A book club pick. Another time I'm so grateful for the nudge to read something I may otherwise have passed over. This book shattered me. It was equal A book club pick. Another time I'm so grateful for the nudge to read something I may otherwise have passed over. This book shattered me. It was equal parts riveting, inspiring, sad, emotional and unexpectedly compelled the most patriotic feelings from me. It's the quintessential Olympic "against all odds" story.
If you've ever been an athlete (even on a small scale) Dan Brown will throw you right back to competition day. He brought me to the brink several times eliciting butterflies in my stomach, game day jitters/nerves, etc., I could literally feel them every time those boys competed in a critical competition. It will pull your guts, pound your heart and give you anxiety before a euphoric high or a devastating low sets in, depending on the outcome. I don't know how he did it?? It reads like he lived their whole rowing experience with them, that's just how authentic it felt. The families of all nine rowers (but especially those of Joe Rantz) have to feel proud by the way he immortalized and told their story. It couldn't have been more powerful.
So much history in this book too. Besides the in-depth coverage of the sport of rowing, it also touched on every other crucial event during this period in history ~ the Depression, the Dust Bowl, Hitler's rise to power, etc. It's not a light read but I wish it was required reading. When I said it brought unexpected patriotic feelings, it portrayed America as that "can do" place where anything is possible, even if you're dirt poor. That optimistic spirit our country came to be famous for and is populated with by success stories based on that model. One where hard work will propel you to the life you endeavor to have ~ Joe Rantz and his teammates the perfect examples. They came from "less than nothing" and yet somehow got college degrees and triumphed over the most daunting and unfavorable elements and personal conditions to become heroes to a nation (at a time when we were in desperate need of them.) It's nothing short of staggering. If you read this book and are not moved by what they achieved, you're missing some element of humanity.
I still can't get over the fact that a parent can just abandon a child the way Joe was at 10 years old. That he rose above all the obstacles and disadvantages and still came to be an Olympic champion brought me to tears a number of times. I can't say how much of my heart I left in this book, I just know the story will never leave me. Don't let any lack of knowledge or disinterest in the sport of rowing dissuade you from picking it up. This book is about SO MUCH MORE. 5 Gold Medal Stars for 9 EXCEPTIONAL men & the author who wrote their journey in such a stellar fashion....more
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