Water for Elephants

Sara Gruen 4.5/5

 

Yes a truly amazing book just like everyone says. The beautiful story of life on the road, of a smart elephant (and they are), of a toothless lion, a boy that becomes a man, a Romanian acrobat, and the harsh realities of the circus during The Great Depression.

Marlena, the delicate; Jacob the boy and Rosie the wonderful pachyderm. This book is harsh, and at the same time I think it romanticizes the life of the circus. It was a hard life, that people didn’t see behind the curtains. I learned that the circus also had a prostitution ring.

I did know the ending but you became very close to the characters, so much so that you can feel what they were feeling. I guess that is what a great book is considered. I do have so say “Modoc: The World’s Greatest Elephant” was significantly better because I am a non-fiction reader.

A Piece of Cake

By: Cupcake Brown 4.5/5

The not so sweet story of La’Vette to those she hated, Cupcake to those she loved.

Taking place in the 1970s, Cup was forced into foster care that age of 11 due to the death of her mother. At the age of 11, Cupcake lost her child hood and became part of the system.

While this book really is reminiscent of “White Oleander”, there are comparisons that would never happen. There is a racial undertone to the book, as well as unbelievable positive ending with a great message of loving yourself.

Cup endures every hardship there is out there, gang violence, drug abuse, rape, prostitution, racism, battery and more.

This is a not a book for the feign of heart!