Review: Water for Elephants

Meeting Destination:  Santa Monica Pier for carnival-esque shenanigans.

Please remember that one member of Babes for Books, Jr. is allergic to cats, so as much as I love creating a menu for our meetings, we still cannot accommodate an in-house gathering. Therefore the menus are for you, my readers...all 13 of you.

We ate at a nearby pub with an array of food that can be considered "slop" (so appropriate).  It also did not serve ice, so the plastic cups filled with lukewarm water really engaged us in the "water for elephants" frame of mind. 

Water for Elephants rated high among us.  Its visual imagery struck a chord with all of our imaginations and the tender theme tugged gently at our heart strings.  Jacob's re-telling of his journey as a young man swept us through both the history of vintage circus' and of the struggles entering manhood.  Jacob's development of relationships between workers and the animals is unique to other books I've personally read.

I also read the screenplay, which is currently being filmed, and am excited for what could possibly be a great adaptation; a very seldom and what appears to be a trying occurrence.  (I once started a "Movie Book Club" and began with The Other Boleyn Girl, one of my most beloved books; one of my most loathed movies...the club only lasted one meeting because we agreed movies taint books therefore the meetings would all be much the same).  Unfortunately, Robert Pattinson is playing Jacob and I am saddened by this choice because I hoped for someone with more depth.  However, Christoph Waltz as the tyrant animal trainer is so SPOT ON I can hardly contain myself.

After filling ourselves with grub and discussing an incredible book, we partook in arcade fun.  Our mission: win enough tickets to redeem a prize that represents us.  All hail our mascot:

Our next pick is Mennonite in Little Black Dress: A Memoir Going Home.  There are already talks of Amish Cuisine and of course all adorning little black dresses to wherever we shall meet. 

And the read goes on,

Danielle

Menu: Water for Elephants

Water for Elephants is set on a circus train.  For meals, the circus employees are fed slop.  To spare the members of the book club, I suggest not serving slop, and instead take a different route and feed them carnival food.  Unless you don't like your book club-- then you can feed them slop.

Beverages: "Water" for Babes

Set out a bucket of ice with a bottle of champagne (the three main characters drink it on several occasions) and beer.  Fill another bucket of waters and sodas for the designated drivers.  Buckets are used in the book to serve the animals... Do the same for your babes (depending on how many bottles of champagne are consumed, they may just turn into animals)! 

Appetizer:  Individual Paper Bags of Popped Corn 
Fill individual bags with a variety of popcorn including kettle corn, butter flavor, fat-free, etc.   Popcorn and champagne.  Mmmm..tasty, ain't it?

Dinner: Carnival Food

Live a little and stray from healthy food (I love healthy food more than anyone, but am too keen on indulging here).  It's a circus!  Have you ever seen a snack vendor walk the aisles selling salads and fruit bowls? 

---Corn Dogs (if you want them healthy, cut them up and toss them with mixed greens.  You can make a balsamic dressing with mustard).  Buy them from the store and heat them in the oven; crispy on the outside warm and juicy in the middle.

---  Pretzels Purchase the "original" flavor at the store and jazz them up to your liking. 
Bake in oven topped with: 1) Parmesan and mozzarella cheese; 2) melted butter with 'italian seasoning"; 3) dip in water then hard rock salt.

FOR ALL serve with a selection of dips:  Mustard, melted cheese, ketchup, marinara.  Set out an array and let the babes have at it.

Dessert: Ice Cream Bar
Serve in waffle bowls with a variety of toppings including hot fudge, caramel, sprinkles, crushed candies, whipped cream...and please, don't forget the cherry on top!

Let your eyes eat and read your way through the book.  It's such a charming experience to become a character in the book, even if that means stuffing your face with corn dogs.  

On her way to Hot Dog on A Stick for a quick fix,

Danielle