Water For Elephants Book Review and Movie Review

Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen

Published by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill 2006

Paperback 331 Pages

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.

Recommended To: Anyone who is interested in how circuses were back in the 1930's, this book is no encyclopedia but for a fiction story really painted an amazing picture in my head of what circuses were like. If you are looking for a story with a really great plot line with some twists along the way then this is your book!

Content One Should Know: I thought to include this because this is an adult book and therefore adult themes. The first thing I will say is that this book is a darker book, not super dark and depressing but it does have its' moments. The second thing is, like I said, adult book equals adult themes. (More details towards the end of the review)

What can I possibly say about Water For Elephants? I mean there seemed to be a little bit of a Water For Elephants craze once the movie trailer came out, now I am not talking about a craze like the Twilight books but still, a lot of people wanted to see the movie, the bookstores started to "showcase" the books, and a movie-tie-in version of the book came out. I am proud to say that I had the opportunity to get that version but passed and am very happy with my choice. So as I was saying, the craze. It was not as huge as I thought it might be, at least not by me, but I knew that I still had to go and read the book before I saw the movie. So I will start from the beginning, I had actually heard from National Novel Writing Month, or Nanowrimo as many call it. Link here - http://www.nanowrimo.org/. So Ms. Gruen wrote this book for one of her nanowrimo seasons and the first year I tried it out I heard about the book. At the time I had only just begun to know the world of YA, I did not even know that YA existed at that point. So at that point I was not exactly looking for an adult novel to read. So over the years this book kept popping up in places, woman who I babysat for, the bookstore (duh), an older teacher at my school, she is the sweetest lady I have ever met, but anyway I never took the hint to actually pick it up and read it. Finally the I found out the movie was coming out, insert big craze, or lack there of, here, and I wanted to see the movie so I knew at some point I would have to pick up the book. As it turns out I made a few plans to see the movie with my friends, a few times, but it never worked out. So finally I was at the bookstore getting a book for my little sisters birthday and, while I never really got the hint from the aligning stars to just pick up the dang thing, I picked it up.

This book is honestly one of the best books I have read this year! (Although I have only read about 8 so you can interpret what that means to you) Anyway I really enjoyed this book! I loved the whole setting of the circus, and honestly I think that's what really made the book for me, but more on that later. The setting was perfect and Gruen really took me into that time with this book, I was just pulled in and it all felt so real to me. I felt like I had an insiders look in the circus, one with glamour, scandals, and dark secrets. I can easily tell you that this is not anything like to the circuses I have been to. I was so drawn in by the circus aspect, but that is not enough for a book to be written on, and I got so much more. The characters blew my mind. They were so glamorous and rugged but at the same time they all had their secrets and deceptiveness. The antagonists were really my guilty pleasure, I love a good antagonists and these characters were downright evil and cruel, yet at the same time they could be charming and collected. They were really awesome bad guys that had motive, not like some characters that just seem to do things for the heck of it. They were genuinely bad guys with motives and were very entertaining to read about, as were all the characters but damn, can Gruen write a bad guy.

On to some other parts of the book, before you all think I am crazy for loving the bad guys. I really liked Jacob and Marlena as well, I feel that even though Jacob is a guy, he was still easy to relate to. I did not like him as much when I was reading those chapters with him in the nursing home. He was crabby all the time, but I guess in his situation I would feel the same. Marlena, she was a glamour girl that's for sure, but with a good heart and while she was not always the most bright person I really liked her. The only thing I did not like about Jacob and Marlena's relationship was when Jacob first said he loved her, I stopped reading for a bit to think about this. Yes he has said that he likes her, they have talked and had some good conversations, he thinks she's beautiful. Yes all that is true, but I am not seeing anything that does not point to just friendship. I mean, do all those things equal love? I do not think so and, therefore, was really surprised when he said that, there just needed to be something a little more, for me, to feel the love. Overall the circus really was amazing and definitely made up for these small flaws in the books. I loved how Guren described all the acts and animals and how the reader can actually experience the acts, and experience more than one. However, this book is dark so not for anyone who wants a light read. There is also a lot of sexual references and content. The book goes just as close as you can to having an....ahm....scene without doing just that. So not for the faint hearted in that area either. It was something I was not expecting at all but I lived to tell you all about it! And I was actually fine with it. It was not a huge deal to me but I know for some people it might be so I thought I would give a fair warning. But none of this should lead you not to read this book. I loved picking up this book and reading it and will definitely re-read it again many times!



