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Water for Elephants ~ On going discussion thread  

post #1 of 61
3/19/08 at 8:31am
Thread Starter 
I started this so that we could "chat". I was over in the chat room, but it seemed like you are all over here.

I wanted to start by saying that one of the things that really bothered me was the red lighting, and I did a little research on the subject. Not sure if the book explained it, but the intention was to kick people off the train when they couldn't afford to pay them anymore, or if they just plain "got in trouble". The idea was to drop them off where they could see the "red lights" of the nearest city, and walk there and be "OK", just out of a job.

Now, with that said, when red lighting over a trestle (bridge for trains)...they are just flat out trying to kill you. Which is very sad!!

Ok, with that said....here is the question:

How did you react to the redlighting of Walter and Camel, and eight others, off the trestle? How might we see Uncle Al's cutthroat behavior as "an indictment of a lifetime spent feigning emotions to make a buck"?
post #2 of 61
3/19/08 at 8:31am
Thread Starter 
Feel free to answer that question and post one of your own
post #3 of 61
3/19/08 at 8:44am
At first I didn't believe it. I thought that there was a mistake, and that these 2 would be found later. Or, my second thought was that the bad guys wanted to make it LOOK as if Walter and Camel had been thrown off the train, so Jacob would feel scared and threatened. But, it turned out that they really had been thrown off! I was surprised, because I had been expecting some sort of twist with that.

We know that Camel died instantly, but we don't know for sure if Walter ended up dying. I like to think that Walter's leg was broken, and some nice person living by the train tracks took him in and nursed him back to health. They later married and had quite a fulfilling life together. Oh, and they also tracked down Queenie and brought her back to live with them. Ideal or what?? haha
post #4 of 61
3/19/08 at 8:45am
Thread Starter 
Another think I thought was interesting....was that his family "forgot" about him...and it turned out to be the one son who lived his first 5 years of life with the circus. The one who should have appreciated how much it would mean for his father to attend the circus that day. What are you thoughts on that scene??
post #5 of 61
3/19/08 at 8:47am
Thread Starter 
Here is another thought to ponder.....WHY was he so upset with the other guy in the nursing home for saying he used to bring water to the elephants?? The author never elaborated on that....and my imagination didn't do very well on that one either. Any thoughts??
post #6 of 61
3/19/08 at 8:48am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by JennyH View Post

At first I didn't believe it. I thought that there was a mistake, and that these 2 would be found later. Or, my second thought was that the bad guys wanted to make it LOOK as if Walter and Camel had been thrown off the train, so Jacob would feel scared and threatened. But, it turned out that they really had been thrown off! I was surprised, because I had been expecting some sort of twist with that.

We know that Camel died instantly, but we don't know for sure if Walter ended up dying. I like to think that Walter's leg was broken, and some nice person living by the train tracks took him in and nursed him back to health. They later married and had quite a fulfilling life together. Oh, and they also tracked down Queenie and brought her back to live with them. Ideal or what?? haha


post #7 of 61
3/19/08 at 8:51am
It seemed typical to me, like that is what would happen. Although I was hoping it wouldn't happen to Walter and Camel.

I suppose if you equate that to today's jobs, with all the layoffs and such, people are still getting "thrown under the bus", just in a more professional way.

There is something to be said for job security and a really great boss!
post #8 of 61
3/19/08 at 8:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bucsnpats View Post

Here is another thought to ponder.....WHY was he so upset with the other guy in the nursing home for saying he used to bring water to the elephants?? The author never elaborated on that....and my imagination didn't do very well on that one either. Any thoughts??


OH I KNOW!!! That one thing bugged me. It was never answered, at least I never figured it out. I'd love to hear an explanation for that one.

As for the family forgetting him, I thought that was so sad!!!! And the fact that his favorite nursing home nurse was also leaving just broke my heart.
post #9 of 61
3/19/08 at 8:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bucsnpats View Post

Here is another thought to ponder.....WHY was he so upset with the other guy in the nursing home for saying he used to bring water to the elephants?? The author never elaborated on that....and my imagination didn't do very well on that one either. Any thoughts??

Me, too. I was thinking the same thing. Nothing was ever mentioned about that, was there?

I didn't get that. I thought maybe it was going to turn out that they knew each other.


BTW, are we supposed to be in chat? Or is this good?
post #10 of 61
3/19/08 at 8:55am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by JennyH View Post


As for the family forgetting him, I thought that was so sad!!!! And the fact that his favorite nursing home nurse was also leaving just broke my heart.

Oh yeah.....but it was also convenient too, no one else knew where he was headed....made it easier for him to run away. KWIM?
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