September 2024
- Katie Peterson
- Sep 1, 2024
- 9 min read
Something old, something new, something steamy, something true-ish
Book Review Blog-Previous Posts
My month was filled with the Olympics. Watching them, reading about them...and now, blogging about them. I can't wait to hear what you think about these books! Are you an Olympics fanatic like me? Leave a comment, review, or hit that 'like' button to let me know you viewed this post! Medal ceremony at the end! [Unlike the actual Olympics, no medals will be reallocated.]
(Hint: If you click on the image of a book below, it will take you directly to the section about that book!)
Something old: The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
Something new: Fast Girls by Elise Hooper
Something steamy: That Summer in Berlin by Lecia Cornwall
Something true-ish: The Boys of Winter by Wayne Coffey
Book club pick: Let the Games Begin by Rufaro Faith Mazarura
The Ratings:
Like plain, black coffee. Strong dislike.
A little cream, a little sugar. Not bad. Not great.
Add some flavor or syrup, it's getting good.
I liked this a latte!
Love! Refill please!
The Steam:
No peppers: Love/romance not a major part of this story
One pepper: Mild! Some love scenes; nothing risque on the page; fade to black
Two peppers: Moderate! Slightly descriptive romantic scenes may occur on page; some implied innuendos
Three peppers: Hot! Blushing while reading may occur; lots of spice
The Boys in the Boat
Daniel James Brown
There is something so simplistic and magical about reading about Olympics past...where the 'stars' are truly average 'Joes' (insert irony because the main character in our story is actually named Joe), leading lives that, for the most part, do not revolve around being an Olympian.
When Joe, and hundreds of other hopefuls, show up for freshman crew tryouts at The University of Washington, they have no idea the scope of the endeavor they're attempting to take on. For a few, rowing is a sport they've followed and want to attempt competing in. For some, it's a new challenge to test their own limits. For many, it seems like a good way to brag on campus. For Joe, it offers him something so elusive he isn't sure he'll ever really find it: a sense of belonging. Essentially abandoned by a family struggling through the throes of the Great Depression, he hasn't relied on anyone for anything in a long time. His own resourcefulness, sheer will, and determination help him survive the frequent cuts made to the rosters. From the outside, strength and stamina seem to be the deciding factors in most races. However, as his young crew soon learns, the sport is just as much mental as it is physical.
Al Ulbrickson, the head coach of the Washington crew teams, knows that the nine boys in the freshman boat are a special group. Just how special? That will be determined over the course of the next four years. As the boys win race after race, year after year, Coach Ulbrickson sets his sights on something that has previously eluded him: The Olympics. The 1936 Olympics are right around the corner, and the Washington rowers and their coach will do whatever it takes to ensure they're the team representing America in Berlin. While the boys battle for their spot in the boat in Seattle, Germany is gearing up for an even bigger battle. Will the rest of the world take heed? A call to boycott the Olympics is raised, and horrifying accounts are shared via the newspapers. Will the Olympic Committee decide to send the athletes...or will this be one more set back for Joe and his crew?
This emotional non-fiction story gives you an inside look at the lives of these young men before they took on the most important race of their lives on the biggest stage in sports. Your heart will break for them, cheer for them, and exalt with them throughout their journey...from the poverty stricken woods in Washington all the way to the impressive streets (and lakes) of Berlin.
Good to know before reading: A movie (by the same name) was recently made! I haven't watched yet, but I want to now that I've read the book.
My rating:
Fast Girls
Elise Hooper
The 1936 Olympics are looming closer, and a rush of exhilaration and nerves surrounds hopeful athletes as they attend Olympic trials in cities all around the United States, vying for a chance to represent their country and sport at The Games. Although the roots of track and field at the Olympics can be traced back to the very first games, the thrill of running for a medal eluded women until 1928. This book follows three women, all extremely talented and each with their own obstacles and challenges to overcome before they can succeed on the biggest stage of their lives.
The 1930's are an extremely volatile time. Extreme poverty, sexism, and racism are an everyday occurrence for women everywhere, but especially for the ladies trying to exist in the running world that has been largely dominated by males for centuries. And although they're recognized as being talented, finding a coach and training facility that will accept them proves difficult. In addition to the problems they face as athletes, at the end of the day, each of these women is just trying to get through the struggles that occur in everyday life. Broken engagements, injuries, and questions about sexuality. While all of these obstacles threaten to overwhelm and discourage them, one thing continues to come easy: running.
When the final team is named, rather than celebrating, the female members are now given an ultimatum: pay your own way to Germany, or you can't come. Having already overcome so many hurdles, none of them are willing to go down without a fight. But with families and communities who are already struggling...where will the money come from? And even if they're able to raise it, they aren't guaranteed a spot in the final relay team. Every single meter forward is hard fought throughout this book, and a true testament to the women who fought the fight, even without knowing the outcome. Once the medals are handed out, you truly see that although the individual races are short, the road to get there was long.
My rating:
(I went back and forth between 3 and 4 cups for a long time. I settled with 3, but I still really, really liked it and would recommend. A couple things about the writing style and personal preferences is what held me back from the 4. The topic and characters are fantastic.)