Now a quick movie review!

So if you spent a good amount of time reading my review you will know that I love this book! I have to say that I am glad that something made my plans with friends to see the movie not work out so I had to read the book. So before you see the movie READ THE BOOK! I cannot stress this enough. The movie was great but there were some differences that I did not like as much. The movie is great though and I would definitely recommend going to see it. The acting was amazing! I loved Reese Witherspoon and Christopher Waltz, who played Marlena and August did an AMAZING JOB! Seriously amazing! Reese did such an amazing job bringing Marlena to life and she even was so amazing as to bring even more to Marlena than in the book! Her emotions and acting were so sincere and diverse, and I thought she was fabulous. As for Mr. Waltz, it was probably a hard part to play but he was also amazing. He was the perfect antagonist portraying August perfectly! They both did such a great job and I already love Reese and now I will be looking for more from Christopher Waltz. As amazing as they were I wish I could say the same for Rob Pattinson, and I have nothing against him so don't hate me, but it seemed like he had two expressions/ sides to him. There was the serious side and then the smiling/laughing/giggling side. And really, those were the only two sides of his character I really saw. It wasn't terrible but I remember saying to my friend "So are we only going to see Rob giggling like a young preteen guy or as serious as a rock?". I wanted a little more variety from him. I wanted more Jacob. Like I said, Rob was not terrible or even bad, just limited.

So now I need to say what I did not like as much. The first thing was there are two antagonists right, one being the owner of the circus, Uncle Al, and the other being the animal director, August. Well in the movie there is no Uncle Al and I did not like it. They were decisions and things that Uncle Al did that added to the story and August's character. Things that brought August and Jacob together that lead to things that were in the book. That was confusing, basically I wish that they would have had someone as Uncle Al, he's not even in the book that much but an important part. So August was left to be the bad guy alone and it did not feel as authentic to me. And lastly, as we all know when books are made into movies, all the scenes in the book cannot be in the movie. They actually did a very good job with that but they didn't have the scenes in a consecutive order. Now you have to understand that I literally just finished the book the day before I saw the movie so it was all fresh in my mind and maybe that is why I'm being a little picky but I just did not like the scenes being out of order. It did bother me a bit. But anyway the movie was still amazing! But READ THE BOOK FIRST!!! You will appreciate it so much more and I promise the movie will still be really good! (Okay so not so quick)

Saving Juliet by Suzanne Selfors

Saving Juliet

by Suzanne Selfors

Published by: Walker and Company

Published: 2008

Pages: Paperback 242

Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Romance, and YA

Reviewed by Kate

Mimi Wallingford, of the famous Wallingford actors, wishes to be anywhere but onstage for the final performance of Romeo and Juliet. Acting isn't for her, even if her family's future relies on it. Being transported to Shakespeare's Verona wasn't what she had in mind either, but when the magical ashes clear, she's suddenly not in Manhattan anymore---her heartthrob coaster, Troy Summer, is along for the ride.

After Mimi befriends the real Juliet Capulet, she just can't allow the play to reach the tragic end that she and Troy have acted out countless times before. But if saving Juliet means changing the greatest love story of all time, will Mimi and Troy ever make it back to Broadway?

Well first off, and very quickly, I'm back! Sorry for being gone so long, unfortunately everything got a little overwhelming, as being a junior in high school does for everyone, I'm sure, and blogging had to take a back seat to everything else. But I'm finally back and ready to review with lots of books ready to go! And finally the review:

This book is a retelling of Romeo in Juliet in a very unique way. I love retelling so this was right up my alley. I had read Romeo and Juliet freshman year and was ready to compare the two. Both are great and this was just as good as the play but even more entertaining and hilarious with a whole new twist on the tale. Mimi and Troy travel to Verona and start their adventure with the Juliet and Romeo beings. The real twist on this story is the characters in Verona. They are all very different from the play but not in way. They all have some qualities from the original play with some of those qualities enhanced to create a hilarious time for the characters and readers. I think most people find the plays characters a little dramatic, well if you thought those characters were dramatic wait until you read about these characters! I loved the characters in the book, they make this book so entertaining and funny! If you need a good laugh you should pick up this book. It's entertaining and super cute, overall a good light read. I really can't think of anything that I didn't like about this book. Except the plot, it was a little predictable in the long run but their were parts all throughout the book that I certainly wasn't expecting, and that comes from the new unique characters. As I said before the characters really make this book and are certain to make you laugh. A great retelling telling or Romeo and Juliet for 2008!

