Book Find of the Day

Although I already have two copies of this book, during a recent visit to the American Cancer Society Thrift Store in Point Loma (Bert dropped off some donations), I now have a third copy of one of my newest favorite books, Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. Thanks to TC's sharp eyes, I scored this pristine paperback copy for $1.00.

"Yes, $1 Winthorp!" (reference from "Trading Places")

I originally bought my first copy at Borders in early January. Used my 40% coupon which made it $9 instead of the full price, whatever it was. I'm also absent minded as fk, so midway through reading the book, I forgot where I hid it and promptly forgot about it  misplaced it and ended up buying another copy so I could finish the story. I actually found the first copy, as luck would have it, not soon after I bought the second one. So, yeah, I have multiple copies now.

Needless to say, $1 ain't so bad. I now have 2 loaners  or as I call them, "thrasher copies" to lend out to friends and a nice new one for myself. :)

Quick book synopsis - "Water for Elephants" is a historical novel set in the Depression Era. Jacob Jankowski, a Cornell medical student quits school after his parents are killed in an accident. He cuts out of town and jumps a train and finds that it's a circus train. Due to his medical background, he is hired by the Benzini Brothers Circus as their vet.  The novel flits back and forth from the past to present using Jacob's 93 year old POV and his younger self.  In the novel, Jacob meets and befriends various characters and ends up falling in love and having an affair with the abusive ringmaster's wife, Marlena. The novel examines the relationships people have and made me really think about how we treat others. As I read the older Jacob's POV, I was saddened by his realization that his grown children have all but forgotten him and how he is merely treated like a child or nuisance by the nursing home staff. It was also a fascinating read learning about the social hierarchy of circus performers.

On another note, as you already know, Robert Pattinson (RPattz) will play the young Jacob Jankowski, or shall we say Robowski...Marrlena will be played by Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon, who ironically played his mother in "Vanity Fair". Look for the deleted scene featuring Rob in the special features. The ringmaster will be played by another Oscar winner, Christophe Waltz (he was awesome as the smooth but chilling Nazi in "Inglourious Basterds"). Old Jacob is played by Oscar nominee Hal Holbrook (the Mark Twain looking dude). In a cool note of trivia, Rosie the elephant's caretaker   is James Frain (formerly Thomas Cromwell in "The Tudors" and currently wierdo vampire Franklin in season 3 of "True Blood").  Earl, a circushand in the book, will be played by movie cult legend, Ken Foree ("Dawn of the Dead"; in a nod to Foree, in Edgar Wright's hilarious zombie send up, "Shawn of the Dead", Simon Pegg's character works at "Foree Electronics"!).

Here's RPattz swigging some Coke.  Good God, April 15, 2011 can't come soon enough. Rob should be in 1930's period costume ALL. THE. TIME. Love the shorter hair. He also manages to make high waisted suspender pants look fkhawt!

From a Classic Coke bottle to Coke Zero...

For more on the film, check out these blogs:

Water for Elephants Film - they have great set pics and reports from the set in LA and in Tennessee

and

Water for Elephants Fan Blog - more cool pix and chapter excerpts and book discussion points as well...