Gold

By: Chris Cleave

Narrated by: Emilia Fox

Usually, this is where we'd tell you what this book is about. But with Chris Cleave, it's a bit different. Because if you've read The Other Hand or Incendiary, you'll know that what his books are about is only part of the story - what really matters is how they make you feel. Gold is about the limits of human endurance, both physical and emotional. It will make you cry. Gold is about what drives us to succeed - and what we choose to sacrifice for success. It will make you feel glad to be alive. Gold is about the struggles we all face every day; the conflict between winning on others' terms, and triumphing on your own. It will make you count your blessings. Gold is a story told as only Chris Cleave could tell it. And once you begin, it will be a heart-pounding race to the finish.

©2012 Chris Cleave (P)2012 Hodder & Stoughton

Amazing story

Breaks my heart and makes me feel stronger every time I read it. Such a beautiful book

Emilia Fox rocks!

Would you listen to Gold again? Why?

Sadly, whilst I am a huge Chris Cleave fan, I probably wouldn't listen to this book again. I'd rather reread "Incendiary" (one of my favourite books of all time) or "The Other Hand" because those stories are much more complex and interesting that "Gold".

Would you be willing to try another book from Chris Cleave? Why or why not?

I've read them both and loved them!!

What does Emilia Fox bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Emilia Fox is undoubtedly the star of this audio book. There are some fascinating and well written passages, interjected with cute humour, but overall is it Emilia Fox who makes this book worth listening to. She is one of the best narrators out there, and she nailed various accents and voices without ever sounding silly. Had I not been listening to her, I wouldn't have enjoyed the book half as much.

If you could take any character from Gold out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Perhaps Kate's Dad? All the protagonists were quite unlikeable (Zoe, Jack, coach), precocious (the daughter, already forgotten her name) or too bland / perfect (Kate), so actually if anyone, it would be one of the peripheral characters.

Chris Cleave does it again

What did you love best about Gold?

Like in all of Chris Cleave's novels, you've got to love the characters. Even the characters that seem tough and unkind (and that's what you would probabaly think if you met them in real life) are shown in a way that makes you love them.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Gold?

The scene in which Zoë, Jack and Kate meet for the first time. It shows you very well what kind of persons they are.

Have you listened to any of Emilia Fox’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No I haven't, but I liked the way she narrated the story very much.

Who was the most memorable character of Gold and why?

I loved Zoë best. The way she is struggling and fighting against (the consequences of) her past is impressive. Sophie is disarming in everything she says, thinks and does. Jack and Kate can be a bit too perfect here and there, but believable nevertheless. Tom is a strong character as well, especially in the way he (tries to) understand and help Zoë. All in all, I loved all of the characters; they really make this story what it is.

Any additional comments?

If you are a Chris Cleave fan (or want to become one), this is certainly a novel you should listen to (just like his other novels). Wonderful!

GOLD!

Zoe and Kate are world-class athletes; they have been rivals on the track from the very start but they are also friends. Gold follows the story of these two cyclists’ lives leading up the 2012 London Olympics. Both women will be tested on and off the track, being pushed to their physical and emotional limits. The book follows the two through most of their professional career, starting at 19 all the way up to training for their final Olympic event.

This is a strong character driven book, Kate is the nice one, she is a mother first and an athlete second who is always Zoe’s heels. Zoe on the other hand is driven purely by the need to win and will stop at nothing to gain the advantage. Even the support characters are wonderful; from the bitter coach Tom, to Kate’s husband Jack who also is an Olympic cyclist and can be very cocky about his constant lack of competition. Not forgetting Jake and Kate’s daughter Sophie, who while suffering from leukaemia is constantly trying to remain strong to stop her parents worrying about her so much.

Chris Cleave writes a wonderful book, this is a story full of passion, humour and tragedy. I was excited to read this book, I’ve been eyeing it for a few weeks and when my local book club decided to read it, I finally had an excuse. I really love exploring the characters; Zoe was a real stand out for me, her flaws made her a character I wanted to read more about. To offset the dense nature of this book, Cleave did a wonderful job at lightening the mood, from Sophie’s obsession with Star Wars to the humour with lines like; “The boys sat around and talked about Keats and fine bone China, or whatever they talk about before they are about to spend 8 hours racing each other”.

Gold is a deep bittersweet story that is full of empathy, sharp observations and strong characters. Chris Cleave did a great job of balancing the novel out so it never felt heavy or too light. I think I even surprised myself with how much I enjoyed this book; it was such a joy to read. I’ve even heard that Chris Cleave’s other books are worth checking out and if Gold is anything to go by, then I’m excited to read more.

Poor research

The storyline was far-fetched and the medical and legal aspects poorly researched making it difficult to suspend disbelief and engage with the story. I don't know anything about Olympic cycling so I can't comment about that, but I suspect that it is equally off the mark there. The characters are shallow caricatures.
Although the narrator did a satisfactory job, her Australian accent was poor. Overall a disappointing read.