This book was such an easy and delightful read, even though some parts of the story was difficult to accept. I found the story flowed nicely, the author described the 1930's and the depression in perfect detail that I felt like I was there and could picture the era, the poverty, the racism and the way of life for many that lived the circus life and those who didn't. To my surprise, I really enjoyed how the novel went back and forth from the past to the present, it was not difficult to follow along and didn't confuse the reader.

You need to read this book, I highly recommend it, even though at some points I was in tears, putting the book down and taking a break, but other times I was cheering and falling in love with the characters. This is one of the books that stays with you, I felt completely attached to the characters and I can't still feel deep emotion when I think about Rosie.

I received this book as a gift, and I couldn't put it down. The movie SUCKS but the book is amazing. I know people always say that but in this case it's true.

I loved this book so much that I immediately went out and bought it for my sister (who is an avid reader). The story was so enthralling. I read it in one sitting. The movie is marketed as a romance and that is just not the premise of the book. It is gritty and real.

This is hands down, one of my favorite books. I'm currently reading it for the 5th time and I am just as captured by it as I was the first time.
The writing grabbed me right away, I love the sense of adventure in the writing and the description she uses just makes my heart happy.
The only reason I'm choosing that "I wouldn't purchase this again" is because I already own it. But I'd buy it again if I lose my current copy! Or if I wear it out from reading all the time...

I absolutely loved this book! I couldn't put it down once! By far one of the best book I have ever read and I do recommend it to anyone! Well worth the read! So much better than the movie!

The book was far, far better than the movie. Gruen writes a spellbinding tale that is really heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. Her flashes between the past and the present provide brilliant insight into the old man's life and the reason he acts the way he does now. It is a very unique tale of love, life, and loss over one's lifetime. I highly recommend the book, but suggest you throw the movie out the window. Nothing can capture the way that Gruen writes.

Really great book - the story is fantastic and is very well written.

I finally read this book over the summer and I LOVED IT. I was so impressed with the writing style and the progression of the story. I could not put this book down and I finished it fairly quickly. I decided to watch the movie after reading the book, and if the movie and book were two separate things, they would both be good in my eyes. The movie being based on the book...it doesn't work, I couldn't buy it as a based on the book movie because of all the changes they made. Read the book!!

One of my favourite books! Such a lovely story line about love and hardship. I was so excited when I heard there was a movie coming out, but was greatly disappointed in it. The book is far superior to the movie. Read it!

I watched this on Netflix and really enjoyed it so much that I ordered the book from Amazon.This book is so hard to put down.I couldn't get this story out of my head I only wished I had of read the book before seeing the movie.The story is dark during the terrible days of the Great Depression and life in a Eerie circus.Jacob tells his story when he is in his nineties.Jacob falls back into his riveting story of joining the Benzini Brothers.The beautiful relationship between Jacob and the bull elephant Rosie oh how I love that elephant!I'm not afraid to admit scenes in the movie with Rosie and in the book me cry like crazy.His love for Marlena is wonderful such a unique love story.How much I disliked August the animal trainer such a heartless man.This is a great book I would recommend it to anyone.