Week 12 Prompt Response

The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown

Where is the book on the narrative continuum?

A mix

What is the subject of the book?

The US Olympic Rowing Team that won the 1936 Berlin Olympics and to a lesser extent the building of the Olympic facilities in Germany in anticipation of the Olympics

What type of book is it?

Historical reporting, focusing on the personalities, German and American, who played roles in the build-up to the crew competitions of 1936, and an examination of the sport of rowing as a whole

Articulate Appeal

What is the pacing of the book?

The book feels “measured” in its pacing, much like the discipline of a crew, with its sequential build-up of victories and milestones for the University of Washington crew and its regular departures into German activity of the time and treatises on rowing.  Some of these details might lead to an overall leisurely pace but for that the story benefits from a boost in its pacing by communicating a very clear idea of where its going in the subtitle concerning the 1936 Olympics.  (Wyatt, 2007)

Describe the characters of the book:

The book has a “large-cast” feel with some standout secondary characters like Leni Riefenstahl (Wyatt, 2007).  The fairly rapid character development and the action-oriented nature of the descriptions of the members of the crew also quickens the pace of the book while giving readers many personalities to look back on (Wyatt, 2007).

How does the story feel?

But for the tangents of boat-building and boat-handling along with bits of philosophy, the book has a strong narrative, providing a clearly “mapped” plot for readers to follow (Wyatt, 2007).

What is the intent of the author?

The author’s intent seems to be to “educate” readers about the art of rowing and to “report” about a significant moment in the history of crew and the world on the brink of war (Wyatt, 2007).

What is the focus of the story?

The book does not have a “sole-focus,” but its several foci come together narratively quite seamlessly (Wyatt, 2007).  Focusing on the techniques of rowing, the history of rowing in the U.S. and Britain, the landscape of rowing competition in the U.S., the construction of the Olympic facilities in Germany, the individuals who came together in all of these areas, and the 1936 event itself, the book covers much ground but at a clip that is noteworthy.

Does the language matter?

The language matters a great deal in this book.  The highly descriptive and  lyric nature of the language goes a long way in communicating the complexity and beauty of the sport of rowing into something the reader can understand and feel significant empathy for (Wyatt, 2007).

Is the setting important and well described?

The often rural setting juxtaposed against the militarism and propaganda of Germany, the harsh training conditions that the rowers experience; these elements are important to the story.  Also, the boat itself as setting becomes a centerpiece of the story and is highly described and contextualized for readers.

Are there details and, if so, of what?

There is quite a bit of detail in the book concerning boat design and construction, training methods, rowing methodology, rowing philosophy, and the backstories of characters.  The amount detail lends itself quite well to the author’s intent of “education” (Wyatt, 2007).

Are there sufficient charts and other graphic materials?  Are they useful and clear?

There are no charts or graphs in the book, though there are some pictures that capture the youth and unpresumptuous nature of the crew.

Does the book stress moments of learning, understanding, or experience?

Though the book is highly narrative and through a combination of choices surprisingly fast-paced for all of the detail, it does seem to spend a lot of effort in creating moments to engender learning and understanding of the sport and craft of rowing.

Why would a reader enjoy this book (rank appeal)?

1. The measured pace of this historical narrative makes for an accessible reading experience.

2. The hodgepodge of characters and their ultimate coming together to overcome fuels the narrative to a large degree.

3. The lyric nature of the language is a pleasure to read and seems to capture the spirit of the sport of rowing.

Work Cited:

Wyatt, N. (2007). The Readers' Advisory Guide to NonFiction. Chicago: American Library Association.