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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
I was given this book for my birthday, 6 months ago. I have read Little bee by Cleave and I didn't like it so I thought i wouldn't like Gold. But I was wrong. As a cyclist, I love all the cycling talk, I could totally get into it. I also know people that trained for the Olympics so reading about these characters lives was very accurate. Furthermore, the story line was very gripping. I truly enjoyed it.
I am changing my review to 4.5. The more I think about I the more I like it. Same author as "little bee" - which was great too.
Gave up on this one. The cancer subplot rubbed me the wrong way, frankly.
This was a page turner, and I would highly recommend it for a vacation read. That said, I did not like it nearly as much as the other Chris Cleave book I have read, Little Bee. Gold was too melodramatic for me. It often felt more like a soap opera than a novel. Cleave is a talented writer, and I think he could have written an enticing novel without resorting to some of the sensationalism in this novel.
Also, some of the facts didn't completely add up. I know Olympic support differs in different countries, and I think the UK provides more government support than the US, but I still think it unlikely that two people could care for a critically ill child and still qualify for the Olympics without any extended family and seemingly no nannies or health aides around. And, without giving too much away, I find it unlikely that famous athletes could hide a secret so well.
I didn't really care for Jack and Zoe that much, but that didn't bother me. In real life I'm guessing I wouldn't care for most elite athletes because of their intensity of focus on one thing that doesn't do much to improve the world for others.
I enjoyed learning a little bit about bike racing.
Also, some of the facts didn't completely add up. I know Olympic support differs in different countries, and I think the UK provides more government support than the US, but I still think it unlikely that two people could care for a critically ill child and still qualify for the Olympics without any extended family and seemingly no nannies or health aides around. And, without giving too much away, I find it unlikely that famous athletes could hide a secret so well.
I didn't really care for Jack and Zoe that much, but that didn't bother me. In real life I'm guessing I wouldn't care for most elite athletes because of their intensity of focus on one thing that doesn't do much to improve the world for others.
I enjoyed learning a little bit about bike racing.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I didn’t know what to expect from this novel, but what I got was a story that was interesting and a satisfying ending. Good read!
I loved this book from the very beginning. I could not put it down until I had finished it. The characters were so dynamic and wonderfully created. The plot was spectacularly written. It truly felt like I was there with them. My heart would be faster right along with the characters in the book. It should be a must read.
**The copy of this book that I read was an advance reader's copy**
**The copy of this book that I read was an advance reader's copy**
It was OK. Don't know that I would recommend it since there are so many book that are better that just OK.
--Recommended by Connie. Check our catalog:http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sgold+cleave__Orightresult__U1?lang=eng&suite=pearl
Olympic events started on July 28, and I started this book on August 1. A neat coincidence as I reached the chapter describing the first meeting of the four main characters at the Velodrome, only to hear about 15 seconds later on TV, "Here we are from the London Velopark. The timing really made me appreciate the portrayal of the psyche and physiological aspects of Olympic athletes. I was awed by the descriptions of the metabolic and physiologic occurrences that happen during a race. Just the descriptions of the security necessary during an Olympics was mind-boggling. (And I worked at an '88 swimming trial where some friends served as escorts to be sure nothing happened to athletes between the completion of a race and their drug test.)
I felt somewhat betrayed by the major plot twist, because it made it seem that, although we were privy to many of the inner feelings of the characters, we weren't really told the truth from the beginning. Some phrases seemed overwrought, but others were exquisite:
"It was more dangerous than fighting, but safer than conversation"
"Perhaps everyone struggles with the possessive flow in human memory that hoarded the episodes you most wanted to let go."
Some things are pretty hilarious (Tom stuck in the bathtub, his misperception during a childbirth), but there is much desperation in the story. Sometimes the StarWars parts seemed too much of a juxtaposition, and I never really did like Zoe. How much was Tom's failure to medal (by 0.1 second) a part of the person he would ultimately become?
Ultimately, though, this was a great read during the Olympics! I also had the urge to drink tea, and I downloaded The Proclaimers "500 Miles" too.
I felt somewhat betrayed by the major plot twist, because it made it seem that, although we were privy to many of the inner feelings of the characters, we weren't really told the truth from the beginning. Some phrases seemed overwrought, but others were exquisite:
"It was more dangerous than fighting, but safer than conversation"
"Perhaps everyone struggles with the possessive flow in human memory that hoarded the episodes you most wanted to let go."
Some things are pretty hilarious (Tom stuck in the bathtub, his misperception during a childbirth), but there is much desperation in the story. Sometimes the StarWars parts seemed too much of a juxtaposition, and I never really did like Zoe. How much was Tom's failure to medal (by 0.1 second) a part of the person he would ultimately become?
Ultimately, though, this was a great read during the Olympics! I also had the urge to drink tea, and I downloaded The Proclaimers "500 Miles" too.