A review by abbysbookadventure
The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

All of the stars for this INCREDIBLE story. I'm so glad I listened before seeing the movie, which I now can't wait to go see in a few days. 

 

- The narration! Edward Hermann was absolute perfection. His voice is MEANT for this kind of story, and it really heightened the experience. RIP <3 

- The storytelling! This flowed like a fiction read and is completely captivating. From Joe's riveting backstory to the magic of the racing itself, I was mesmerized and couldn't wait to keep listening. I of course know they win the Olympic Gold - it's a part of history, literally in the title and told to you from the very first chapter. Yet the way I gasped with with my hands flung over my face, waiting to see if they'd win each race, you'd think I didn't know the outcome. 

- The history! The way it interwove the history of Nazi Germany and propaganda into this story was chilling and felt all too timely. 

- The boys! Ugh, I just love this group of boys so much. I laughed, I cried. What a crew.