Book Review - Water for Elephants

 I wrote this review for JDL home page in 2007.  With the movie coming out in April.   I thought it might be a good idea to publish here.
Inside Jacob Jankowski’s ninety-something-year-old mind dwell memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate into 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… Marlena,…was there because she fell in love with the wrong man….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. …”(from the book jacket)

This book takes the reader inside the life of the “Circus.” (How realistic it is, I can’t really say, having never lived in a circus.) It’s language and terminology: “a first or May,” “A Monday Man” “Rubes”, “Redlighting.” It made me think of the TV show I watched as kid, Circus Boy, (only because it was set in a Circus) actually it was much more like the movie the Greatest Show on Earth.

It carries the reader through a whole range of emotions:

• Frustration of the frail old Jacob in the nursing home, not being able to remember how old he is (is it 90 or 93?), unable to remember the nurses name, impatience the other patients imperfections. The soft food he was forced to eat because some patients didn’t have teeth, even though he still had all his. Although this is a sad situation Gruen was able to write it in a way that made me smile (I thought of the Billy Crystal character). 
• Humor of an elephant that had no act and couldn’t follow directions but was able to sneak around the circus grounds un noticed to get the lemon-aid.
• Anger at the mistreatment of animals and people
• Passion and action -- walking on the tops of moving train cars, fist fights, etc.
• The beauty and excitement of animal acts and for me a surprise ending.

A good book- and because I was listening to it on CD was more than one time, I “had” to sit in my car after I got where I as going, in order to listen to the rest of a chapter.

My opinions of the movie that I have not seen and has not been released yet:
The movie stars Hal Holbrook as the old man.  I great choice.
                            Reese Witherspoon, she may be OK, I don't think that would have been my choice
                            Robert Pattinson (Twilight)  I an not sure about this at all.

My recommendation READ THE BOOK before you see the movie.  It was great.

Keep reading JB.

The Joys of Home Ownership.

Last week we have some frozen pipes that had to be replaced.   Yesterday Charlie posted on face book, about the day not starting well yesterday.  Like a lot of people in the Springport area, we lost power Saturday morning about 4:30, It came back on about 7:30, right after Charlie left for an all day state wide equestrian meeting.  Yeah power, water, heat.  Oops wait a minute the furnace didn't kick on.  Oh well, I was going to the District wrestling meet in Hudson to watch a young cousin, and the Springport team.  I left a message on Charlie's cell phone about the furnace. 

Even thought I am not a huge fan of wrestling,  I had a great time at the wrestling meet.  Seeing some old friends, and family members, that I don't get to see very often. Congratulations to Coty who took first place, and Springport's 6 wrestlers who will be going on to Reginals.  Also Congratulations to Jake who also took first place on Friday night at the Jr. High District meet.

I got home about 5:30, Charlie was home but had not checked is messages, and didn't notice it was cold inthe house.  It was 63 degrees, I think I have camped in cooler temps. 

The pilot light had gone out.  It would relight. after about an hour.  He called a friend who works in heating and cooling,  He brought a "thingy" and replaced the broken thingy.  Yeah heat.  !!!!

A few minutes later, we heard a strange kind of electrical pop we saw nothing amiss, no smoke so we went back to what we were doing.   A few minutes later, we realized the furnace was not kicking on  a GAin.
Charlie couldn't figure out what was wrong so we took one of our small space heaters in the bedroom, and decided to figure it out in the morning.

This morning found the problem,  thought he could fix it but found out it wasn't a simple wire replacement. The relay, was shot.   He is currently at the hardware store trying to buy a new one.  I am wearing my sweats and wrapped in a blanket trying to stay warm. 

At least it is not below zero like it was last week.  As my cousin says "just livin the dream"