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand and Happy New Year!

So First off Happy New Years Eve and New Years!






From all the ladies here at For the Love of Reading happy New Years! So while we're all waiting for 12:00Am and that big ball to drop in New York I have a review on an amazing book! But first a little new years talk. I don't know about you but I am so excited for all the books that are coming out this 2011. I already have over 200 on my to read pile, and I'm sure there are tons more I'll be adding throughout the year! I have so many that I'm so excited for that I can hardly wait, which brings me to Unearthly by Cynthia Hand! Now really quick one of my new years resolutions, yes a have more than one, is to talk less and get to the point. I am an avid talker I can talk on and on, and some of you have probably noticed this in my reviews. So I'm trying to make them shorter, but bear with me it's going to be a tough habit to break. (See how it took me a while to explain all that) So without further adieu the review you all are really here for!

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
Published By Harper Teen 2011
Pages 448
Genres: Adventure, Angels, Romance, YA
Reviewed by Kate

When Clara Gardner learns she's part angel, her entire life changes. She understands now why she's smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but she also has a purpose, a specific task she was put on this earth to accomplish-one that reveals itself in pieces and involves a mysterious boy, a deadly fire, and a crushing grief. Confused by her impending future, Clara tries to find her way in a world filled with unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make.

First I want to say thank you so much to Cynthia Hand and Melissa Bruno for sending me a copy to review! Thank you both so much!

I loved this book! Everyone mark your calendars for this up-coming January 4th! I mean seriously run to the bookstore, drop everything work, school, heck, get to the bookstore before it opens and start reading this book during work school or whatever else occupies your days. This was such an amazing book it will have you reading into the night way past your bedtime, as well as way past what you thought you were sitting down for. Okay so you probably want to know why this book was so awesome, we I'll tell you!

The first thing I thought about this book was it was so fresh, I still can't put my finger on why, since it was just the beginning but it felt different from all the other books I've read lately. Maybe it's the new scenery, Wyoming, who would have thought right? I love books that don't take place in the big states, or even cities for that matter. Not that I wouldn't love to visit California or New York but I've read so many books that take place in the big cities there. I think it's nice to have a completely new state and city to learn about. Wyoming didn't disappoint. In fact, our family is taking a vacation to who knows where yet, this summer, and I know where I want to go. Just give me Tucker and I'm set to go!

Hand wrote amazing characters! They were finally high school characters in high school! Lately it seems like there are so many characters in high school going on to their 50th anniversary with their love. Okay so I'm pretty sure that's a little exaggerated. But I think we need more characters that are "high schoolers in high school" and Hand did it! She also made the characters so relate able, I really felt like I was in the story at points with these characters, I felt their emotions and related to them easily. I love stories that pull me in like that, another point for Hand! Clara, the main character, reminded me of my best friend. She's so easy to like and even though she's supposed to be pretty much perfect, from her angel side, Hand gave her some flaws that made her human and likable. And she wasn't trying to be perfect! Clara dealt with so many things that normal teens do, pleasing your parents, relationships, both boyfriend girlfriend and friendships, along with heartbreak and just trying to do your best. I immediately connected with Clara and she will stay with my forever, as will many of the other characters. So I could talk on and on about the boys, friends, and family, and boys again, so I'll try to make it short. The characters were phenomenal! From Clara's brother Jeffery to Tucker the hot hunk of a cowboy, swoon. I'm in love. They were all so well written in their parts that I felt apart of their lives.

Of course an amazing story cannot come without some action and adventure, and I always like a little love on the side. The plot was so good keeping me turning the pages well into the night, I actually stopped myself a few times so I could draw out the story longer. The whole book felt so fresh and real to me, it completely had me drawn in, and I loved it! It's not new news that I love angels and this was an amazing new world of angels. I love all that's involved but still have so many questions and can't wait to continue the series and figure it all out. I also am in love with all the different sports and activities mentioned! Usually in books you have the cheerleader and football guys, or the bad boys who have other bad boy hobbies with the plain girl not having much interest in anything. Skiing, fly fishing, hiking, rafting, and swinging off trees into super fast rivers, oh my gosh I almost forgot horseback riding, my personal favorite, are just some of the things Clara experiences, and hopefully I will too with Tucker as my guide for everything! It was so great to read about all these activities and it makes me want to get out there and try them all! I actually really just want to live in this book and have it as my life! It was the perfect read there are no complaints from me. I knew it would be good but this book passed my expectations a hundred times over. I'm predicting this is going to be one of the best books in 2011! I know it's one of my all-time-favorite books ever!

