The Elephant Keeper

The Elephant Keeper, set in 18^th century England, tells the story of Tom Page, a horse trainer who suddenly finds himself the caretaker of two young elephants (Jenny and Timothy). I was initially intrigued by the deep connection that develops between Tom and the elephants, particularly Jenny, in this coming-of-age tale. Christopher Nicholson’s crisp writing style allows the reader to believe that the communication taking place between these two characters is similar to communication that humans are capable of having (can Jenny actually understand Tom and speak to him?).

However, as the story progresses, Nicholson seems to lose focus. The book ends without any sense of finality, leaving the reader to wonder what really happened (and not in a good way, either).

If you love elephants, I think you’d enjoy this book, as it’s filled with interesting facts about the creatures (and other animals that were fairly foreign to most of the world’s population during the late 1700s). Otherwise, skip this one and instead grab a copy of The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb.

The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb

This is the second book by Melanie Benjamin that I’ve read and I truly believe that she is one of the best authors I have ever encountered— a wonderful storyteller. With her carefully crafted writing, it’s easy to forget that The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb is actually a work of fiction, albeit “historical” fiction. Regardless, I find myself envious of Ms. Benjamin’s way with words.

In this novel, Benjamin brings to life the story of Mercy Lavinia Warren Bump (aka Vinnie/Mrs. Tom Thumb), who at less than 3’ tall, becomes a superstar as a performer with P.T. Barnum’s Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan and Hippodrome. During her course of employment, Vinnie meets and falls in love with the diminutive General Tom Thumb (aka Charles Stratton), a performer who has already achieved international fame in Barnum’s museum and traveling shows. The tiny couple captures the hearts of dignitaries and commoners around the world (their wedding was attended by more than 2,000 guests!), and spends the rest of their lives performing in some capacity.

Vinnie’s story, set during America’s Gilded Age, is a captivating one. I think readers will relate to this charming yet flawed character and the relationship she has with her family, particularly the bond she shares with younger sister Minnie, and Mr. Barnum (an oddly fascinating man).

A definite page turner, I hope Ms. Benjamin is currently working on her next novel (hurry, please).

Before I Go To Sleep

My friend Vivian gave me this book when I was in Sarasota a few weeks ago. She and I typically don’t have the same interests when it comes to fiction, but she swore I would love it. She was right; I literally could not put this book down!

In his debut novel, S.J. Watson has created a terrifying premise. Imagine waking up each morning and having absolutely no recollection of anything that happened the previous day. Whose bed is this? Who is this man next to me? Who is the person looking back at me in the mirror? For central character Christine, an accident victim who loses all memories when she goes to sleep, this is what she experiences every morning.

As the story unfolds, Christine begins to chronicle her days’ events in a journal, rereading the entries each morning to see what transpired the previous day. As you can imagine, she has a million questions. Who is Ben, the man she calls her husband? Can she trust the advice of her doctor? How did the accident happen? Where are her friends and family?

This dark and gripping novel is a page turner that will have you questioning what’s real and what isn’t right along with Christine. If you like thrillers, this book is for you!