The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

My TIE friend Marilyn first recommended this book to me several years ago. She was so enthusiastic about it that I went ahead and ordered it, and then, after reading the back cover, decided Jane would enjoy it too. So I sent it to her. She loved it! She thought our father would enjoy it, so she lent it to him... He loved it! Finally, on a recent trip to Napa, I got a hold of that original copy and got to read it myself. I loved it too...and here's why.

It's nonfiction at its best. It tells a compelling story with rich detail and fascinating portraits of the people and the times. It's set in the Seattle area in the 1930's when that part of the country was fairly new to white settlement. The development of that area and the University of Washington was interesting...as were the boys who made the rowing team. These young men were hard, hard workers who never gave up. They struggled to make a living, to pay their tuition, and to make the rowing team. They feel like a whole different kind of person than one meets today, with the exception of my father's generation. It's inspiring to read of their commitment to the team, to each other, to getting their education, and so on. They just plunge onward through incredible adversity.

The University of Washington rowing team has several meets against Cal, and that's why I thought my sister would enjoy it too. The rivalry is described well, as is the way the sport evolved in the eastern elite schools. I loved the parts about the artistic boat builder and he is frequently quoted throughout the book. Rowing as a single unit is described like poetry!

I also enjoyed the parts about the competition in Berlin. As the Nazi's prepared for the Olympics and being center stage of the world's showcase, it was fascinating to read of these characters. I learned a lot about this painful history. And, as is the case throughout the book, it's thoroughly researched and written in a very engaging way. It's an incredible story on so many levels...poetic, historic, and inspiring.