I bought this book a while ago because a friend of mine, who had recently joined the circus, had said it was very good. This friend and I have very similar reading styles and I wanted a new book so...3 clicks on Amazon.com later, the book was mine. As usual, things came up and I never got around to reading it. Then another friend of mine called me, quite hysterical, because her brother in law saw Robert Pattinson at a job he was called on. I looked up what movie he could be working on and saw that the title was in fact Water for Elephants. I immediately decided that I had better read my book fast or else I'll be grouped into those people reading it for the sake of "Robert Pattinson." Yes, I've admitted before that he sucked me into his charm like every other girl (of any age) on this planet, but I am NOT the kind of person to read a book or buy a movie just because someone I have a small insignificant crush on is doing something loosely related. Or maybe I am. In any case, I did not buy this book for that reason. Clear? OK.
So I've finally read it and I am SO glad that I did. Oh I cried tears of sorrow, tears of anger, tears of outrage, tears of joy, you name it. Actually I did not really cry that much, but I wanted to. This book is about a young man who loses everything and accidentally joins the circus. The story telling goes back and forth between him as a 23 year old man in the circus and him as a 93 year old man in a nursing home. Let me say right now, I vow to NEVER put my family in a nursing home if I can help it. This book, although it was not the point of the story, opened my eyes to how miserable, depressing, and degrading "assisted living" homes are. I'd rather my parents not live as long but have rich, full, exciting lives rather than sat forgotten about, thinking how their lives used to be, and counting down the days until they're put out of their misery.
This book also tugged quite hard on my "love of animals" heart string. I really hate to consider that animals might still be treated that way today. It's a fine line between entertainment and torture. I was not too sad when said elephant from the title, takes her revenge. Should I have been?
In conclusion, this was a wonderful book and a very enjoyable read. I finished it in a day and a few hours. Granted I was out sick from work today, but still. I guess my new year's resolution of reading more new books is off to a great start since it isn't even the new year yet!! But I'm still counting it as a 2011 book ;)
