Water for Elephants cover art

Water for Elephants

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Water for Elephants

By: Sara Gruen
Narrated by: David LeDoux, John Randolph Jones, Various
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

About this listen

Jacob Jankowski reflects back on his wild and wondrous days with a circus. In the Depression era, Jacob, finding himself parentless and penniless, joins the Benzini Brothers' "Most Spectacular Show on Earth". There he meets the freaks, grifters, and misfits that populate this world: Marlena, beautiful star of the equestrian act; August, her charismatic but twisted husband (and the circus' animal trainer); and Rosie, the seemingly untrainable elephant Jacob cares for.

©2006 Sara Gruen (P)2006 HighBridge Company Fiction Historical Fiction Women's Fiction Elephant

Critic Reviews

"This marvelously exciting and satisfying book has been given the engaging audio production it deserves." ( Audiofile)
" Water for Elephants is fun, sweet and thrilling and will pull you into the mysterious life of the circus so far that you won't want to leave." ( Guardian)
All stars
Most relevant  
The narrators do a great job telling this story, listening to both old and young Jacob Jankowski gives you perspective on how life can be for both the young and the old. I cannot help but feel sympathy for old Jacob as he struggles with depression and apathy in the nursing home, but towards the end of the story, he strikes out for an adventure and ends up somewhere better. I certainly loved hearing about the Benzini Bros. Most Spectacular Show on Earth. This is novel is definitely worth the money.

Certainly worth listening too!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
book lacks the excitement every unusual event should bring to the reader. dont think would recommend

ok story, but poor writing.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I was reading this to check it before I gifted the book to my readaholic tween. I'm glad I checked - it's too sexual for someone so young; detailed descriptions of a peep show and various sexual imaginings and encounters.

But the story itself is sweet; flitting between the young and the old Jacob as he lives his adventure. The end was beautiful

Not kid-suitable but a beautiful story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Loved the story. Didn’t enjoy the old man part as much but it all came together beautifully

Well told

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This book transported me to a different world. Great story yelling and eye opening perspectives from young to old.

Beautiful and entertaining

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
what a truly lovely book. transports you to a wonderful world of the circus and you feel like you are right there with them.
The older gentleman's reading is abit hard to hear at times but overall it's a wonderful book.

transports you to another life

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
beautifully written and narrated.
The story of a man's losses, loves, his life with the circus ...and an elephant called Rosie

great story!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I was so excited to listen to this but I actually found it quite depressing.

I actually found it depressing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.