"Water for Elephants" recommended by Dick Hagerty

"Water for Elephants," by Sara Gruen; Algonquin Books; 2006; $14.37 at Amazon.

This story combines everything a good novel should contain. It's well written and it's a love story with a bit of history and a fascinating theme.

Written in the first person as a young man, Sara Gruen captures the narrator's coming of age after dropping out of veterinary school on the day of his final examinations.

Gruen traces his despondent exit from the exam room, a chance meeting with a circus train, and the story is off to the races.

Set in Depression-era times (with some Prohibition aspects thrown in for good measure), the protagonist's career develops from manure shoveler to full and formal acceptance as the circus vet.

But there is pathos and tragedy as well, as the circus train wends its way across Middle America and highlights some of the seamier aspects of circus life in those days.

A note of caution, there are some fairly graphic "sensual" moments, but nothing that is not common in most modern novels.

All in all, a most satisfying read, which not only entertains but also gives interesting insight into a little know aspect of an American cultural phenomenon — the traveling railroad circus of 75 years ago.