Reviews

Life at These Speeds by Jeremy Jackson

marieeandree's review against another edition

5.0

Good book! However, it was very hard to get into. I loved the way the main character was saved by running and I all in all really enjoyed this book. The only really big downside was the way the author wrote...I did not like it as muc.

rhyan's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

feldy's review

sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

wordnerdy's review against another edition

5.0

http://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2008/01/2007-book-6.html
http://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2009/01/2009-book-6.html
http://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2013/12/2013-book-328.html

library_brandy's review against another edition

4.0

I'm giving this four stars for now, but I have an idea my opinion of it will creep up over time. I can't point to any obvious elements that make it so wonderful, or anything that particularly detracts. At its heart, it's a coming-of-age story (but it's about a boy, so it's billed as Bildungsroman) of a high-school boy dealing with grief after his entire track team is killed in a car accident. He deals by not dealing, really, losing himself to physicality (running), allowing speed to block out everything else. Kevin is not a reliable narrator; he doesn't remember much before the accident, and flashes only come to him in fits and starts, but not enough to piece together. He won't let anyone into his life, though even he doesn't seem to understand why. He's confused, frustrated, and generally out of sorts, and the writing captures his voice very well.

I wouldn't recommend it to everybody; it is very sports-heavy (track/running), and I'd imagine that could turn people off. But it did make me sort of wish that my knees could still handle running, and if that's not a sign of a good sports novel, I don't know what is.

rlambertdo's review against another edition

4.0

At page 18, i was ready to give it up. The character names are cheesy and I envisioned a full book of high school angst. "I'll give it one hundred pages", I told my husband, "then reassess".

Finished it. Four stars. The rough start dissipated quickly, as the plot declared.

Smooth and pleasant reading for runners and former athletes of all ilks.