Flying Changes: A Novel, by Sara Gruen

A positive story dealing with very serious subjects: family relationships, teenage angst, rocky romance, tragedy. All seems to come together perhaps too neatly, but after reading several books with dark, depressing themes I was ready for something lighter and that offered hope at the end.

Water for Elephants: A Novel, by Sara Gruen

Read and reviewed in January, 2012. Released later

Wow! What a powerful book! One that will stay with me for a long time, especially Rosie the elephant. Her personality shone through.

This is a novel based on 1930s American circus life - the big top, the train, the animals, the performers, the bosses, the cruelty, the inhumanity, the love and loyalty. So many layers, so many things going on.
I couldn't help comparing the dehumanizing way old Jacob was treated in the nursing home to the dehumanizing way young Jacob was treated in the stock car of the circus train.