Ok so not so short but I'll probably edit it tomorrow. Happy 2011 everyone!

Definitly five Kisses!

Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes Review

Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Publisher- Egmont 2010
Pages- 418 pages
Genres- Young Adult, Werewolves, Coming of age, Action, and Romance
Reviewed by Kate

Bryn's family was attacked by a rouge werewolf when she was only 4 years old. She is found and taken in by Callum, the alpha of his pack. Bryn's now 15 and has been raised by werewolves and mostly listening to the packs rules, ... mostly. When Bryn goes exploring she finds the newly turned werewolf Chase. Bryn feels a connection to Chase and begins to wonder about their connection and what really happened the night her family was taken from her. Bryn soon realizes that pack may be keeping a secret or two and she, along with Chase and some other friends, go against the pack to find out what they've been keeping, whatever the consequences may be.

What can't I say about this book. It was amazing! I've been waiting to read a werewolf book, and only werewolf book for a while now. There is not one mention of the word vampire, witch, or any other paranormal being. This book is solely about werewolves. As I said before this book was awesome. I loved almost everything about it. I fell in love with the characters. My favorites were Bryn, Callum, Ali, and Lake. This is another really good book for coming of age. Bryn makes a complete change. By the end of the book she was almost a new person, with her old sassy perks of course. Lake is the perfect best friend, Ali was a great mom and person who supported Bryn the whole time. She was probably the only one that was on Team Bryn throughout the whole story, even when she was really angry at her. And then there's Callum, what do I say about him. I really loved him then hated them then loved and hated him at the same time. Even though he wasn't supposed to be a love interest in this story, he was mine! The only character that bothered me a little bit was Chase, for me he just didn't do it. I'm not sure if it was because he wasn't really explored in the book too much, it was more of his and Bryn's connection and some other stuff than them really falling for each other. He fell a little flat for me sometimes, not often but sometimes. So as sad as I am to say, Chase wouldn't have been my love interest in the story. Honestly it would probably be Callum or another guy in the story. But the characters were great!

This was an awesome book that I could never really figure out what was going to happen. A lot of books you can see where they're going and what's going to happen. With this book I could predict the basic stuff that was obvious but I could never really figure out...a bunch of stuff actually until the very end. Another thing was that this book was totally different from what I expected. The first half wasn't what I was expecting but I really liked it. Then at a certain changing point it went somewhere where I could never have imagined it going. It was surprising and different from what I thought but I still loved it. The only thing I can complain about is the end. It was bittersweet. More bitter than sweet, for me anyway. Without saying too much about the end it wasn't the way I wanted it to go. But, there is going to be a sequel so hopefully I'll get the ending I want eventually. Other than that it was a great surprising read!

I would give this book 5 kisses but because of the ending and the Chase thing put together this book is getting 4.5 Kisses.




Quotes:

"Bronwyn Alessia St. Vincent Clare!"
Four names, five words, one pissed-off werewolf. The math in this particular equation never came out in my favor."

"Callum's basement had always been off-limits to me, and I wasn't dumb enough to believe the restriction was in place because that was where he hid my Christmas presents."

"What exactly did you and Lake do yesterday?" she asked, like we might have held up a gas station and gone on a crime spree across the country, all in the span of a just a few hours.
"We went to Mexico, had some tequila, eloped with a pair of drug smugglers, and took part-time jobs as exotic dancers. You know, same old, same old."
Ali snorted.
"I'm torn on stripper names. It's either going to be Lady Love or Wolfsbane Lane. Thoughts?"
Ali through a onesie at me. "Brat."

Lake breathed out a happy sigh as she approached the row filled with guns. "Matilda was my first, but, ladies, you know how to make a girl want to stray," she said.
"Lake, could you please stop sweet-talking the weapons? It's kind of freaking me out."

