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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Thoughts: I'll be honest... I was wary of this book. As much as I loved [b:Little Bee|6948436|Little Bee|Chris Cleave|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1344401905s/6948436.jpg|4126074] by the same author, I had low hopes for this one. I don't typically like books about athletes, and I often find it hard to relate to the characters... and for a while, this book basically fulfilled my expectations. I struggled to connect to the characters, I didn't understand their motivations, and I thought Sophie's storyline was just unbearably sad.
But, somewhere around the second half of the book, I got hooked. I ended up reading the last 175 pages in one sitting. I guess it's a bit like a cycling race? They start slow, get warmed up, build their speed... and then it's a sprint to the finish. Once I hit that sprint, I was literally crying (actually bursted out into tears) and celebrating and feeling all the emotions of the main characters. The way that the author reveals each character's backstory was great (although I would have liked it sooner in the novel), and the final race that we see was masterfully written. I was so hyped up when I finished this book that I actually went run a mile. Run! Me! Who would have thought?
Who Should Read It: Anyone who likes athletes or the Olympics. Anyone looking for a gripping tale of friendship. Anyone who wants a surprising book that isn't a thriller.
Thoughts: I'll be honest... I was wary of this book. As much as I loved [b:Little Bee|6948436|Little Bee|Chris Cleave|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1344401905s/6948436.jpg|4126074] by the same author, I had low hopes for this one. I don't typically like books about athletes, and I often find it hard to relate to the characters... and for a while, this book basically fulfilled my expectations. I struggled to connect to the characters, I didn't understand their motivations, and I thought Sophie's storyline was just unbearably sad.
But, somewhere around the second half of the book, I got hooked. I ended up reading the last 175 pages in one sitting. I guess it's a bit like a cycling race? They start slow, get warmed up, build their speed... and then it's a sprint to the finish. Once I hit that sprint, I was literally crying (actually bursted out into tears) and celebrating and feeling all the emotions of the main characters. The way that the author reveals each character's backstory was great (although I would have liked it sooner in the novel), and the final race that we see was masterfully written. I was so hyped up when I finished this book that I actually went run a mile. Run! Me! Who would have thought?
Who Should Read It: Anyone who likes athletes or the Olympics. Anyone looking for a gripping tale of friendship. Anyone who wants a surprising book that isn't a thriller.
This review and others can be found on Cozy Up With A Good Read
I admit it, I have not read a Chris Cleave book before now... I am ashamed to say it. I'm glad I have now read one of his novels, just as it says in the description his story is filled with "elegance and humour.." I knew from the description that I was walking into a book full of hard times, I just didn't know how much this book would actually get to my emotions (let me say A LOT, I mean crying on the train while commuting to work).
This book is told in a sequential narrative, moving from each character's point of view. There are many different characters, but they all connect with one another in some way. When all the characters have as close a connection as these do, it makes it easier to follow through the different jumps in the narrative. My favourite narrative voice had to be that of Sophie, the 8 year old. She is a Star Wars obsessed kid, and her parts were always so much fun. Cleave gets some awesome points for all the Star Wars references throughout.
I had a lot of fun reading this book. I felt like it was a puzzle that I slowly had to put together as I was reading. Each character would remember things from their past about how everyone met, and different things that really affected their future in ways. You really get to understand each character in their own way by seeing what got them to where they are now. I was really surprised as the book kept going on, where Cleave took these characters and what things they all actually went through with one another. Once everything was put together I was really shocked with the turn of the story, and it really hit my emotional side more.
What really made this book, one that is going on the re-read shelf is really the message that Cleave with you long after you've finished the book. This story is really about striving for your dreams even when you've been kicked down, work for what you believe in. To me Kate was an inspirational character, I can't really explain why without giving away spoilers, you will just have to read it to find out ;)
If you haven't read any of Cleave's books before, I suggest you get on that. I plan to check out his other books ASAP!
I admit it, I have not read a Chris Cleave book before now... I am ashamed to say it. I'm glad I have now read one of his novels, just as it says in the description his story is filled with "elegance and humour.." I knew from the description that I was walking into a book full of hard times, I just didn't know how much this book would actually get to my emotions (let me say A LOT, I mean crying on the train while commuting to work).
This book is told in a sequential narrative, moving from each character's point of view. There are many different characters, but they all connect with one another in some way. When all the characters have as close a connection as these do, it makes it easier to follow through the different jumps in the narrative. My favourite narrative voice had to be that of Sophie, the 8 year old. She is a Star Wars obsessed kid, and her parts were always so much fun. Cleave gets some awesome points for all the Star Wars references throughout.
