Sonja’s Pick
September, 2018
The Boys in the Boat
Nine Americans and their Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
Daniel James Brown
Penguin Books, June, 2013
I’m always looking for a biography or non fiction that is not too serious. One of the new librarians recommended this book and I LOVED it. It’s a story of a determined young man, Joe Rantz, who was born in the 1930’s (the Great Depression is woven throughout the book). After his mother passes away, his father remarries and leaves Joe, a young teenager, to fend for himself in the Washington woods. Already industrious and independent; out of necessity, he becomes very self reliant.
Joe is quite lonely and not trusting of many folks but luckily is a good student. He meets up with a girl who stays with him and he enrolls at University of Washington. Being from a poor upbringing, he doesn’t fit in with wealthy elite classmates but he makes the rowing team which gives him a sense of belonging.
Now, rowing was one of the most popular sports in America at this time. It compares to the popularity of football and basketball today. Most crew programs were on the East Coast in prestigious colleges, but there was an outstanding coach and an English boat builder in Washington that wanted to win!
I did not realize how grueling the practices are for this sport. Because of his dedication and ability to withstand the pain and pressure, Joe succeeds. He learns to depend and trust the other eight men in the boat who sync together beautifully and pile up victories all across the country against esteemed teams from Harvard, Yale, and Berkeley.
They get the chance to represent the USA at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Despite last minute failures, there was victory. It was a powerful blow to Hitler and his idea of Nazi superiority.
So there is personal drama, interaction with the boys and the coaches on the team, and is even a bit of politics in there. It was a wonderful read about something I knew nothing about and enjoyed tremendously. The author interviewed Joe, (who passed away in 2000) and included photos.