Scan barcode
lddecker's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
isaacmcintyre's review against another edition
3.0
Love Maria and was always a fan, and parts of this story (especially her early days in America and breaking into the tour) but it all felt too short and surface level. Perfect example of that is her rivalry vs. Serena; it seemed like it was such a key part of her life but apart from several snippets and one long chapter around her biggest Wimbledon campaign, we don't get to hear much about it and we certainly don't get more than a few annecdotes. Would have loved a lot more time hearing about her top-level playing career and toughest battles at the slams.
sadhbhanne's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
jesshooves's review against another edition
3.0
While I suspect Sharapova's motivations for competing are more nuanced than what she presents in her autobiography, as is her rivalry with Serena Williams perhaps more complicated, her description of her early tennis life is truly illuminating.
Moving to Florida from Russia at age 7 with only her dad and $700, knocking at the gates of prestigious tennis grounds, and bartering for court time is a side of her story I had not anticipated. The memories she relays from this part of her life help shape a fuller understanding of a guarded tennis icon.
Moving to Florida from Russia at age 7 with only her dad and $700, knocking at the gates of prestigious tennis grounds, and bartering for court time is a side of her story I had not anticipated. The memories she relays from this part of her life help shape a fuller understanding of a guarded tennis icon.
moniwicz's review against another edition
5.0
I honestly did not expect to love this book as much as I did. I should be embarrassed for giving a five star rating to a mere autobiography: hardly high end literature.
But I'm not embarrassed.
I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN.
Despite vaguely knowing Masha's story for years, this book gave me a new appreciation of her family, her background, her tenacity, her raw talent, her uniqueness, and the incredible importance of luck.
I have grown up in the "World of Tennis" and reading this book made me slightly sad that I never committed myself to it completely (I saw parts of my younger personality in Maria). But then again, I also feel like it was a lucky escape.
But I'm not embarrassed.
I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN.
Despite vaguely knowing Masha's story for years, this book gave me a new appreciation of her family, her background, her tenacity, her raw talent, her uniqueness, and the incredible importance of luck.
I have grown up in the "World of Tennis" and reading this book made me slightly sad that I never committed myself to it completely (I saw parts of my younger personality in Maria). But then again, I also feel like it was a lucky escape.
nickmasters's review against another edition
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed the privilege of learning more about one of the world’s best athletes over the last decade or so. No matter what anyone says, Maria Sharapova deservedly has her name etched as one of the greats in the history books, and it’s great to have an understanding of her journey (I had very little knowledge of the magnitude of her commitment/perseverance and about the numerous obstacles and hurdles that have and are still being overcome)
Thanks NetGalley and Penguin Book UK for a review copy.
Thanks NetGalley and Penguin Book UK for a review copy.
pipparature's review against another edition
5.0
I love a good Sports memoir so I was keen to read Maria Sharapova's autobiography. I wasn't disappointed. With a sometimes humorous and always honest look back over her 30 years of life Sharapova takes you on a journey from her conception, in a region affected by the Chernobyl disaster, through to her youngest days in Sochi and her move to America as a seven year old.
Unlike many sporting memoirs this isn't simply a list of matches played and how she approached them and felt afterwards., although there is an element of that of course, she skims through a few of her professional seasons talking in depth about only her grand slam wins. The chapter about her first Wimbledon win is especially good. The characters she meets along the way, mainly the men in her life - her father, Yuri, agent Max and her coaches from her youngest days - are evocatively described, often with genuine love and affection.
Her drugs ban is elegantly dealt with and she offers an honest appraisal of how she was caught out which made me feel like she had been a little unfairly treated. Obviously, as the writer, Sharapova wants people to feel that way but I didn't feel like she was setting out to manipulate her audience. Like the rest of her book, she is honest, often brutally so and it's hard not to find that likable.
This is a fascinating account of an exceptionally driven young woman that offers real colour and personality to someone who is often thought of as a bit lacking in that department. Maria's strong sense of fun and love of her sport shines through, even though she claims that no top tennis player plays for love of the game. My opinion of her has risen since reading this engaging and interesting book.
Unlike many sporting memoirs this isn't simply a list of matches played and how she approached them and felt afterwards., although there is an element of that of course, she skims through a few of her professional seasons talking in depth about only her grand slam wins. The chapter about her first Wimbledon win is especially good. The characters she meets along the way, mainly the men in her life - her father, Yuri, agent Max and her coaches from her youngest days - are evocatively described, often with genuine love and affection.
Her drugs ban is elegantly dealt with and she offers an honest appraisal of how she was caught out which made me feel like she had been a little unfairly treated. Obviously, as the writer, Sharapova wants people to feel that way but I didn't feel like she was setting out to manipulate her audience. Like the rest of her book, she is honest, often brutally so and it's hard not to find that likable.
This is a fascinating account of an exceptionally driven young woman that offers real colour and personality to someone who is often thought of as a bit lacking in that department. Maria's strong sense of fun and love of her sport shines through, even though she claims that no top tennis player plays for love of the game. My opinion of her has risen since reading this engaging and interesting book.