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ccfontana's review against another edition
5.0
Cycling. Olympics. Cancer. Duh. Of course I loved this book.
skwinslow's review against another edition
3.0
I had a hard time not giving this four stars, easily, because I honestly loved reading it. I knew I would love reading it just a few pages in when I realized that one of the main characters is an eight-year-old girl who loves Star Wars; I have a six-year-old daughter who loves Star Wars. And I think Chris Cleave gets the stuff about kids (and their parents) right. Incidentally, I thought this was true of Little Bee as well.
I don't think he writes about the relationships between men and women particularly well, though; that always feels a little clunky to me. And plot-wise -- well, I read the story quickly, and I was definitely absorbed and enjoying myself, but it was only slightly better than a Jodi Picoult novel for me. That's true of some of the writing, too. Sometimes I loved it; sometimes the metaphors seemed a bit too self-conscious.
But sometimes you just need to wrap up in an imperfect little book and be okay with rolling your eyes here and there while still really loving some parts of it, and that was this book for me. I'm glad two of my good friends read it around the same time so we can talk about it the next time we get together.
I don't think he writes about the relationships between men and women particularly well, though; that always feels a little clunky to me. And plot-wise -- well, I read the story quickly, and I was definitely absorbed and enjoying myself, but it was only slightly better than a Jodi Picoult novel for me. That's true of some of the writing, too. Sometimes I loved it; sometimes the metaphors seemed a bit too self-conscious.
But sometimes you just need to wrap up in an imperfect little book and be okay with rolling your eyes here and there while still really loving some parts of it, and that was this book for me. I'm glad two of my good friends read it around the same time so we can talk about it the next time we get together.
jjbittenbinder's review against another edition
3.0
This would get three and a half stars if that was possible. The subject matter was unique and thoroughly enjoyable. As a cycling fan, Cleave's descriptions were thorough and spot-on, without being something I feel would bore a non-sports fan. They are integral to the book without being the entire focus -- you don't have to love cycling or even sport to love this book. Athleticism is central to the characters' lives, but, as rich, well-developed figures their lives -- and the book -- includes so much more.
Some reviewers compared this book to Little Bee. But I have not yet read Little Bee. I plan to after enjoying Gold. Cleave's Sincere, yet edgy writing style struck me as genuine and applicable to a wide range of subjects. I look forward to reading more of his work.
Some reviewers compared this book to Little Bee. But I have not yet read Little Bee. I plan to after enjoying Gold. Cleave's Sincere, yet edgy writing style struck me as genuine and applicable to a wide range of subjects. I look forward to reading more of his work.
christielli's review against another edition
5.0
I'm giving this book 4 stars because I got so emotionally involved with the characters that I couldn't put it down and just stayed up until 2:18 am reading it. I'm amazed by the amount of research the author must have done to write this book so believably. He wrote exciting cycling scenes, and was awesome at describing what it must be like to be an elite athlete. In addition, he was able to describe what it's like to parent/be a child with leukemia. Loved this book.
bookkate's review against another edition
3.0
A very engaging story - it was definitely a page turner & the characters really draw you in (though the plot-lines erred on the side of melodrama).
Really enjoyed the read, but I got repeatedly annoyed as Cleave waxed a bit too poetic a bit too often. For example: "She looked along the curved black line that bent gravity around the locus of her fury and called in all her demons and bound them together into one infinitely hot point of energy in the centre of her."
Or: "What could you do, when you were born under a blue flashing light instead of a star sign? You could only keep ahead of your destiny."
Please.
Really enjoyed the read, but I got repeatedly annoyed as Cleave waxed a bit too poetic a bit too often. For example: "She looked along the curved black line that bent gravity around the locus of her fury and called in all her demons and bound them together into one infinitely hot point of energy in the centre of her."
Or: "What could you do, when you were born under a blue flashing light instead of a star sign? You could only keep ahead of your destiny."
Please.
davefoolery's review against another edition
3.0
This was very enjoyable. Good characters, good heart, some surprising drama, but I wanted to get swept up more in the competition and that just didn't happen.
sarahek's review
4.0
I struggled through the beginning because I hate the "heroic child going through cancer treatment and hiding her pain from adults" trope. Whose eight-year-old does that?? Once I was able to move past my irritation, I flew through the rest.
erin_andi's review against another edition
4.0
Gold, Chris Cleave
Character development is the first thing I look for in a new novel. While it read like a Jodi Picoult novel at times with the changing points of view, Gold didn’t disappoint in rich characters.
Zoe’s character was different than any character I can remember reading about. She was broken yet determined, aloof yet obsessed. Her life was in shambles everywhere except on the race track. It was interesting to see how those around her held her up in different ways. Kate’s character was a little more predictable, willing to give up her own life to save her daughter’s. I was confused by Jack in his wavering between women. Despite his strength on the track, I saw him to be weak in life; not fighting for the one he truly loved and almost losing her, not speaking up about how sick his daughter was and almost losing her ... Speaking of his daughter, Sophie was my favorite character of the novel. I saw her to be the most mature, the most capable of standing outside herself to see how her actions affected those around her. I would have liked more from her point of view. To me, Tom, the coach, was the saddest of all, even in comparison to a sick young girl. It was heartbreaking reading about his loss at his own Olympic games, his estranged family, his lost dreams. The sacrifices he made for his sport crippled him, physically and emotionally. His love for Zoe, teetering between paternal and romantic, was the only thing propelling him from day to day.
Written with rare pauses for chapters, the book felt as though the story just kept on going, like it too was on the velodrome track. This was one aspect that I found tiring; I read through with the feeling that I wanted to take a break, but couldn’t find the right point to jump out of the story, off the track.In the end, while some things were left up for interpretation, I liked how full circle the characters stories came. Full circle, like a race track.
Character development is the first thing I look for in a new novel. While it read like a Jodi Picoult novel at times with the changing points of view, Gold didn’t disappoint in rich characters.
Zoe’s character was different than any character I can remember reading about. She was broken yet determined, aloof yet obsessed. Her life was in shambles everywhere except on the race track. It was interesting to see how those around her held her up in different ways. Kate’s character was a little more predictable, willing to give up her own life to save her daughter’s. I was confused by Jack in his wavering between women. Despite his strength on the track, I saw him to be weak in life; not fighting for the one he truly loved and almost losing her, not speaking up about how sick his daughter was and almost losing her ... Speaking of his daughter, Sophie was my favorite character of the novel. I saw her to be the most mature, the most capable of standing outside herself to see how her actions affected those around her. I would have liked more from her point of view. To me, Tom, the coach, was the saddest of all, even in comparison to a sick young girl. It was heartbreaking reading about his loss at his own Olympic games, his estranged family, his lost dreams. The sacrifices he made for his sport crippled him, physically and emotionally. His love for Zoe, teetering between paternal and romantic, was the only thing propelling him from day to day.
Written with rare pauses for chapters, the book felt as though the story just kept on going, like it too was on the velodrome track. This was one aspect that I found tiring; I read through with the feeling that I wanted to take a break, but couldn’t find the right point to jump out of the story, off the track.In the end, while some things were left up for interpretation, I liked how full circle the characters stories came. Full circle, like a race track.