Just finished reading Sara Gruen's Water For Elephants, and it was a wonderful read. Much better than I expected, in fact. The author seemed to have thoroughly researched the way of life in the Depression Era, as well as the way of life living and working with a circus show that was mobile by train. The point of view of the book is entirely of the perspective of Jacob Jankowski, both as a young man with the circus and as a man of very advanced years reliving his pivotal early years. It's was very interesting to read both points of view, and the main character was easy to sympathize with, and some of the other characters, particularly Rosie, were quite easy to fall in love with.
The author also does very well with building the momentum and suspense to reach that penultimate moment when everything comes to a head, but she does't leave the readers hanging, and everything addressed for the reader by the last page. I had no wonderings about what happened to the characters immediately afterward, because such issues were neatly addressed following the climax, rather than simply ending there, as so many novels do. Because this novel contains the suspense that it does, I can't say I'd reread it over and over as I do ma ny other books, because it is no longer mysterious after the first reading. I would, however, recommend this wonderful novel to anyone that would like to live, for awhile, behind the scenes of a long-ago circus show, or just get lost in a great bestselling novel. From this very anonymous reader, Sara Gruen, two thumbs up!

Invictus by W.E. Henley

Here's one of my favorit quotes by W.E Henley. It's called Invictus.


OUT of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbow'd.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,I
am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Such a nice day out today, here in southern Oklahoma. Soon it will be very hot, then I might reconsider. Fishing and camping and lake season is well undner way! Wish I could drive my car, I'd really like to go to the lake today, or tomorrow or this coming weekend.

Limbo

Today has been a very strange day. I feel like I'm in limbo or something. I've been very bored, to the point of distraction, but at the same time, haven't felt like doing anything. I hope that doesn't mean I'll be fighting depression again- restlessness is usually one of the first symptoms for me. I really should be working on my two fanfic stories Changes and His Sister's Keeper, but I just havne't been in the mood, which is kind of strange. I also have a couple other story ideas in my head, but have't got up the nerve to start them yet. I always feel like I'm building the story ideas up in my head in a way that makes it impossible for me to meet my own expectations. Sometimes it's true, but that's just because sometimes things don't work out the way you want. My own critisism is my biggest flaw. Maybe tomorrow I can get some work on the stories. I hope so, they're both kind of popular in their respective categories, and I know what it's like to have to wait for the next chapter on a favorite fic.