities inflicted on people and animals alike. Then gruen shifts readers attention away from the eerie circus to introduce the ninety or ninetythree year old protagonist, jacob jankowski. Theres hardly a scene where you dont think i want this on dvd. Water for elephants2011 from reese witherspoons best roles. Stories similar to water for elephants books, stories, and novels like water for elephants by sara gruen.
Sara gruen is the internationally bestselling author of water for elephants and at the waters edge. The academy award winner plays marlena, a circus performer and ring leaders wife who finds herself in trouble when she falls in love with the circus veterinarian. Thrilled to have an educated man on board, august hires. The alex award is given to books that are written for adults but appeal to teen readers. Fresh off her wedding to hollywood agent jim toth, reese witherspoon has a big movie hitting theaters this monthwater for elephants, based on the bestselling novel and costarring twilight. Water for elephants was adapted into a major motion picture starring reese witherspoon, rob pattinson, and christoph waltz. To spray water at you for the photo, you will ride the elephants up a steep hill. But it also teaches us that this lesson shouldnt be abandoned in old age. If youre looking for a rationale for water for elephants, its listed as a scholastic reading counts book side note. Water for elephants was adapted into a major motion picture starring reese. Blackandwhite photographs of real american circus scenes from the first half of the century are interspersed. Tessa fontaines astonishing memoir of pushing past fear, the electric woman, follows the author on a lifeaffirming journey of loss and selfdiscovery through her time on the road with the last traveling american sideshow and her relationship with an adventurous, spirited mother. The film was released in the united states on april 22, 2011. Water for elephants was adapted into a major motion picture starring reese witherspoon, rob pattinson, and christoph waltz in 2011.
Water rated pg is, for its faults, beautiful to watch. An atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of starcrossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932, by the bestselling author of riding lessons. At the water s edge, ape house, water for elephants, riding lessons, and flying changes. The romance includes a few kisses and one love scene between stars robert pattinson and reese witherspoon, but its dimly lit. Reese witherspoon defends robert pattinsons water for elephants dancing as dancers go, i wouldnt say its his forte, she tells mtv news about her co. Veterinary school student jacob meets and falls in. Water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing month. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. With robert pattinson, reese witherspoon, christoph waltz, paul schneider. Vogue s jonathan van meter spoke to the actress a few months. But in water for elephants, the story within the story is the best part, and the movie portrayed that story quite well. Water for elephants is fun, sweet and thrilling and will pull you into the mysterious life of the circus so far that you wont want to leave. Trust us, water for elephants is going to be one of the surprise hits of 2011. What was the impression you got from reading the book that made you want to do a film adaptation.
Water for elephants, published in 2006, is sara gruens third book and her most. I am not going to say that water for elephants is among the 10 best books i have ever read, but it is one of the best bestseller books i have read in recent memory gripping, interesting, and with a great ending. Jacob is the moral center of the book, recognizing and, where possible. Apr 22, 2011 water rated pg is, for its faults, beautiful to watch.
So an ample water supply is critical for any elephant group. Jan 01, 2007 water for elephants was adapted into a major motion picture starring reese witherspoon, rob pattinson, and christoph waltz in 2011. Jul 20, 2010 sara gruen is the internationally bestselling author of water for elephants and at the water s edge. The truth is, it is summer and i am desperate for a distraction away from my recent obsession with greys anatomy reruns fueled by netflixs instant queue. These book club discussion questions reveal important details about water for.
As a consequence, it is not surprising that the annual cycle of monsoon rains in the weather pattern of asia plays a major role in determining where elephants live and why they move from place to place throughout the. Francis lawrence directs reese witherspoon and robert pattinson in water for elephants, a film adaptation of sara gruens novel about a depressionera traveling circus. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. Books that perform well based on their reader engagement are published by inkitt in different formats and channels. On march 26, reese witherspoon was married to talent manager jim toth in a simple, elegant affair at her ranch in ojai, california. Pattinson is also a member of the 10th place couple on our list alongside reese witherspoon.
May 26, 2006 the level of detail about circus life makes it feel real, and so is the depiction of old age. Blackandwhite photographs of real american circus scenes from the first half of the century are. Apr 22, 2011 francis lawrence directs reese witherspoon and robert pattinson in water for elephants, a film adaptation of sara gruens novel about a depressionera traveling circus. Reese witherspoon, robert pattinson, christoph waltz, james frain based on the acclaimed bestseller, water for elephants presents an unexpected romance in a uniquely compelling setting. Water for elephants author sara gruen will release a new novel. Water for elephants is fun, sweet and thrilling and will pull you into the mysterious life. Water for elephants is a rich surprise, a delightful gem springing from a fascinating footnote to history that absolutely deserved to be mined. The story is told as a series of memories by jacob jankowski, a 93yearold man who lives in a nursing home.
