Posts tagged water for elephants
Maggie May
"Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.”
Water for Elephants
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen! This was an excellent book, that takes you into the life of a circus during post-depression America. The beginning did depress me, on how the main character, Jacob, loses everything and just leaves. It’s surprising how easy it was to just hitch a ride on a circus train and start a new life. The book made me want to live in that time period and be able to go to the circus, because I’ve actually never been to the circus. I don’t like to give any spoilers, I just like to give a recommendation, and this book was excellent! My favorite character was definitely Rosie the elephant, because she seemed like such a gentle old creature. A must-read, #1 New York Bestsellers List. Give me your opinion. For more quotes from it:
http://maggie-may.tumblr.com/tagged/water%20for%20elephants
Next up is Darkly Dreaming Dexter, by Jeff Lindsay for all of you Dexter lovers out there, Followed by The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins by popular demand!
I’m not going to sit here and listen to you tell me that it’s okay for August to hit her because she’s his wife. Or that it’s not his fault because he’s insane. If he’s insane that’s all the more reason she should stay away.
My heart pounds so hard that, despite the roaring of the crowd, I am aware of blood wooshing through my ears. I am filled to overflowing, bursting with love.
I hate him. I hate him for being so brutal. I that I’m beholden to him. I hate that I’m in love with his wife and something damned close to that with the elephant. And most of all, I hate that I’ve let them both down. I don’t know if the elephant is smart enough to connect me to her punishment and wonder why I didn’t do anything to stop it, but I am and I do.
From here on in, I’m not entirely sure of the order. Bottles are passed to me, and I’m pretty sure I drink from most of them. Before long, things are swimming and I’m filled with the warmth of human kindness toward everyone and everything.
I hang there, stunned, so tired that it crosses my mind how much easier it would be to simply let go.
She walks straight to the gaunt man, picks up his hand, and plants the sandwich in his hand. Then she marches off to scattered applause and whistles from the working men’s side of the tent.
But what else do I have to offer? Nothing happens to me anymore. That’s the reality of getting old, and I guess that’s the crux of the matter. I’m not ready to be old yet.
Dear Lord, I miss that woman. And not just because if she were still alive, I wouldn’t be here, although that’s the God’s truth. No matter how decrepit we became, we would have looked after each other, like we always did.
Sometimes, when I’m in bed, I close my eyes and remember the look — and especially the feel — of a woman’s naked body. Usually it’s my wife’s, but not always. I was completely faithful to her. Not once in more than sixty years did I stray, except in my imagination, and I have a feeling she wouldn’t have minded that. She was a woman of extraordinary understanding.
She takes my forearm in her hands and moves it to catch the sunlight coming in through the slats. ‘It looks new. it’s going to be a heck of a bruise. Does this hurt?’ She takes the back of my arm in one hand and runs the other over the blur patch that’s spreading beneath my skin. her palm is cool and smooth, and leaves me hair standing on end.
And this made him happy, for what Uncle Al craves above all else, what Uncle Al dreams of at night, are freaks.
I give up on rage, which at this point has become a formality, and make a mental note to get angry in the morning.
This is the first time I’ve ever seen a woman naked, and I don’t think I’ll ever be the same.
