Saxton Reads! & Reviews

You know how you love a book and then Hollywood gets a hold of it and wham, what was a wonderful story becomes a mockery of visual dribble.
 
I remember picking up the book because the title grabbed me. Gruen fleshes out her characters so well that you feel you know them and come to love and care about them. The circus is so alive you'll smell it and feel the thrill of the behind the scenes action. But nothing is better than the nursing home scenes where the grumpy, garrulous older Jankowski reigns. Any of us with aging parents can take a lesson from this character. The audio is narrated in two voices, Jankowski as a young man, Jankowski as an old man and enhances the listening. A sentimental ending only makes the whole better, leaving the reader feeling just right. The book has pictures of the circus and explains that some of the stories woven in the book are based on true events. For anyone who ever wanted to join the circus or loves a good storytelling, this is as satisfying a read as they come.
 
Water for Elephants is due to hit the big screen this April. Reese Witherspoon as Marlena, Robert Pattinson and Hal Holbrook sharing the role of Jankowski, young and old respectively; seem like good choices for the characters.
 
The trailer has promise...so I'm keeping my fingers crossed on this one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6b2XhXkPpg