Water for Elephants By Sara Gruen                                                         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

We follow Jacob a now elderly man reflecting on his younger years where he was a Vet in training his last days in college and is given some terrible news. News which spirals into a frenzy of other unfortunate circumstances.
Jacob is now derailed from his future life plans and finds himself hitching a ride on a train.
this is where the adventure in his life begins. He joins the circus of the Benzini Brothers where he learns the meaning of true friendships and love. He gains the respect from the low workmen to the higher performers, he especially develops a significant relationship with August and his wife Marlene.
He adores all the animals in his care as they equally cherish him as well, but non as much as the Bull. He grows a significant bond with her, which to this day defines the lines of his destiny. I have a new found respect for all Circus workers as well as the animals.
Water for Elephants had me captivated. Was in fact The Greatest Show On Earth. I could not stop reading until I was finished.