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liralen's review against another edition
3.0
Three and a half stars. Fierce is definitely one of the better gymnastics memoirs I've read of late—certainly the best of Raisman's cohort. Whether that's because she did her writing at a slightly older age (you laugh, but there's a big difference between being 17 and being 23 when it comes to maturity of writing!) or because she had a better ghostwriter, I can't say, but she manages to keep the timeline moving while slowing down enough to talk about individual competitions (not just how she did but how it felt to prepare and compete). There are also some pretty entertaining anecdotes:
Inside the Olympic Village, fruit and drink stands dotted the walkways, and every athlete was given a special keycard to swipe in vending machines for as many free bottles of sports drinks as we wanted. Whenever we had a team meeting with Martha [Károlyi], we would sit meekly and not at whatever she said. If we talked, she might see that our tongues had turned bright blue from the forbidden sugary drinks we'd been sneaking. Each time Martha left, we would cover our mouths to stifle the nervous laughter. (160)
It's actually kind of striking to see Raisman talk about how little nutritional guidance she got until she went looking for it on her own. Certainly the stereotype for gymnasts is that there's heavy pressure to remain thin (although there's been a shift in recent years towards more overtly muscular gymnasts) and eat, like, nothing but salad and the occasional grilled meat, and indeed Raisman mentions times of being shamed for eating in a way that somebody didn't think was how a gymnast 'should' eat...but you'd also think that by now there would be dietitians and so on on hand to help the national team (and other elite gymnasts) figure out how best to fuel their bodies for the crazy amounts of exercise they do and the skills they have to achieve. (It's stupid how often eating as little as possible is still seen as the ideal. Also, who gives a flying f*ck what somebody weighs—or eats, or looks like—when they can do the things elite gymnasts can?)
Raisman talks a little about the allegations against Nasser. She's as clear as it's possible to get that details are off the table, which of course is fine—her story, her choice! But I'm passively curious about the decision to include Nasser in the book. He's mentioned a couple of times in passing, and then there's a chapter devoted to Raisman dealing with the aftermath, and it reads to me as...not an afterthought, but something that was added after the fact when somebody (hopefully Raisman herself, obviously) decided that it had to be addressed. Not a criticism; I imagine it was a complicated decision to make and a hard chapter to write.
The best gymnastics books (or books about athletics more generally...or, hell, 'experience' memoirs more generally) that I've read have brought to the table not just the athletics but some other story, or stories, under the surface. Raisman doesn't quite get there: hers is a really solid gymnastics memoir, obviously something she put a lot of work into, but its core and the vast majority of...I'm about to kill this metaphor...its flesh is gymasticsgymnasticsgymnastics. If you want a really complex, beautifully written memoir not on any particular subject, probably look somewhere else, but for gymnastics, this is not a bad way to go.
Inside the Olympic Village, fruit and drink stands dotted the walkways, and every athlete was given a special keycard to swipe in vending machines for as many free bottles of sports drinks as we wanted. Whenever we had a team meeting with Martha [Károlyi], we would sit meekly and not at whatever she said. If we talked, she might see that our tongues had turned bright blue from the forbidden sugary drinks we'd been sneaking. Each time Martha left, we would cover our mouths to stifle the nervous laughter. (160)
It's actually kind of striking to see Raisman talk about how little nutritional guidance she got until she went looking for it on her own. Certainly the stereotype for gymnasts is that there's heavy pressure to remain thin (although there's been a shift in recent years towards more overtly muscular gymnasts) and eat, like, nothing but salad and the occasional grilled meat, and indeed Raisman mentions times of being shamed for eating in a way that somebody didn't think was how a gymnast 'should' eat...but you'd also think that by now there would be dietitians and so on on hand to help the national team (and other elite gymnasts) figure out how best to fuel their bodies for the crazy amounts of exercise they do and the skills they have to achieve. (It's stupid how often eating as little as possible is still seen as the ideal. Also, who gives a flying f*ck what somebody weighs—or eats, or looks like—when they can do the things elite gymnasts can?)
Raisman talks a little about the allegations against Nasser. She's as clear as it's possible to get that details are off the table, which of course is fine—her story, her choice! But I'm passively curious about the decision to include Nasser in the book. He's mentioned a couple of times in passing, and then there's a chapter devoted to Raisman dealing with the aftermath, and it reads to me as...not an afterthought, but something that was added after the fact when somebody (hopefully Raisman herself, obviously) decided that it had to be addressed. Not a criticism; I imagine it was a complicated decision to make and a hard chapter to write.
The best gymnastics books (or books about athletics more generally...or, hell, 'experience' memoirs more generally) that I've read have brought to the table not just the athletics but some other story, or stories, under the surface. Raisman doesn't quite get there: hers is a really solid gymnastics memoir, obviously something she put a lot of work into, but its core and the vast majority of...I'm about to kill this metaphor...its flesh is gymasticsgymnasticsgymnastics. If you want a really complex, beautifully written memoir not on any particular subject, probably look somewhere else, but for gymnastics, this is not a bad way to go.
adors's review
4.0
I like that it includes the behind the scene in elite gymnastics beyond the training and relationship with the coaches. The amount of support an athlete needs to be successful can make elite gymnastics really expensive. Aside from cost of training (fees and gym fees), did not realize the amount of time they spent seeing medical experts to keep them healthy. Its nice to see that even the nutrition is important to keep them healthy. Something I haven't read in the other gymnastics books.
