CP Final Blogging Reflection

    Throughout my blogging experience i feel i grew as a reader. My blog posts have grown with me throught the past few months as well. I found my Blog Post on Character Explanations best exemplified my ability to see into each character and relate them to the plot to make predictions and engage myself into the book more. At the beginning of my post i describe my struggle in the book (Blog Post  2/19:"My main struggle while reading most books is keeping up with all the characters. I can read into how they feel in that moment i am reading but often is difficult to tie together their whole personality and relationships with other characters with each event in the book.") and how that blog post helped me understand and connect with the book more. In that specific blog post i also tried to identify the characters as a round or flat character and how much attention i need to pay to them as i read on in the book and how each character relates to the plot and storyline of the book. I also was able to understand and identify character develpoment as i continue to read. I have found out as im reading now that this blog post helped aid my understanding Water For Elephants and made it more enjoyable to read. [Full Link to Blog Post: http://haleighsreadingblog.blogspot.com/2014/02/my-main-struggle-while-reading-most.html ]

    As i said earlier in the reflection i had a few struggles that have been resolved throughout my blog posts. But as a reader i want to better my understanding and make blogger more enjoyable to work with and more exciting for others to read. My goals for next trimester are to set reading goals or checkpoints to make sure im on top of the book and understand it easily. I found myself stuck trying to write blog posts because of my lack of reading. So throughout next trimester i will try to make reading a higher priority than it is currently. Also after reading for a while it makes the book more entertaining and creates a better flow to the text which will help me finish the book easily and start new books to extend my knowledge and connection between books i have read.

Rosie

   Having the Ringling Brothers high up the scale it puts their Benzini Brothers circus to shame. Throughout the book it is said over and over again that the Ringling Brothers are the elite in the circus world. But as the reader and Jacob believe that Uncle Al despises the Ringling circus and hates them; We all know that hate comes and revolves around jealousy. We soon realize (if we hadn't already) when Marlena tells Jacob that Uncle Al wants his circus to be the Ringling Brother's circus, and that's why he hates them so much.
   
    But once the opportunity comes to get an elephant Uncle Al takes that in a heartbeat. But this elephant is not top of the line. It is a "useless" elephant who is said "dumb as a bag of hammers". So this elephant was full of personality and had never been in a circus and was the most inexperienced elephant they knew. But from my experiences with my horse, those are the best kinds of companions. In the equestrian world  i live in there are (generally) two types of horses: pushbutton horses and crazy horses. My horse was obviously a crazy horse who was inexperienced and green. Not to sound cliche but after hard work he came home with Champion ribbons every show. So i am excited to see what Rosie, the new elephant in the Benzini Brother's circus will bring.

Character Explanation

My main struggle while reading most books is keeping up with all the characters. I can read into how they feel in that moment i am reading but often is difficult to tie together their whole personality and relationships with other characters with each event in the book. I made a list of the main characters in Water for Elephants To get a better understanding of the book and connect with each character a little more helping the book move along easier and be more enjoyable to read:



Jacob Jankowski: Jacob is the narrator of this book who is shown in two different times, in the nursing home and at the circus. Jacob has compassion towards the animals and likes his job. Being the stubborn man he is, he does know when to make the right decision. Jacob is a well rounded character that represents sacrifice and honor. Jacob is the main focus in this book.

Marlena: She had married August after running away as a teenager and works with the circus. Marlena reminds Jacob of an old crush, Catherine. After hearing some spoilers and predicting on my own terms i can see Jacob and Marlena with a new relationship.

August: August does not give off a good vibe... at all. He plays himself out to be a charming guy but evil is evident in him. I trusted this character at first but as i read more and after he almost gets Jacob severely hurt by Rex (tiger) I'm not so sure about him as a person and the decisions he makes. He definitely has a sketchy vibe to him.

Uncle Al: Although he doesn't seem that important to the storyline so far he is needed. Uncle Al shows authority and gives Jacob a reason to worry about his job.So far he hasn't shown any sign of evil or any villainous traits with all that power and ego of the ringleader there is a good chance of an uprising villain.

Rosemary: Rosemary is Mr.Jankowski's nurse in the current telling of the book. Jacob seems to like her as she treats him with respect. Obviously Jacob does not like the retirement home at all and Rosemary seems to lighten the mood a little more.

Character Development (-ish)

        After reading chapters 7 and 8 i felt myself getting more attached to the book and the characters in Water for Elephants . Reading more helped me figure out the characters and read into them a little more. I found myself waiting for a more tragic or exciting chapter/section of this book to come along and it sure did (atleast to me). Jacob is still learning the ropes to his new job in this circus and comes across his first disaster, if you want to call it that.
         Marlena's favorite horse was injured before and now is not capable of doing anything really having Jacob face Uncle Al and Marlena about his decision to put this horse down. Jacob has been seeming to be hanging on to his job right now trying to get into a secure job at the circus and having to make the decision of putting the horse down risked Al's disapproval of his choice. Jacob knows whats best and puts Marlena's beloved horse down. This problem revealed a little more of each character and gave into Jacob's feelings and thoughts after the horse is [implied to be] fed to the cats.


(1930's animal wagon)

Story Develpoment, so far..

         Despite the fact that i am roughly 1/4 through this book i am still anticipating more to happen. I know the "good parts" of a book or novel don't come until the middle to end. But it seems as though the introduction of the book is dragging on. Not to be confused a lot HAS happened but not enough to get emotionally connected to this book or the characters.
 
     So far i've noticed Jacob's attraction to one of the girls in the elephant act. Jacob also got a "veterinary" position in the circus. Jacob went to Cornell university and studied equine vet. Of course Jacob did not finish because he works at a circus now. Disregarding the fact of his "drop-out" if you want to call it that i plan to go into veterinary school at Cornell as Jacob did. I see some actual conflict coming with his crush and his diagnosis on the circus's very injured horse.

About the Author: Sara Gruen

As this book went on it grew on me every chapter. I decided to do some research on the author of Water For Elephants, Sara Gruen. I discovered a list of 4 well-known books she has written:

-Riding Lessons

-Flying Changes

-Water For Elephants

-Ape house

Her books about horses drew me in obviously. Riding Lessons was her first book she had written. Flying Changes is the sequel. Her third and most known book Water For Elephants was originally turned down by the publisher. Gruen being a slightly new author has only a few awards: 2007 Book Sense Book of the Year Award, The Cosmo Fun Fearless Fiction Award, the Bookbrowse Diamond Award for Most Popular Book, The Friends of American Literature Adult Literature Fiction Award and the ALA/Alex Award 2007. 

I am most likely going to read all if not most of her books. Even though i have read some horse books i did find them a little cheesy i hope that Sarah Gruen's excellent writing can be found within Riding Lessons and Flying Changes.