Shadow of Colossus by T.L. Higley Review

Shadow of Colossus By T.L. Higley
Publisher- B&H Books 2008
Pages- 390 pages
Genres- Young adult, Action, Romance, Politics, Ancient times
Reviewed by Kate

In 227 B.C. in the ancient Greek islands of Rhodes Tessa of Delos has been in bondage, a courtesan or female companion, to a wealthy politician. Over her years in slavery she has become as hard as a stone and given up what she desires most, love and freedom. But when her patron is accidentally killed, Tessa sees her chance at freedom but she needs to hide the truth and keep up a masquerade until she can escape. Now she will fight for everything she believes and desires.

All I can really say about this book is wow! I thought I'd like it but I never expected it to be one of my new favorite books, in fact I kept telling myself that it was a good book but it wasn't going to end up on the shelf with all my favorite books, but I was completely wrong. It kept me reading through the night and into the morning more than once. It was amazing.

Now for the actual review. The first thing and the main reason I wanted this book was because the setting was ancient times and it wasn't just about history but an actual fiction and romance novel. I've been looking for an ancient times romance for, well, forever. I don't think I've ever read a ancient times romance. So that was the main reason that I got this book besides the intriguing summery. So I started the book, like I said before, thinking that it be good but only good. The book started up almost immediately. The whole book is full of action. It's a great story and was written beautifully.

I fell in love with the characters not immediately but very quickly after learning more about them and how they got to where they are. I really loved how the characters, mainly Tessa, grow and change throughout the book. She was so well written. I could feel all her emotions and could relate with her in some ways. She was such a strong and beautiful character. I loved her. I also loved the other characters so much! Nikos was just a sweetheart and a great guy. He's a dream to a lot of women and he grew on me very much over the story. One thing that really bothers me about some books is the unrealistic growth and change in characters. This book was not like that at all. Tessa, who has the most growth and change, moved a great a realistic pace with the help and guidance she got, even with only 7 or 8 days of the story.

Okay now for all the other stuff. This book does have to do with a lot of politics, which can get boring for some people. Usually I get really bored with politics but it kept my interest and kept me reading, those weren't my favorite parts though. The other thing that may bother some people a little is that there is some talk of God and Christianity. It doesn't really get into it that much but redemption is mentioned a lot at the end. And this book definitely supports God and Christianity. But I don't think those are really big deals, while it may bother some people, neither bothered me at all.

Overall this book was so good. I was so pleasantly surprised. If anyone is looking for a ancient times romance novel pick this book up. This is also a series called The Seven Wonders series. They each are about one of The Seven Wonders, the first one being the statue of Colossus. I'm not sure what all of the wonders are off of the top of my head but you can find them at T.L. Higley's website. Oh and the characters and settings are not related at all. This is the first book followed by The City of the Dead which takes place in Egypt and has to do with The Great Pyramid of Giza followed by the third instalment Guardian of the Flame whose wonder is The Lighthouse of Alexandria. They all sound really good and I can not wait to get my hands on the next two, unfortunately there's going to be a bit of a wait for the next book in the series but T.L. Higley has another series coming out about ancient lost cities and you can look for her newest book Petra: City in Stone is coming out soon! So all I can say to finish this review up is read this book!

Five Kisses!








Quotes
"The death of her body was long overdue. Her soul had died ten years ago."

"The wealthy island of Rhodes,
Desired by the Ptolemies of Egypt.
Coveted by the Seleucids of Syria,
Admired by the Romans, now birthing an empire,

Rhodes, last stronghold of democracy,
Patron of arts, center of learning, pride of Hellenism,
An island of people awaiting their destiny,
Shifting even now beneath their feet."

"It does not work, this trying to become stone. You are left refusing the joys of life in order to refuse the pain. Yet the pain remains even when joy has been denied. You have rejected the best of life to avoid the worst, and still you are unhappy."
She closed her eyes. Do not make me feel. Please, stop.
"You are not a marble Athena, thinly veiled in flesh, Tessa. In truth you are the opposite-a passionate, spirited woman trying to encase yourself in stone." He squeezed her hand. "You will never be made of stone. And death is the coward's way out. You must live. And to live, you must risk. You must trust."


"Your skin is so much warmer than marble."
Tessa drank in his smile, his eyes, his warmth, and responded with only a whisper, spoken from a place of such fear it was barley audible. "I think somehow, Nikos, the marble dissolves under your touch."