It shows the real elite gymnastics beyond on what we see on tv. We read about the struggle and dark side of gymnastics but also gave us hope and the positivity of elite gymnastics. Nice balance.
It shows the real elite gymnastics beyond on what we see on tv. We read about the struggle and dark side of gymnastics but also gave us hope and the positivity of elite gymnastics. Nice balance.
kreinard's review against another edition
4.0
4 Stars for Aly Raisman!
This is one of the better gymnastics memoirs that I've read (and I've read most all of them). I really loved Aly and her fighting spirit in both the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. I am also an avid gymnastics fan and have seen her disappointing meets as well. It was illuminating to hear her doubts and insecurities not only in her downfalls, but also before some of her biggest moments; moments that should have been very validating.
I loved how honest she was in sharing her story, as well as how modest she was in going into details that were not necessary to her telling of her story. I also love her messages on body positivity and her experiences with her own body insecurities and how she has overcome that, yet still struggles like us all.
The writing seemed to flow well, except for a few small parts, but overall was much better than I would normally expect from a gymnastics memoir. So excited to see what else she does in, not only her gymnastics career, but in her personal life and career outside of the gym. I will always be a fan.
This is one of the better gymnastics memoirs that I've read (and I've read most all of them). I really loved Aly and her fighting spirit in both the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. I am also an avid gymnastics fan and have seen her disappointing meets as well. It was illuminating to hear her doubts and insecurities not only in her downfalls, but also before some of her biggest moments; moments that should have been very validating.
I loved how honest she was in sharing her story, as well as how modest she was in going into details that were not necessary to her telling of her story. I also love her messages on body positivity and her experiences with her own body insecurities and how she has overcome that, yet still struggles like us all.
The writing seemed to flow well, except for a few small parts, but overall was much better than I would normally expect from a gymnastics memoir. So excited to see what else she does in, not only her gymnastics career, but in her personal life and career outside of the gym. I will always be a fan.
reeseplagenz's review
5.0
YAZ I love Aly Raisman so much, this was so good I hardly put it down once I started.
meliaraastair's review
5.0
If you aren’t as big of a gymnastics fan as I am, Aly is a 6-time Olympic medalist and competed in 2 Olympic Games – 2012 and 2016. She is one heck of a strong woman. She was a victim of the disgusting Larry Nassar and has been fighting to change the culture of USA Gymnastics, especially since the trial last year. Her book gives such an insider’s glimpse into how sick the organization really was (is?) and I truly hope that there is healing and redemption. Sure, the US became incredibly successful, but it’s not worth the cost. Americans used to judge some of the Russian/Eastern European teams for the crazy training regimens those girls were subjected to and yet they cultivated a pretty rough environment here too. I know mental toughness is so important in a sport like gymnastics, but I believe there has to be a way to accomplish that without turning athletes into robots.
Anyway, if you are a gymnastics fan, or even just want a glimpse into the life of a gymnast (or the culture of USA gymnastics), check this book out! Out of the gymnast books I’ve read, Aly does a great job sharing messages of body positivity, the importance of truly balanced nutrition, and the sacrifices she had to make to make it in the sport. I hope to continue hearing amazing things about her for years to come! And while I’d love to see her be a 26 year old gymnast in Tokyo because I think if anyone has the mental toughness to make the third Olympics it’d be Aly (or maybe Simone in another 6 years…we will see!) I hope she is finding who she is outside of the identity of gymnastics and getting time to live life.
9 of 10 for enjoyment (I’m a huge gymnastics fan) and 4.5 of 5 for readability. Aly went through some tough stuff at quite a young age. Just a heads up – while she doesn’t go into details about specifics of the abuse, any young gymnastics fans out there should probably have a parent pre-read this one.
For more reviews, check out bedroopedbookworms.wordpress.com!
Anyway, if you are a gymnastics fan, or even just want a glimpse into the life of a gymnast (or the culture of USA gymnastics), check this book out! Out of the gymnast books I’ve read, Aly does a great job sharing messages of body positivity, the importance of truly balanced nutrition, and the sacrifices she had to make to make it in the sport. I hope to continue hearing amazing things about her for years to come! And while I’d love to see her be a 26 year old gymnast in Tokyo because I think if anyone has the mental toughness to make the third Olympics it’d be Aly (or maybe Simone in another 6 years…we will see!) I hope she is finding who she is outside of the identity of gymnastics and getting time to live life.
9 of 10 for enjoyment (I’m a huge gymnastics fan) and 4.5 of 5 for readability. Aly went through some tough stuff at quite a young age. Just a heads up – while she doesn’t go into details about specifics of the abuse, any young gymnastics fans out there should probably have a parent pre-read this one.
For more reviews, check out bedroopedbookworms.wordpress.com!
girlinacardigan's review against another edition
4.0
https://jenninsf.wordpress.com/2018/01/07/fierce-by-aly-raisman/
raerni's review
4.0
It reads much like every other gymnastics biography written by a ghost writer, but I don't care because I love Aly and I admire her persistence and tenacity.
raerni's review against another edition
4.0
This book is similar to every other gymnastics biography penned by a ghost writer. I don't care though, because I love Aly and I admire her determination and tenacity. Like Simone's biography, this one seems to skim the surface of a lot of real issues. I can only hope that one day Aly writes a biography aimed at adult readers - and tells more of the story. Until then, this is a fun, quick read for gymnastics fans.