Just got finished reading a very compelling, uplifting novel, “Water for Elephants.” This book is a page turner. It's a very quick read. The chapters aren't that long. The story is just that good. I probably zipped through it. the story weaves back and forth from the 1930s Depression era to the present day Jacob Jankowski, 93-years-old and living in a senior citizen community. His family? Yeah, they visit, but to him, it seems like a duty and not something they love to do. His son Simon actually forgot to spend time with at the circus, said he arranged other plans. What kind of bunk is that?! Jacob Jankowski is a living legend. The stuff dreams are made of. He sure is defiant as the nursing staff can attest to. He does have one ally, Mrs. Rosemary. She's very nice, stern, sassy and caring when dealing with his many outbursts. When the story weaves back to his past, I think it is the older Jacob who is talking in his sleep. I quite enjoy the history lesson because he gets to do things, have experiences (the wilder, the better), and meet some interesting, colorful, demented people like Blackie, head of security, who almost throws Jacob off the train if it weren't for an old man named Camel. Camel becomes an unlikely alliance and takes the young Jacob under his wing. To getting him a job with the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth and getting the know the hierarchy of circus life. Jacob is a First of May—a newbie. Then, there are the kinkers, but don't tell that to their face. Call them Performers. Jacob works in the baggage stock in the beginning. He meets Cecil, the sideshow talker, who gives Jacob the job of jostling the crowd to the entrance when given the signal. Camel shows Jacob the menagerie of animals under the big top. They had “lions, tigers, panthers, jaguars, bears, chimps, and spider monkeys—even an orangutan. Camels, llamas, zebras and horses.” Jacob was taking it all in when he notices a beautiful woman standing by the horses. She doesn't see him at first, but when she does, she can't take her eyes off him. It was like she knew him. She even stole one last glance at Jacob. “Water for Elephants” is about an elephant, Rosie, but she comes later. He meets Uncle Al, who wouldn't give him a job at first until the director of animals, August, heard that Jacob was a veterinarian...a college man from Cornell. So, they give Jacob a shot and put him in a car with one of the Performers, Kinko, later known as Walter. A dwarf of a man with a mean temper in the beginning, but he eventually warms to Jacob. So does his Jack Russell terrier, Queenie. And so begins the journey of caring for the menagerie. It's a hard, difficult life in a circus. Going from city to city. There's no money in it. Most of the workers don't get any pay. I won't give away too much. I'll leave you to discover the story for yourself. It's a wonderful book. I recommend anyone to read it. I also want to see the movie.