That Summer in Berlin
Lecia Cornwall
Viviane Alden is an eligible debutante in England, with a mother who's determined to see her betrothed. The only problem is Viviane would rather live her life as a single woman making a living taking photographs than even contemplate entering into a loveless marriage for appearances sake. Taking pictures is something that Viviane learned from her father, prior to his passing, which makes it especially meaningful. Although she's talented, as a woman she often has to sell her work anonymously in order to be taken seriously.
When her photos appear in a magazine, journalist Tom Graham knows that he wants to work with that photographer for his new assignment. It's an assignment of utmost secrecy and extreme danger. Tom has been tasked with infiltrating into high-ranking Nazi's inner circles, writing articles of propaganda and support for their cause, all the while collecting evidence that they are, in fact, preparing for another war. Viviane accepts the task under the ruse of accompanying her step-sister on a foreign visit to her Godparents house in Germany to attend the Olympics. Once there, the girls are shown all of the splendid tourist sights and are welcomed with open arms by everyone they encounter. Are things truly as they seem? Or are there sinister secrets hidden behind the shiny facade?
With Tom's words and Viviane's photos the world is about to see exactly what Germany is up to under their friendly pretense. Unfortunately, someone close by has caught wind of their true intent and will do anything to stop the information from leaving the country. They'll be running for their lives, and the enemy chasing them is extremely determined.
My rating:
The Boys of Winter
Wayne Coffey
"Do you believe in miracles? Yes!"
Just for fun, google 'greatest sports moments in American history'. Chances are, 'Miracle on Ice' comes up as one of the results. Subjective? Of course! But (I'm told) that it was one of those moments that if you lived it, you can say exactly where you were when you found out the Americans had beat the Soviets in the most improbable comeback in hockey history. For me, I fell in love with this story in a movie theater circa 2004.
In this non-fiction accounting of the 'miracle on ice', the story is told in three parts. Just like a hockey game, the book has three periods. Each period is a detailed narrative of how the actual hockey period played out. As players are introduced, an exposition of that individual (their upbringing, family life, hockey experience, how they made it to the Olympic team) is shared. It's an interesting way to tell the story, and quite unlike what I was expecting. When I read the chapter titles (First Period, Second Period, Third Period), I thought that the first and second may be lead-ups to the big game (training that year, other games, etc). But, no. the entire book is solely the game vs. the Soviets. The detailed play-by-play can get a bit redundant and confusing...especially if you're not overly familiar with hockey jargon, but if you're a fan of this particular hockey moment-you'll like the book.
If you're like me, and a super-fan of the movie, you'll love reading about what the International Ice Hockey Federation called "the best international ice hockey story of the century"!
My rating:
(This is perhaps a rare occasion for me where I prefer the movie to the book.)
Let the Games Begin
Rufaro Faith Mazarura
This was my only book this month that didn't fall in the non-fiction or historical fiction based on true events and/or characters categories, so it was honestly a refreshing change of pace. It felt much lighter and more fun...a true fictionalized account of what the Olympic Village is like. Of course it helped that it was set in modern time, and not the 1930's which were simultaneously Depression era and the lead-up to World War II, so not exactly an 'uplifting' time in history (3 of my books this month were about the 1936 Olympics...in Germany.)
Zeke is a record-holding track star on the Great Britain team. He's a laid-back, charismatic heart-throb, with his sights set on Olympic gold. Olivia is an ambitious, goal-oriented intern, with a summer job lined up working at the Athens Olympics. When they arrive at The Games, they're each busy and focused on their own paths. But when those paths collide (literally--a drink and outfit don't make it out of the scenario unscathed), their well-laid plans towards their goals start to shift.
Although attracted to each other, both are fighting internal battles with themselves, which make it hard to connect with someone else on a deeper level. Zeke has triggers related to his past...which make it difficult to know what's right for his future. Olivia has put so much pressure on herself to live the life her parents never got the opportunity to...but is her happiness being sacrificed on the way? They both have a lot more questions than answers when thinking about life after the Olympics. And whether they want it to or not, the day of Zeke's final race is speeding closer. We know what happened when The Games began...but what will happen when they end?
My rating:
(Book club ratings went all the way from DNF to a 4...so we were all over the place with this one! Biggest complaint is that no romance/action happened until the second half of the book..and even then it was all off-page and you were left wanting more.)
Steam rating:
MEDAL CEREMONY TIME!
Gold Medal read this month: That Summer in Berlin. I'm a sucker for historical fiction, and this one hit the spot with just the right amount of history, romance, and adventure.
Taking the silver: The Boys in the Boat. This non-fiction book had me rooting so hard for these boys...even though I already knew what the outcome was going to be.
Rounding out the podium with bronze: Fast Girls. Filled to the brim with characters you can't help but root for...in life, and in sports.
Favorite Olympics?
Summer--sand & water sports for me!
Winter-give me all the ice & snow sports!
October is the month of the witch on the blog...join me for all the rituals, covens, and curses and let's see if any of the books put us under their spell.
Read along with me in October
Something old | Weyward by Emilia Hart |
Something new | How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix |
Something steamy | Phantasma by Kaylie Smith |
Something true-ish | Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian |
Book club pick | Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah |
Send any book recommendations, questions, or comments to me at sosnssst@gmail.com (something old something new something steamy something true-ish @ gmail.com).
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