What I Read: Water for Elephants

I really wanted to like this book. I'd only heard good reviews and I loved the circus setting. It was something new, something unique. But after finishing it, I felt that it was just OK. In many ways the story reminded me of Moulin Rouge and hundreds of other predictable chick flicks I've seen.

I didn't think the author was a very good writer. I didn't find her writing style to be very mature, and I felt like she threw in "big" words to try and make it sound more advanced. I didn't find her 90-year-old (or is it 93?) character very believable. He was grouchy and depressing the whole time, and his chapters interrupted the somewhat entertaining storyline. She could have taken the whole thing out and just added more character depth and it would have been a better book.

 

The romance between Jacob and Marlena is completely unbelievable. One second they don't know each other, the next second they are madly in love, complete with cheesy exclamations to each other. Maybe if there was more character depth it would be believable, but Marlena isn't developed at all. The only Marlena we know is the Marlena that puts on a show in front of August and others, or the Marlena that cries on Jacob.

The vulgarity the author added seemed to have no purpose. All the vomiting and the sex didn't seem to add anything to the story. I have no problem with reading about sex, but only if it is there to make a point, add emotion, or add depth. The sexual scenes in this book did none of those things. The only place where it actually adds anything is in the relationship between Marlena and Jacob, and even then it read like a lousy romance novel.

The end of the book is completely anti-climactic. By the time August and Uncle Al die, I was more relieved that the book was almost over instead of feeling any shock or surprise. There isn't enough character depth to care. Are we really supposed to believe that Rosie, the elephant, kills her evil trainer? Are we really supposed to believe that the circus picks up the 90-year-old narrator who can't even unbutton his shirt all the way?

Despite all the things I found wrong with it, most of these things were issues with the writing. I actually think this is going to make a pretty decent chick flick. The book is all setting and action description, with little actual character development or emotion. I think it will be easy for actors and actresses to add that emotion, and the movie will bring to life the detailed descriptions and 1930's circus lifestyle, which is actually an interesting and unique setting.