I’ve managed to make it to all four book club meetings this year, and I’ve read all four of the books. That’s more than I’ve read in a while, so I’m pretty proud of myself. Each month someone different picks a book, so we never know for sure what we are going to read. This month’s book was The Boys in the Boat, by Daniel James Brown. It’s a true story about the boys who rowed in the 1936 Berlin Olympics–and won. It’s a long story, demonstrating all the obstacles they had to overcome to get there.
The main character (Joe) was interviewed by the author, along with Joe’s daughter, as he was nearing the end of his life. Apparently she kept many newspaper clippings and had journaled their story in detail, so this helped the cause. Much research had to have gone into this book in addition to her contribution. Historic events in Berlin under Hitler’s dictatorship showed a side of propaganda I found very interesting, as it was woven into the context of the story in a way I have not heard before. And the competition between the east and west was also new to me. Very intriguing how the underdogs were treated.
It was a good read. I learned more about rowing than I ever thought I would! I’m not sure I could do it! The torture these boys endured would probably not be permitted in schools today (e.g. rowing every day in the snow and bitter cold). The book was a bit technical for my liking, with a few too many rowing races described in infinite detail. I admittedly skimmed a few parts to get to the end where they competed in the Olympics. It took a while to get there. I do think it’s amazing that this true story, a fabulous part of history, is in print. It needed to be told.
Carol’s summary of our discussion was again spot-on.
"Nine of us gathered this afternoon to discuss The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. We marveled at how these Washington poor young men overcame all the obstacles thrown at them and how they kept rising up and beating the odds. The Depression; the weather; the practices and still went to a job and had to do homework; the east coast having all the money/prestige; having to come up with $5,000 to go to the 1936 Olympics; the lane that they got at the Olympics; Don Hume deathly sick at the Olympics. You could go on and on. We all hated Thula, Joe’s stepmother, and how she could abandon Joe at 10 years old and how Joe’s father let it happen was so pathetic. Several of us got sick of the description of the art of rowing over and over. It was too repetitive. We thought the propaganda town of Berlin during the Olympics fascinating that they really pulled it off. We all loved the ending and finding out what each one became and the families getting together each year. We were sad of course that they all are gone. We were all thankful for this true story being written. We rated the book 8.5."
There are a lot of memories about Joe’s family and growing up. I probably enjoyed reading these sections the most. Watching the family dynamics was intriguing as a family therapist. But it was hard to absorb as well. His family was a challenge, and I can’t imagine anyone who would abandon their son the way they did. His step-mother was stereotypical, and could have come straight from a classic Disney movie. Having said that, overcoming this challenge is just one of the many things that made him into the great man he became.
I pondered whether our current society is too easy on people. It seems our younger generation has become soft, and tends to give up more readily. I’m not saying we should permit bullying, but I wonder if the bullies in one’s life could actually help bolster an individual if we get the right perspective about it.
Perhaps we all need a few more obstacles to strengthen our internal muscles. We can moan and groan and complain, or we can choose to welcome the obstacles in our lives. Rather than focusing on how someone else can change, think about how their interaction with you can change you. These challenges may be the very thing we need to become the next (better) version of ourselves.
À la prochaine…hasta la próxima vez…until next time!