West Park Book Club — Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Schedule
Wed Sep 17 2025 at 06:30 pm to 08:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
PJ McIntyre's Irish Pub | Lakewood, OH
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📚🎪 Book: Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen📍🍀 Location: PJ McIntyre’s basement
For September’s banned book, we’re reading Water for Elephants, a bestselling novel recently banned in Utah for its mature themes and honest portrayal of life under the big top. With a Broadway musical adaptation coming to Playhouse Square in March 2026, this is the perfect time to dive into the book before it hits the stage.
📚 ABOUT THE READ
• A Depression-era journey through the gritty world of a traveling circus
• A story of love, cruelty, survival, and second chances. Told through the eyes of Jacob, both young and old
• Banned for “explicit content,” but cherished for its emotional depth and storytelling power
After losing everything, Jacob jumps aboard a train and into the chaotic world of the Benzini Brothers circus. As he cares for the animals, he finds friendship in unlikely places, love where he least expects it, and strength he didn’t know he had. It’s a story that explores the beauty and brutality of show life and the quiet, personal revolutions we all face.
🤔 WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
We’ll dig into how Sara Gruen balances the spectacle of circus life with deeply human themes: grief, memory, power, and resilience. And since the Broadway musical is heading to Cleveland, we’ll also talk about what we’re excited (or skeptical) to see translated from page to stage.
🎟️ Playhouse details: https://www.playhousesquare.org/events/detail/water-for-elephants
🎭 “If you choose the ride, life can begin again at any age.”
🤗 JOIN US
Come as you are! Bring a friend, your thoughts, and your copy if you’d like to emboss it with our West Park Book Club logo.
📚 GETTING THE READ
• Borrow it from your local library
• Download via the Libby app
• Support your local bookstore
• Order it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/40I5bK5
🗓️ ADDING IT TO YOUR CALENDAR
• Click the three dots at the top of this event
• Select “Add event to calendar”
Let’s kick off fall with a banned book, a big conversation, and a sneak peek at what’s coming to Playhouse Square next year. See you at PJ’s! 📖✨🎪
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Where is it happening?
PJ McIntyre's Irish Pub, 17119 Lorain Ave,Cleveland, Ohio, Lakewood, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
