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bmilleville's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
sunshine169's review against another edition
4.0
As other reviews have said this is definitely an all out positive book that doesn't delve too deeply into Shannon's feelings. However, she is and always will be my favorite gymnast and I enjoyed her career recap immensely. She is most certainly a strong willed woman that never lets anyone tell her she cannot accomplish her goals. I admire that!
vmars314's review against another edition
3.0
3.5⭐
The first 3/4 of the book was about her gymnastics career and the last 1/4 was about her adult life and cancer diagnosis. I enjoyed hearing about her life, especially the gymnastics stuff, but everything seemed to be told/viewed through rose-colored glasses. She says she had a great relationship with her coach Steve Nunno, but that's hard to believe in today's climate (and because many others have talked about him being verbally/mentally abusive). Maybe she wasn't ready to talk about it when she wrote this, or maybe they really did have a good relationship.
The first 3/4 of the book was about her gymnastics career and the last 1/4 was about her adult life and cancer diagnosis. I enjoyed hearing about her life, especially the gymnastics stuff, but everything seemed to be told/viewed through rose-colored glasses. She says she had a great relationship with her coach Steve Nunno, but that's hard to believe in today's climate (and because many others have talked about him being verbally/mentally abusive). Maybe she wasn't ready to talk about it when she wrote this, or maybe they really did have a good relationship.
mokey4's review
2.0
I really want to give this 2.5 stars.
I admire Shannon Miller, and I've followed her gymnastics career. It's fun to read about her life in gymnastics, and for that I give the book 4 stars.
But if she didn't want to write anything real about her personal life, she should have just left that part out. I get the feeling that she hasn't really examined her own feelings about her experiences that thoroughly, so it's hard for readers to learn from them. Plus it's not actually that inspiring to read a bunch of "this happened, that happened, it was terrifying, I was careful about diet and exercise, yada yada." I *know* there's more to it than that, and Shannon's not spilling, either because she herself hasn't thought too deeply about it (a crime, a shame!) or because she wants to maintain her privacy. If it's the latter, that's fine, but don't write a memoir if you're not going to tell us what you're really thinking. Also I find that when she writes about her company it sounds like marketing material. So for that part of the book, I give 1 star.
Overall, still a decent read if you're a gymnastics fan.
I admire Shannon Miller, and I've followed her gymnastics career. It's fun to read about her life in gymnastics, and for that I give the book 4 stars.
But if she didn't want to write anything real about her personal life, she should have just left that part out. I get the feeling that she hasn't really examined her own feelings about her experiences that thoroughly, so it's hard for readers to learn from them. Plus it's not actually that inspiring to read a bunch of "this happened, that happened, it was terrifying, I was careful about diet and exercise, yada yada." I *know* there's more to it than that, and Shannon's not spilling, either because she herself hasn't thought too deeply about it (a crime, a shame!) or because she wants to maintain her privacy. If it's the latter, that's fine, but don't write a memoir if you're not going to tell us what you're really thinking. Also I find that when she writes about her company it sounds like marketing material. So for that part of the book, I give 1 star.
Overall, still a decent read if you're a gymnastics fan.
emsterino19's review
5.0
Shannon Miller's is an excellent story!
I had a little bit of a difficult time toward the beginning, as I don't know really anything about gymnastics, and there were a lot of terms I didn't understand. However, I was fascinated with her story and encouraged by her determination. Shannon Miller fell down and got back up again over and over and over.
I highly recommend this book.
I received a copy of this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I had a little bit of a difficult time toward the beginning, as I don't know really anything about gymnastics, and there were a lot of terms I didn't understand. However, I was fascinated with her story and encouraged by her determination. Shannon Miller fell down and got back up again over and over and over.
I highly recommend this book.
I received a copy of this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
disabledreamer's review
4.0
Its fine. Nothing special,i feel like each era was two chapters too long and the book would have more impact if it was winnowed down.
kmdahlgran's review
4.0
I remember watching Shannon Miller compete in the Olympics. I really enjoyed reading about her experience with gymnastics and her life after, including her battle with ovarian cancer. She truly is an inspirational woman.
elisehedlund's review
5.0
I loved this book! It was a real eye-opener for me. I had always loved gymnastics, and to know all about Shannon Miller's life was incredible.
Some people might find this book boring. I could understand how the terms could get less interesting, but I was captivated, knowing about gymnastics myself.
The funny thing is, I never saw Shannon compete in the Olympics. I wasn't even alive at the tie of either. Did that stop me fro completely enjoying this book? No! I felt like I was standing, cheering, on the sidelines as she competed. Her success was my success, her falls were my falls. But I can't say failures. She always picked herself back up, through gymnastics, through cancer. I look up to her so much, her fears, faults, and all the amazing talents she has. I loved this book, but if you don't agree, or even if you do, please reply, because I would love to hear your opinion too.
Some people might find this book boring. I could understand how the terms could get less interesting, but I was captivated, knowing about gymnastics myself.
The funny thing is, I never saw Shannon compete in the Olympics. I wasn't even alive at the tie of either. Did that stop me fro completely enjoying this book? No! I felt like I was standing, cheering, on the sidelines as she competed. Her success was my success, her falls were my falls. But I can't say failures. She always picked herself back up, through gymnastics, through cancer. I look up to her so much, her fears, faults, and all the amazing talents she has. I loved this book, but if you don't agree, or even if you do, please reply, because I would love to hear your opinion too.
saboo's review
3.0
This was a fun peek behind the scenes of the athletic career of a great gymnast. However, its failure to address the negative aspects of gymnastics culture is disappointing because I simply don't believe Shannon Miller was unaware or unaffected by it. I did enjoy the anecdotes from her career (such as the story behind the 1994 World Team Championship when she only performed compulsories) and the story of her struggle with cancer. Her persistence and faith are admirable and inspiring.
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