A review by jenbsbooks
The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown
4.0
I'd heard a lot of recommendations for this book, and put it on hold at my library. The timing was good ... I'd just reviewed the 1920s, Great Depression/Dust Bowl and some preWWII history (I've been going over what my son is learning in his online history class) and so I was making a lot of connections with what had been studied.
I listened to the audiobook, but I downloaded a sample of the kindle copy, just to see what the print presentation was like (there were some pictures). The narrator was good. He had also narrated "Unbroken" which I had listened to a while back ... I was surprised that was the only other book I've listened to with him before. He felt so familiar!
The story (this is classified as non-fiction) was a bit disjointed as we follow the author, then Joe, then focus in on a few other boys along the way as well, then peeks at activity in Germany. Sometimes I wished I had the full print copy (I actually ordered a paperback copy, but it hasn't arrived yet) just to double check WHO we were talking about at certain times when he strayed from just Joe. I have no particular interest in rowing, but still enjoyed learning about it and the olympic experience, as well as the history of the time. It's just a different approach than a textbook, easier to absorb and remember as it's more personal in the presentation.
I listened to the audiobook, but I downloaded a sample of the kindle copy, just to see what the print presentation was like (there were some pictures). The narrator was good. He had also narrated "Unbroken" which I had listened to a while back ... I was surprised that was the only other book I've listened to with him before. He felt so familiar!
The story (this is classified as non-fiction) was a bit disjointed as we follow the author, then Joe, then focus in on a few other boys along the way as well, then peeks at activity in Germany. Sometimes I wished I had the full print copy (I actually ordered a paperback copy, but it hasn't arrived yet) just to double check WHO we were talking about at certain times when he strayed from just Joe. I have no particular interest in rowing, but still enjoyed learning about it and the olympic experience, as well as the history of the time. It's just a different approach than a textbook, easier to absorb and remember as it's more personal in the presentation.