by Sara Gruen, 2006
Jacob Jankowski’s parents are killed in an automobile accident. He is forced to join a circus – couldn’t finish his vet school exams.
Gets hired as the circus vet. Falls in love with Marlena, who is married to August, a cruel, psychotic, animal trainer. He (August) tries to have Jacob killed but doesn’t succeed.
There are lots of animals: Marlena’s horses, monkeys, lions, and the circus eventually gets Rosie, an elephant. August is so mean to her until Jacob discovers she only understands Polish. He teaches August how to say things in Polish. In the end, August is still mean to her and Rosie ends up pulling up her own stake and killing August in the middle of a stampede, which the circus workers started because they weren’t getting paid. Very cruel circus owner, Uncle Al, he ends up strangled and wrapped in his big tent.
Book started out pretty nasty and dark: 1930’s depression era. But, about 1/2 way through, it started getting very good and I liked the way it turned out. I guess she wrote this novel during the National Novel Writing Month.