[b:Water for Elephants|43641|Water for Elephants|Sara Gruen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170161179s/43641.jpg|3441236] is the best book I read in 2008. I could not stop recommending it to people. The narration is so singular, yet so relatable. Gruen did an excellent job bringing characters alive and giving her narrator a believable voice.

The fact that the narrator was an old man in a nursing home also reminded me of my grandfather, and in some ways, made me happy for him. My grandfather had advanced senile dementia, and at some points, the narrator loses touch with reality. It brought me great happiness to imagine my Grandaddy as the narrator for most of the story. I suppose that's why I felt like the characters were so real.

The book is interesting, well written, unique, and at times, hilarious. This is a must read!