Author Sara Gruen
I so enjoyed this month's book, "Water for Elephants", in our Buy Canadian First Book Club. You can read my review of this book in last week's Good Shopper Blog. I also have a book winner to announce at the end of this post!
As I mentioned last week, Sara Gruen, though now living in the United States, has dual citizenship and was raised here in Canada, in London Ontario. When she was laid off work from a technical writing job in Ottawa in 2001, she decided to try writing fiction and her first novel, "Riding Lessons" was born.
"Riding Lessons" is said to be a tale of human healing set against the primal world of horses. Animals being a theme in all of Sara's novels, with horses front and centre in her first two novels, "Riding Lessons" and it's sequel, "Flying Changes". From horses, Gruen went to Rosie the elephant, among other circus animals, in this month's book "Water for Elephants". Her latest book, "Ape House", centres on Bonobos Apes.
I loved our book club questions last month and hope we can continue discussions on our novels. I have a few questions I'd like to pose to our readers who have read the novel. Or, you can still pick up a copy of "Water for Elephants" and come back here or to the Buy Canadian First Book Club when you are done, to discuss it.
1. Did the chapters about the nursing home change how you think about older people? In what ways are the doctors and nurses condescending? How is Rosemary different? How do you treat older people?
2. To what extent do the chapters concerning the elderly Jacob enhance the chapters recounting the young Jacob's experiences with the Benzini Brothers circus? In what ways do the chapters about the young Jacob contribute to a deeper understanding of the elderly Jacob's life?
3. Looking at himself in the mirror, the old Jacob tries "to see beyond the sagging flesh." But he claims, "It's no good. . . . I can't find myself anymore. When did I stop being me?". How would you answer that question for Jacob or any individual, or for yourself?
4. Water for Elephants has a happy ending for Jacob, but not for many other characters. Discuss Walter and Camel’s fates. How does tragedy fit into the story?
5. Did you find the prologue of the book purposely deceiving? Who did you think murdered August? Were you right? I'll be submitting my answers in the comment section and in our Facebook group in the next couple of days and look forward to reading some of your answers as well.
Time to get ready for our next book, "The Antagonist" by Nova Scotia-born, Edmonton-based novelist, Lynn Coady. Lynn is known as one of Canada's best loved authors, and her first novel, "Strange Heaven" (1998), was nominated for a Governor General's Award. "The Antagonist" is shortlisted for the 2011 Scotiabank Giller Prize and I can not wait to find out why!
For now, congratulations to our "Water for Elephants" winner, Julia H.! You will be receiving a copy of the novel "Water for Elephants" - I can not wait to discuss it with you. To win a copy of The Antagonist", please answer the question at the end of our review, which will be published on Monday, November 21, 2011. The winner will be announced the following week. Good luck and thanks so much for participating!
Do you like circuses? If so, what is your favourite aspect?
Images courtesy of Buy Canadian First member, Chapters-Indigo.
