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Water for Elephants

mdelcott
mdelcott Posts: 529 Member
in Social Groups
I just finished this book last night. It was beautifully written and a wonderful story. If you have seen the movie then you will be impressed with how close the book/movie are, nothing that I can pin point that was different. This was an easy quick read because I didnt want to put it down, I dont often read books more then once, but this is a novel that deserves a second read. I loved it

Replies

  • 7201955
    7201955 Posts: 27 Member
    This book, and movie, are really gems. The author stated that she based the book on the life of Biblical Jacob. I looked for that thread but didn't see it as clearly as I thought I would. The duel narrative between the young and old man added a lovely 3 dimensional view that enriched the story and turned it into something more than just a circus story.
  • GuineaMother
    GuineaMother Posts: 59 Member
    If you have seen the movie then you will be impressed with how close the book/movie are, nothing that I can pin point that was different.
    I loved this book too! One of my most favourites of last year.
    However, there is a massive difference between the two, in the film they merge Uncle Al's character into August's!
  • mdelcott
    mdelcott Posts: 529 Member
    If you have seen the movie then you will be impressed with how close the book/movie are, nothing that I can pin point that was different.
    I loved this book too! One of my most favourites of last year.
    However, there is a massive difference between the two, in the film they merge Uncle Al's character into August's!

    Ahh good call...I havent watched the movie since it first came out, maybe its time for a re-viewing LOL Either way great movie and book
  • 7201955
    7201955 Posts: 27 Member
    Both the movie and the book were excellent. I understand why they merged the characters in the movie. There just is not enough time for character development.
  • rhvandan
    rhvandan Posts: 185
    Loved the book, didn't care for the movie. Completely distracted by Ro-Pats terrible acting and Reese's lack of passion for this character. I thought there was a great deal to the book which was lost in the movie.. The old man's wit and charm, the real backbones of the circus and the other characters.. it was all minimized to focus on the lovebirds, who had no on-screen charisma together. Oh well. Can't win em all!
  • mizzie1980
    mizzie1980 Posts: 379 Member
    I LOVED this book! It's one of my very favorites and a definite re-read. Trust me, you pick up on so much you didn't the first time around. But then, I'm an avid re-reader. I loved the way it was written, I'd completely lose myself in the circus part of the story, only to get ripped back into the present. Really made me feel I was in Jacob's head. I also loved the grittiness of the circus story, the "realness" of it. To me, the love story is really secondary to the larger scope of what is happening.

    I agree with rhvandan though, I really didn't like the movie. It completely failed to capture the feel of the book for me and the characters where just... off. But then, I had read the book probably about 8 times (not an exaggeration either, I read this every couple of months) before seeing the movie, so I had very firm feelings about who the characters were and how they would, and would not, act.

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