Jacob in the bible and water for elephants books

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. If you didnt catch it the first time around, heres a brief overview of the similarities that were recently discovered. I absolutely adored this book, alternately falling in love with both jacob, the crotchety old man and jacob, the young, moral and penniless circus veterinarian. Water for elephants book discussion questions water for elephants moves between a story about a circus and a story about an old man in a nursing home. I read in the paperback version of this book that the author used the story of jacob in the book of genesis as. It shouldnt be a surprise that in the prologue we cant tell whether jacob is talking about marlena or rosie when he uses the word she he loves them both and thinks of them both as individuals. On the morning of his senior veterinary science exams at cornell, jacob jankowski is called out of the room by the dean. Younger jacob and older jacob each gets to have his say. Water for elephants book summary barnes and noble middle school books, water for elephants has two plots going on, both starring the same main character, jacob.

In water for elephants, jacob comes in and gets in uncle als good graces without a lot of history that august has. Water for elephants begins dark and violent as it braces readers for the tumultuous circus atmosphere during the terrible years of the great depression. Stories similar to water for elephants books, stories, and novels like water for elephants by sara gruen. Water for elephants questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on water for elephants. Water for elephants is a moving tale about circus life during the depression era with quirky characters and complex emotions underlying the characters actions. Rachel and leahs father, repeatedly decieving jacob. To emphasize this, the whole book is written in the present tense. Differences between water for elephants book vs movie page 1. With a showmans expert timing, gruen saves a terrific revelation for the final pages, transforming a glimpse of.

The circus travels around and eventually acquires an elephant named rosie. A brilliantly crafted and deeply moving novel, water for elephants is the tale of jacob jankowski, now in his nineties, who spends his remaining days fondly drifting through the memories of his early depressionera youth which was spent in the company of circus freaks, clowns and misfits. Jacob, when narrating in his older years, demonstrates to readers that he remains as a static character throughout the novel. The circus train only had a limited amount of water on board, and elephants can drink 100300 litres per day approximately 2680 gallons. Water for elephants is a historical novel by sara gruen, written as part of national novel writing. In the book, jacobs narration takes place in his own mind. When jacob jankowski, recently orphaned and suddenly adrift, jumps onto a. However, if we dig a little deeper, we find the story of jacob in the king james old testament bares some resemblance to the story of jacob in water for elephants. In the beginning of the novel, jacob mocks another resident of the nursing home who claims to have worked in the circus and carried water for the elephants. He begins reflecting on this time in his life because a circus sets up beside his assistedliving center.

The name of the character jacob is the first clue and its pretty obvious. However, there is a possible reference to elephants in the bible. The novel has received high praise from numerous critics, and has. I read that the story of jacob is allegedly the backbone of water for elephants. Jacob is working overtime as the narrator of water for elephants. Jacob is the moral center of the book, recognizing and, where possible, preventing those cruelties, and in the. The circus man water for elephants by sara gruen is a fascinating and captivating novel told from the point of view of jacob jankowski, a veterinarian who jumps aboard a traveling circus during the depression in the 1930s. She lives in western north carolina with her husband and three sons, along with their dogs, cats, horses, birds, and the worlds fussiest goat. He starts narrating the story, but suddenly you realize you are reading young jacob while being at the circus. All of the important quotes from water for elephants listed here correspond, at least in some way, to the paper topics we created on water for elephants and by themselves can give you great ideas for an essay by offering quotes about other themes, symbols. Although it is only april, i predict that water for elephants by sara gruen will be one of the best books i read this year. The prologue features a younger version of jacob, who works at a circus and witnesses a murder.

Yet, in spite of the decades that separate younger and older jacob, we realize that jacob. Jacob decieving first his brother, then his father. In what ways is water for elephants a survival story. In water for elephants, sara gruen has knit together a warm readercoverlet to overspread both ego and id. What are the roles and importance of faithfulness and loyalty in water for elephants. Jacob buys in to the circus concept of illusion wholeheartedly here, and it seems to work on al for a time. Overall, water for elephants was a book that grabbed me from the beginning. Sara gruen has said that the backbone of her novel parallels. Magness speculated that the greek ruler could be alexander the great and the elderly man the jewish high priest, but said much more research needs to be conducted.

In this captivating depressionera melodrama, impetuous veterinary student jacob jankowski joins a celebrated circus as an animal caretaker but faces a. Book club discussion on water for elephants sara gruen. Some books have within them the ability to satisfy readers deeply on both emotional and intellectual planes. Jacob and rosie share an affinity for one another, the huge creature at times almost human. Then gruen shifts readers attention away from the eerie circus to introduce the ninety or ninetythree year old protagonist, jacob jankowski. Sara gruen mines fertile territory in water for elephants. It is revealed that jacob and marlena married and had five children, spending the first seven years at ringling before jacob got a job as a vet for. Water for elephants water for elephants audiobook, by sara gruen. Love is a driving force in water for elephants, and its not limited to the love one human feels for another. In one plot, jacob is a young guy just starting out in the world. In the book water for elephants by sara gruen, there are some slight biblical themes if you look closely. 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. Water for elephants is the first adult novel ive read and it certainly didnt disappoint. Jacob jankowski from water for elephants charactour.