I had a lot of fun reading this book. I felt like it was a puzzle that I slowly had to put together as I was reading. Each character would remember things from their past about how everyone met, and different things that really affected their future in ways. You really get to understand each character in their own way by seeing what got them to where they are now. I was really surprised as the book kept going on, where Cleave took these characters and what things they all actually went through with one another. Once everything was put together I was really shocked with the turn of the story, and it really hit my emotional side more.
What really made this book, one that is going on the re-read shelf is really the message that Cleave with you long after you've finished the book. This story is really about striving for your dreams even when you've been kicked down, work for what you believe in. To me Kate was an inspirational character, I can't really explain why without giving away spoilers, you will just have to read it to find out ;)
If you haven't read any of Cleave's books before, I suggest you get on that. I plan to check out his other books ASAP!
Liked this book. Yes, it was formulaic and cliched but isn't life that way, sometimes?
The writing bothers me sometimes. I think I like the story but the writing is over the top in some sections and straightforward in others. The lack of a consistent voice is off-putting. Just to be on the safe side, direct quotes.
"When Sophie was a Jedi knight was the only time she didn’t feel exhausted."
Why isn't it, "The only time Sophie didn't feel exhausted was when she was a Jedi Knight."
And what's with the POV change in the middle of this paragraph?
"There was no sense whinging about it. It was on him, and he wasn’t going to shirk it. If you were honest, you called these heartbreaks in to you the moment you blew that whistle."
Spoiler
And I just don't understand the way this sentence was formatted."When Sophie was a Jedi knight was the only time she didn’t feel exhausted."
Why isn't it, "The only time Sophie didn't feel exhausted was when she was a Jedi Knight."
And what's with the POV change in the middle of this paragraph?
"There was no sense whinging about it. It was on him, and he wasn’t going to shirk it. If you were honest, you called these heartbreaks in to you the moment you blew that whistle."
A while ago I read Cleave's "Little Bee". With all the hype and mystery surrounding it, I couldn't help but feel underwhelmed. All of this led to me starting this novel with next to no expectations. Right from the beginning, I felt myself drawn into the story. I know nothing about professional cycling and the whole technical aspect was mostly missing from the book. Like the problems the sport has with doping and high expectations from outside. Both topics were hinted at; the outside pressure far more so. Much more important in this story about Kate, Zoe, Jack and Sophie are the emotions. How afar do you go? How do you push yourself and why? What is the most important thing, really; is it really winning? The characteristics of the characters felt at parts stereotypical. Running away from something, the talented one, blah. That didn't bother me as much as I thougt it would. Because it's just written so well! And the whole thing with Sophie is just heartbreaking. I wasn't surprised when Zoe turned out to be her biological mother; the hints at the beginning were easy to get. But when she got worse towards the end and Jack didn't tell Kate so she could win her race, I thought this is it. I felt physically sick because I was so certain that Sophie was going to die. And Kate would miss it. She'd be doing her race and her daughter would die without her. But no. I was wrong and I'm so glad I was. All in all, this is a great read. Very entertaining.
Perfect timing for reading this one, as I finished it while the London Olympics were actually going on. It was an interesting look into the lives of athletes and those people closest to them. Definitely some plot twists in this story I didn't expect.
An absorbing read that I very much enjoyed - although it can't quite beat the earlier book The Other Hand.
Cleave is a talented writer who creates characters with plenty of real flaws and these books are perfect for arguing about with friends.
Cleave is a talented writer who creates characters with plenty of real flaws and these books are perfect for arguing about with friends.
chris cleave ripped out my heart and then put it back gently and tenderly.
I know there are those who have read and loved this one, but I REALLY couldn’t stand:
- any of the characters
- the unbelievable melodrama (within and without the cycling competitions)
- the way Cleave used the adoption and sick child storylines in SUCH an emotionally exploitative, manipulative way...and then just...(somehow!) quickly and unrealistically resolved them in order to wrap up the story once the cycling rivalry had been settled
Two stars only because I finished it and it gave me some greater appreciation for the sport of cycling.
- any of the characters
- the unbelievable melodrama (within and without the cycling competitions)
- the way Cleave used the adoption and sick child storylines in SUCH an emotionally exploitative, manipulative way...and then just...(somehow!) quickly and unrealistically resolved them in order to wrap up the story once the cycling rivalry had been settled
Two stars only because I finished it and it gave me some greater appreciation for the sport of cycling.