And the next book we have chosen to read is:

Water for Elephants
by Sara Gruen

About the book:
Though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski's ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell.

Jacob was there because his luck had run out -- orphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on this locomotive "ship of fools." It was the early part of the Great Depression, and everyone in this third-rate circus was lucky to have any job at all. Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, was there because she fell in love with the wrong man, a handsome circus boss with a wide mean streak. And Rosie the elephant was there because she was the great gray hope, the new act that was going to be the salvation of the circus; the only problem was, Rosie didn't have an act -- in fact, she couldn't even follow instructions. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.

Surprisingly poignant, and funny, Water for Elephants is that rare novel with a story so engrossing, one is reluctant to put it down; with characters so engaging, they continue to live long after the last page has been turned; with a world built of wonder, a world so real, one starts to breathe its air.

courtesy of www.readinggroupguides.com

I started this book today and I'm loving it already. It was hard to put down when Jack woke up! I love the writer's style.

Oh yeah, I am half way through and loving it! It is so good! It reminds me a little of "The Notebook" with the flashbacks from a nursing home.

I'm picking my copy up from barnes and noble at lunchtime today - I can't wait to start reading it!

moozle, you are going to love it!
Have I mentioned that I can't put it down? I've been going to bed too late each night because I just don't want to stop reading.

For anyone who wants to join in but does NOT have this book yet, my DH just called me from the Tuscaloosa Library book sale (it goes on every day I think - in a little building next to the library).

Anyway, he said they have the hard copy of this book for $1. Of course I just bought mine at BN, so I told him to put it back.

So, great deal if anyone needs to pick it up.

Well, I finished the book yesterday on the plane. And I loved reading the author interview at the end.
Can't wait to chat about it!

I finished the book yesterday on a plane too!

Ditto Kristi - LOVED it. And loved the author interview. That added a lot of insight.