martinzoo

Ok, the proud mommy in me has to show you what Aquagirl has been up to in college this year. As many of you know, she is in her Junior year at JMU. She is majoring in English, with a minor in Education, and another minor in Creative Writing, and another minor in Anthropology. She’s a busy little thing, isn’t she?

This is a book review that she wrote for one of her classes, and sent to me for my opinion.

Water for Elephants a novel by Sara Gruen.

Published in Chapel Hill, NC by Alogonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2006.

 

 Water for Elephants is a captivating historical fiction novel set within the whirlwind atmosphere of an early 1930’s traveling circus. Jacob Jankowski’s life forever changes when his parents are suddenly killed and in act of desperation, he abandons college and jumps a passing train only to find himself aboard the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Within this wacky world of circus freaks and eccentric performing animals, Jacob experiences the painful realities of America’s Great Depression, but not without falling in love with the beautiful horse trainer and circus performer, Marlena, along the way. A factually accurate depiction of the early, wild and whimsical American circus, Jacob describes his adventure in a completely original voice. The witty and strikingly bold tone of the narration makes the forbidden romance enchanting and the dark undertones of deceit, insanity, and murder especially chilling. Gruen cleverly pulls the reader from the 1930’s to the new millennium from chapter to chapter, offering unique insights from young Jacob’s escapades in the circus to his current older self fondly reminiscing, sarcastically musing, and gradually losing his senses in his retirement home. These shifts back and forth in time add considerable depth to the emotional layers of this intricately woven story about unexpected friendships, survival, and at the very heart, love. 

 

A suspenseful page-turner, Water for Elephants remains as electrically charged with anticipation and surprise from the first to the last pages. This is a gripping book not to be missed by readers eager for an original story about a fascinating time in America’s history.

Wow! Is she on the right path for her life, or what?! I’m no real critic, but I do read an awful lot of reviews, and tons of books. So I told her that I thought it sounded very professional. And maybe she has other avenues of career paths open to her besides teaching.

I know she wants to write. She loves, loves, loves to write. If you want to read a sample of her fiction, that she has posted online, you can find it in my sidebar. Right over there ——>>>>>>

Her favorite television series was ‘Pretender’ and this is a story using the characters from that series. It’s called a fanfic. I used to watch the show, too. In fact, we all enjoyed sitting down together and watching it. So for me, reading her story is like having the show back on. It’s really good. I’m not being a prejudiced mom. Really

If you do read her story, she loves to get reviews. And there is a little box at the bottom of the page to submit a review. I suppose she’s a very typical writer in that respect.

So yeah, I’m proud. She’s wonderful. And I helped in some small way with that person. Isn’t it great?