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.