Water for Elephants

by Sara Gruen, 355 p.

I will admit, my secret nerd passion is fiction and non-fiction about traveling circuses during the Dust Bowl. Specific much? This novel has all the glamour and drama you might expect at the circus but it's set behind the scenes.

Jacob Jankowski is about to graduate veterinary school at Cornell and take over his father's practice when his parents are tragically killed in an automobile accident. He fails his final exams because he is unable to focus on anything but his grief. Fleeing town in angst, he finds himself by the train tracks when a traveling circus rolls by. Seeing it as a sign from the universe, he hops aboard and takes a job as the circus veterinarian.

Along the way, he falls in love with the beautiful performer Marlena - who is unfortunately married to August, the abusive, paranoid schizophrenic menagerie coordinator. What follows is your typical story of forbidden love, dashed with surprise, action, and oddly funny moments.

I'm not usually one for love stories but this one was charming and actually, although dramatic, quite believable. Predictable at some points, shocking at others, this one will have you squeezing in pages wherever you can to get to the exciting conclusion!