It was the great depression and for jacob the circus was both his salvation and a living hell. A veterinary student just shy of a degree, he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. I decided to not watch the movie when i heard it was coming out simply because i didnt want to possibly ruin the experience id had with the book if the movie wasnt uptopar. Reese witherspoon defends robert pattinsons water for. When jacob jankowski, recently orphaned and suddenly adrift, jumps onto a passing train, he enters a world of freaks, drifters, and misfits, a secondrate circus. Water for elephants is the film adaptation of the best selling book.
Jul 12, 2007 at its finest, water for elephants resembles stealth hits like the giants house, by elizabeth mccracken, or the lovely bones, by alice sebold, books that combine outrageously whimsical. It was directed by francis lawrence, and starred robert pattinson as jacob jankowski, reese witherspoon as marlena, and christoph waltz as august. He says that not knowing your exact age is the beginning of the end. Later in the book, it is suggested that he is a paranoid schizophrenic. Water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing. Feb 02, 2012 but in water for elephants, the story within the story is the best part, and the movie portrayed that story quite well. Find books like water for elephants from the worlds largest community of readers. 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. 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. Reese witherspoon says kissing sick robert pattinson wasnt. After a tragedy ruins his ability to graduate from veterinary school, the desperate 23yearold jacob robert pattinson jumps a train that turns out to be a circus run by savvy but cruel august christoph waltz, whose wife, marlena reese witherspoon, is the circus star attraction.
Set in the 1930s, a former veterinary student takes a job in a travelling circus and falls in love with the ringmasters wife. A strange but beautiful combination of animals, romance, and historical fiction, water for elephants tells the story of a man who starts off as a cornell university veterinary student and ends as a tired, old, former circus member. At its finest, water for elephants resembles stealth hits like the giants house, by elizabeth mccracken, or the lovely bones, by alice sebold, books that combine outrageously whimsical premises with crowdpleasing romanticism. It was the great depression and for jacob the circus was both his salvation and a. The denver post so compelling, so detailed and vivid, that i couldnt bear to be torn away from it for a single minute. Whatever magic was included in sara gruens 2006 novel, water for elephants, has not made the arduous journey to the big screen. 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. As you pore through water for elephants, a book with a special. Water for elephants begins dark and violent as it braces readers for the tumultuous circus atmosphere during the terrible years of the great depression. At the waters edge, ape house, water for elephants, riding lessons, and flying changes. Reese witherspoon says kissing sick robert pattinson wasnt pleasant water for elephants actress reveals, he did have a very runny nose.
You leave behind the golden time of the 20s, enter full adulthood in your 30s, then start sliding down the slippery slope to old age. Kasia pilewicz at an event for water for elephants 2011 reese witherspoon at an event for water for elephants. When 90something jacob jankowski hears the circus is in town, it brings him back to his younger years, when he traveled the. The actors are gorgeous, of course, and the sets and costumes artfully recreate the wonder of a depressionera circus. Water for elephants elephant was abused in 2005, says. Im not an advocate of boxed reading programs like this, but i know many schools use them. Use these book club discussion questions on water for elephants to lead your book clubs conversation on the story. It stars reese witherspoon, robert pattinson, and christoph waltz. She lives in western north carolina with her husband and three sons, along with their dogs, cats, horses, birds, and the worlds fussiest goat. Starring robert pattinson and reese witherspoon, escape to a world of forbidden love, danger and intrigue for a great night in this autumn with water for elephants 2011 released on bluray triple play on 5th september from twentieth century fox home entertainment. 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. In the book, marlena wasnt portrayed as some flirtatious vamp. Sep 26, 2011 if youre looking for a rationale for water for elephants, its listed as a scholastic reading counts book side note.
Winner of the 2007 bookbrowse diamond award for most popular book. At its finest, water for elephants resembles stealth hits like the giants house, by elizabeth mccracken, or the lovely bones, by alice. Reese witherspoon is an academy awardwinning actress who is known for her roles in legally blonde, walk the line, wild and the tv series big little lies. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Reese witherspoon talks about her new film water for elephants, the importance of the circus during the depression era, what was involved with her training and the overall message of the film. Christoph waltz and reese witherspoon in water for elephants, based on. Water for elephants2011 from reese witherspoons best. Reese witherspoon water for elephants interview 2 youtube. Water for elephants gives off an air of selfsatisfaction, and you can see. Her works have been translated into fortythree languages and have sold more than ten million copies worldwide.
I believe that reese witherspoon and robert pattinson will be. 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. Weve probably all seen a movie and wished it were 40 minutes shorter or read a book and thought, damn, this really could have been condensed and lost nothing. Water for elephants elephant was abused in 2005, says animal.
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