Water For Elephants - Sara Gruen

A very simple and fun book about the circus. It really seemed to me like the writer did it just kind of like a newspaper article. She wrote it very acurately, made sure to get the emotional hook in, but didn't have any real substance in my opinion. The basic premise is that a young man runs off to the circus, crazy, fun antics ensue and then the other half of the book (intermingled) is spent reminiscing about his time in the circus as a 90 year old. I think the most interesting part about the book is this commentary on life as a series of memories which lose value the more aged they are. Very entertaining and simple book that is a really easy read but it was too much of a cut and dry, obvious attempt at writing a book club novel. She even had a list of book club questions that could be asked at the end. Seemed like a lady that has had a really simple, secluded life sitting in her friends living rooms and talking and finally deciding she should write a book to make a few bucks and a name for herself.
Fun to read but don't expect more than a simple narrative.

Andrew