Empire Falls by Richard Russo

In a dying town with no hope left, those at the Empire Grill still have faith. Miles Roby is a nobody fry cook with a deteriorating family and a failing business. HE and his friends get by on barley making ends meet but its the company of each other that keep them together. While reading this book I felt like I too was in the conversation. This book felt very "homey" and had a very relaxed feeling about it. The immense character portrayals bring them to life while the author puts them in everyday scenarios. This book was filled with thought and meaning; a quote that really spoke to me was, "Who, after all, arrives at his heart's home at the end of the day? Even this day, who can say that the next will bring joy?... or comfort?... or justice?... or release?... or an end to care? Lives are like rivers... eventually they go where they must... not where we want them to". I feel like this quote closely sums up American Literature in my eyes. It speaks of destiny, fate and the choices you make in life and how they effect your future. It makes you think if we do have the power to change the future, and if so how. The author throws these thought provoking questions at you that actually apply to your life in a way no book has done before, for me at least. This book goes up there for one of my favorite books of all time.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

This book follows the journey of Jacob Jankowski using alternating memories between his past life and his current 93 year-old self. After learning of his parents deaths, Jacob "accidentally" joins the circus; by jumping on a random train in the middle of the night. He feels as if he had caused all the hardships hi family was going through but it still does not explain this strange nature. Right before he gets on he states, "When I first submerged my feet into frigid water, they hurt so badly I yanked them out again. I persisted, dunking them for longer and longer periods, until the cold finally blistered". Jacob is almost "purifying himself before he enters the train, but not realizing it he sees the pain as good, that maybe now he can make something of his life. The story follows Jacob and the other members on the circus train on all of their exploits and adventures. Even at the end of the book, Jacob is still drawn to the circus life.