50 Books Challenge 2011 - # 41: Riding Lessons by Sara Gruen

Title: Riding Lessons
Author: Sara Gruen
Story: As a world-class equestrian and Olympic contender, Annemarie Zimmer lived for the thrill of flight atop a strong, graceful animal. Then, at eighteen, a tragic accident destroyed her riding career and Harry, the beautiful horse she cherished. Now, twenty years later, Annemarie is coming home to her dying father's New Hampshire horse farm. Jobless and abandoned, she is bringing her troubled teenage daughter to this place of pain and memory, where ghosts of an unresolved youth still haunt the fields and stables—and where hope lives in the eyes of the handsome, gentle veterinarian Annemarie loved as a girl . . . and in the seductive allure of a trainer with a magic touch.
Start: july 29th 2011
End: august 1st 2011
Comment: This is the third book in my challenge that was written by Sara Gruen. I loved "Water for Elephants" and "Ape House" was beautiful but had its flaws. "Riding Lessons" was Gruens debut novel and so far my least favorite. There is one thing I appreciate in every single one of her books. The love she has for animals. That's also present in this novel. Through her characters she always seems to make us aware of that passion and with them you feel it too. It took me a while to get through this book and I can't blame Gruens writing style, because it was beautiful as always. The story just didn't interest me as much. Annemarie wasn't a very memorable character and I never had a connection with horses the way I do with apes and elephants. I'm glad her books got better after this one and I'm not giving up on Sara Gruen, because she's a fabulous writer.
Rating: 3/ 5

50 Books Challenge - # 25: Ape House by Sara Gruen

Title: Ape House
Author: Sara Gruen
Story: Sam, Bonzi, Lola, Mbongo, Jelani, and Makena are no ordinary apes. These bonobos, like others of their species, are capable of reason and carrying on deep relationships—but unlike most bonobos, they also know American Sign Language.Isabel Duncan, a scientist at the Great Ape Language Lab, doesn't understand people, but animals she gets—especially the bonobos. Isabel feels more comfortable in their world than she's ever felt among humans ... until she meets John Thigpen, a very married reporter who braves the ever-present animal rights protesters outside the lab to see what's really going on inside. When an explosion rocks the lab, severely injuring Isabel and "liberating" the apes, John's human interest piece turns into the story of a lifetime, one he'll risk his career and his marriage to follow. Then a reality TV show featuring the missing apes debuts under mysterious circumstances, and it immediately becomes the biggest—and unlikeliest—phenomenon in the history of modern media. Millions of fans are glued to their screens watching the apes order greasy take-out, have generous amounts of sex, and sign for Isabel to come get them. Now, to save her family of apes from this parody of human life, Isabel must connect with her own kind, including John, a green-haired vegan, and a retired porn star with her own agenda.
Start: may 1st 2011
End: may 4th 2011
Comment: After reading "Water for Elephants" I fell in love with Sara Gruen's writing. So I decided to read "Ape House". I found the plot very interesting and I was drawn to it. It's clear that Gruen is an animal lover, such as I, and that's what makes her writing so good. She writes as from heaven. Isabel Duncan is a wonderfull character. Her love for the apes was so genuine and honest. She was my favorite. I liked John too, but I didn't care much for his relationship with Amanda. I didn't like the fact that the humans get more pages then the animals. I thought it was supposed to be about them. The parts about Isabel and her apes were far more interesting, heartwarming and breathtaking. It actually makes me sick to my stomach that people would go this far for TV ratings. I liked the book, but her first was definitely better. But again Gruen proves she has a way with words and I wil continue reading her books.
Rating: 3,5/ 5

50 Books Challenge - # 7: Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Title: Water for Elephants
Author: Sara Gruen
Story: Though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski's ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell." Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, was there because she fell in love with the wrong man, a handsome circus boss with a wide mean streak. And Rosie the elephant was there because she was the great gray hope, the new act that was going to be the salvation of the circus; the only problem was, Rosie didn't have an act - in fact, she couldn't even follow instructions. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.
Start: february 1st 2011
End: february 6th 2011
Comment: I had a hard time putting it down. I fell in love with Jacob, as a young man in the 1930's and as a crotchety old man. I could understand him, his relationship with Rosie and Marlena and the way he was around August. Especially his bond with Rosie was endeering, touching and truly honest. I also loved the atmosphere in the books. This period of time is very interesting to read about and the wonderous world of circuses is just magical. It was the first time I actually read a book about the circus life. I never heard of Sara Gruen before reading this book, but she's a very talented and promising writer. I think I will read more of her work in the future. I had high expectations for this book and I'm glad the novel got to live up to them. I can definitely recommened this book to everyone. And there's a movie version on the way...
Rating: 5/ 5