I finished up with
Water for Elephants - it's a touching tale told in two versions of the
same voice: Jacob Jankowski at 90 (or 93) and at 23. Young Jacob is weathering the Great Depression
in vet school when we meet him, but a family tragedy spells the end of his formal education.
With nothing else to do, he signs on with a traveling circus. He meets
the cast of characters - some of them like him, some of them don't care
for him a bit.
Young Jacob has a few run-ins with the unpredictable
animal trainer August, with who he already has a complicated
relationship by virtue of the fact that Jacob finds himself in love with
August's wife Marlena. August also happens to be his boss. It's a complicated relationship.
Old Jacob tells the story of his
younger self, and interlaces his tale with vignettes illustrating the
sorrow of aging. He doesn't always recognize his family members when
they visit him, and sometimes they don't come when they should. It's
heartbreakingly sad. The bright spots are his moments of excitement - the circus comes to town and he's going to get to go! Even simple things like the days when he can remember his nurse's name. He's a feisty fellow, and entertaining and observant even when things aren't going his way.
On the whole, touching and lovely, covering everything from loyalty to friends (people and animals) to the power of memory to corruption.
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