Water for elephants parallels to the biblical story of. How do the elderly jacobs memories of marlena and their life together confirm or alter those expectations. The only place the movie veers from the original is in its details of the older, current jacob. So much more than a tale about a circus, water for elephants is a compelling journey not only under the big top, but into the protagonists heart. Water for elephants by sara gruen wordy evidence of the fact. Books that perform well based on their reader engagement are published by inkitt in different formats and channels. Young jacob is able to do whatever his heart desires including, jumping on. Gruens jacob, who leaves the circus with an elephant, a dog, a. In water for elephants, the story is told through jacob jankowski at two different parts in his life. Water for elephants book club discussion questions and.

Sara gruen uses her talent as a writer to bring that world alive for the reader. The author, sara gruen allows readers to read the book from two perspectives, one from young jacob and the other from older presentday jacob. Water for elephants, an adaptation of the sara gruen bestseller about the benzini brothers circus in 1931, brings its big top to the big screen. Water for elephants by sara gruen examines the life of 93yearold jacob jankowski who worked for years in the circus as a veterinarian. Anyhow, i finished water for elephants last night to considerable internal grumbling. But like you, martha, id appreciate other opinions. How is the book water for elephants related to the story. Water for elephants a depressionera circus provides the backdrop for sara gruens latest novel, water for elephants. Its uniquely told from the perspective of one character at two different stages of his life. Another article in our series highlighting water for elephants. From my understanding of both works, the only clear connection is the theme of deception. People also love animals, and animals love them back. How do the chapters about the older jacob enrich the story about jacobs adventure with the circus.

Water for elephants by sara gruen book club discussion. So, i read the story of jacob, son of isaac who was the son of abraham, who almost sacrificed isaac. He is particularly angry with one old man who says he once got the water for elephants in the circus. To what extent do the chapters concerning the elderly jacob enhance the.

Water for elephants, an adaptation of the sara gruen bestseller about the. Although i wanted more emotion between marlena and jacob, its a romantic story, full of action, love for animals and a magnificent circus. Publisher, algonquin books of chapel hill, a division of workman publishing. The characters, jacob and marlena love each other bravely, despite knowing the consequences for their actions. The movie water for elephants stays close to sara gruens beloved book particularly with the 1930s circus memories section. He thinks if he pretends hard enough, hell seem invincible and fool everyone, even uncle al. Jacob is the only person in the book who has a handle on a moral compass and as his reward. This bravery can be shown towards anything and anyone, including humans and animals. This bestseller has been ubiquitous among book groups and casual.

Water for elephants is a treat for the reader, a chronicle of an adventure that permanently alters the life of one twentyoneyearold veterinary school dropout. Starring reese witherspoon as marlena, robert pattinson as jacob, and. Its hard to tell if jacob got sick of his kids, if they got sick of him, or if it was mutual. In the book, we see jacob as an old man in the nursing home throughout. Beautifully written, water for elephants is illuminated by a wonderful sense of time and place. Find books like water for elephants from the worlds largest community of readers. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Jacob gets through this situation on chutzpah alone, pretending everythings fine and that hes not secretly in love with marlena. Water for elephants is the story of jacobs life with this circus. The story starts off with ninetythree year old jacob jankowski recounting his life as a young man training at cornell to be a veterinarian. In water for elephants, deception runs quite rampant, especially from uncle al, who would constantly swindle his own crew and performers. Have you ever wondered if the story your reading have any hidden meaning to it. Water for elephants parallels to the biblical story of jacob showing.

Water for elephants transported me to another time and quickly became one of those books i never wanted to end. It tells a story of a love between two people that overcomes incredible odds in a world in which even love is a luxury that few can afford. Goodreads members who liked water for elephants also liked. Please recommend a classic that would be good for a book club. Im not sure if jacob jankowski is a parallel to jacob, son of isaac. Water for elephants has two plots going on, both starring the same main character, jacob. I can sort of see a parallel to the stealing the birthright part. In what ways do the chapters about the young jacob contribute to a deeper understanding of the elderly jacobs life. In the bible, jacob takes care of rachels fathers animals, and ends up leaving and going back home with quite a few animals like gruens jacob, who leaves the circus with an elephant, a dog, a. Water for elephants was adapted into a major motion picture starring reese witherspoon, rob pattinson, and christoph waltz in 2011. He is portrayed as a bit of a rebel, arguing with other residents, complaining about the food. A novel by gruen, sara published by algonquin books 2007.

The article says that elephants are not mentioned in the bible. In sara gruens water for elephants, courage is a key aspect for characters that portray their love for other individuals and the animals. Even when living in the nursing home, jacob demonstrates that his violent tendencies remain when. We relive jacobs experiences with him as he recalls his past.