Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen

I'm a sucker for cotton candy. Although fully aware that it's simply spun sugar in pretty colors...there's something about dissolving that sweet, cloud-like mass atop a stick that warms my little heart. What's more synonymous with cotton candy then the circus? (Irony: I'm currently watching Daria, and a quip was just made regarding Mr. Football Player Kevin running off to join the circus. The universe works in mysterious ways.) Attending the circus as a kid seems to be one of those universal childhood experiences. Sitting under the big top, watching the animals, clowns, and daring young men on the flying trapeze is magical and awe-inspiring. For the majority of us our circus experience begins and ends under that big top. This book brings the, well, casual circus goer into the world beyond the cotton candy. 
I do have to say this book was a bit off the beat and path of my usual selections. Although my history as a competitive gymnast and part-time antigravity yoga enthusiast qualifies me (in my own mind) as an honorary carney, I'm usually not one for time-period reads. This books setting? Great depression. I'm also not big on books with a more serious tone, and this certainly wasn't billed as a comedy. Well - consider my tune changed. To reiterate the adjectives blazoned across the back: compelling, vivid, engrossing, rich, and emotional...each and every one of these describes the experience I had while devouring this in 48 hours. 
And now, my top 3 highlights (I tried to come up with a 3-ring circus pun...and got nothing.):

• Holy research Batman! Ms. Gruen really delved deep to ensure accuracy in both her description of circus life, as well as depression-era America. According to the author interview at the back of the book (Nice surprise! Almost like a great behind-the-scenes feature on a DVD), many of the anecdotes within the story are drawn from real life experiences written in diaries and learned through first-hand accounts of performers from the era. I found all the factoids legitimately intriguing and educational, but woven through the narrative in such a way that it moved the story along - rather then sticking out as *FUN FACTS*
• The story moves seamlessly between present day Jacob Jankowski - 90 year old (or 93, he can't remember) nursing home resident, and 23 year old Jacob - coming into his own as an adult during the 1930's. Time-shifting can be a tricky business, but Ms. Gruen balances the two skillfully, making it clear which Jacob is currently narrating. On the topic of narrators, I found myself checking the author's name about 1/4 of the way through, and being pleasantly surprised when the name was female. Seeing as that my male-brain mind reading skills have been on the fritz, I can't guarantee accuracy, but it did seem that Ms. Gruen captured the voice of a man in both youth and old-age. 
• There's certainly something for everyone here: love story, coming-of-age tale, and a murder mystery are all part of this engrossing read. This isn't an easy book to predict. I'm aware that what I'm about to reveal may be controversial, but alas...here it goes: when I'm reading and finding the story almost too compelling to go on, I often flip to the back page and read the last sentence. I KNOW, I know, way to ruin it for myself, right? At times (such as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) it can be a HUGE spoiler. Other times, like this one, it can be misleading and reveal nothing. I enjoyed that I was forced into maintaining the air of mystery until the end, as the author intended.

I must say, there's a reason this bad boy has been on every major best-seller list. It's a fabulous book. My only complaint lies with two characters having similar names, ergo creating some confusing passages and the need for flipping back to reference. Honestly, this can most likely be attributed to my gerbil-like memory, and may not be an issue for all. 

Just like a nice stick of cotton-candy, this book is inciting, sweet, and over too soon. It's also possibly inspired me to continue my carney-like path by trying out a class at New York Trapeze. Here's hoping for a safe return to solid ground.