Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (2006, Hardcover)

This is a genuine work of art and the characters will stay with you for years to come. I didn't think that the backdrop of the depression and the circus would really be very interesting to me, but a good friend recommended it and I'm so glad she did. You won't be disappointed, particularly if you are an animal lover, many poignant scenes and it also contains some unexpected twists. Filled with imperfect people and a few tragic events, you'll find yourself staying up late to get to the final scene. The pictures that head each chapter help to bring you back into the time period and Jacob's matter of fact way of looking at even the worst situations reminds me of the older generation's stoic acceptance of lifes ups and downs. A great read!!!