I didn’t have much interest in this book when I first heard about it, so I hadn’t planned on reading it. Then I kept hearing about it and it had really good reviews, so I figured I’d give it a try. It’s kind of hit or miss with me when I read a bestseller. Sometimes I see what all the fuss is about; sometimes the book doesn’t resonate with me. This one did the latter.
[I won't summarize the book since I don't think I'll be able to do it properly without spoiling some of the plot elements. Anyway, I'm sure the Amazon summary can give a better (albeit generic) overview.]
I knew this was going to be a good read when I teared up during the prologue. Yes, really–the prologue. It’s that well-written and engrossing from the start. It’s strange to be that affected so early in the novel, but the prose is beautifully constructed–the only other author I can think of whose prose affects me the same way is Anita Shreve. And since it was so early in the book, I didn’t have a chance to really connect with any of the characters yet, so the fact that it was that moving so soon was surprising, but really powerful at the same time.
As the story progressed, I definitely became emotionally invested in the characters (particularly the main character, Jacob). Beyond this, however, were elements of the plot itself that were unexpected. There were moments that seemed predictable at the beginning of the book. However, when they were fully revealed later on, they took me by surprise. That’s sort of rare, but when it’s beautifully executed, it’s quite a delight to experience as a reader. I felt like part of the conclusion was kind of rushed, but it didn’t bother me too much since both the characters and plot were fully developed. And I really, really liked the ending.
Footnote: Water for Elephants is being made into a movie (and being filmed right now, actually). I’m not sure if I like the idea of Reese Witherspoon as Marlena, but I do like her in pretty much every other movie I’ve seen her in. Jacob is being played by Robert Pattinson (yes, really) and I have hopes that he’ll do well in the role. I’ve seen him in non-Twilight movies and really liked him–his performance in Remember Me was largely overlooked, sadly. So, I’m looking forward to seeing if the movie will capture the same emotions conveyed in the book.
I’m glad you enjoyed it. This is one of my favorite books of the last few years. I’m holding my opinion about Pattinson until I actually see it, but I’m a little worried… I did see a picture of him in costume, and he looked more like the character than Edward. No ruffled hair.