47 pages 1 hour read

Sara Gruen

Water for Elephants

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2006

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Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen is celebrated for its vivid historical setting and well-researched depiction of Depression-era circus life. Readers appreciate the engrossing plot and the depth of its characters. Some critique the pacing and predictability of the story. Despite minor flaws, it's a compelling and emotionally resonant novel.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Water for Elephants?

A reader who would enjoy Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen is typically drawn to historical fiction with a strong emotional core. Fans of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern or The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, who appreciate richly detailed settings, complex characters, and gripping plots, will likely relish this novel.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years

Lexile Level

730L

Book Details

Genre
Historical Fiction
Romance
Modern Classic Fiction
Period
Great Depression
Themes
Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Emotions/Behavior: Love
Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Topics
Mental Illness
Trauma / Abuse / Violence
History: World