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

The Locale: Brenda's

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

Daniel James Brown

The Book: The Boys in the Boat celebrates the 1936 U.S. men’s Olympic eight-oar rowing team—nine working class boys who stormed the rowing world, transformed the sport, and galvanized the attention of millions of Americans.

The sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers from the American West, the boys took on and defeated successive echelons of privilege and power. They vanquished the sons of bankers and senators rowing for elite eastern universities. They defeated the sons of British aristocrats rowing for Oxford and Cambridge. And finally, in an extraordinary race in Berlin they stunned the Aryan sons of the Nazi state as they rowed for gold in front of Adolf Hitler. http://www.danieljamesbrown.com/books/the-boys-in-the-boat/#.VYCUqWAqceM

Sarah's Summary: We had a great meeting last weekend- we missed Susan and Yeline and I hope everyone can make the next meeting at Gina's on May 3rd to discuss Yellow Crocus! (Gina, don't forget to send around your address) The food, as always Brenda, was amazing. Strawberry cake rounded out the meal of chicken puffs, hummus, fruit and Greek salad. Waiting on those recipes;) I believe everyone enjoyed the book, I know I did. Joe (and all of this row-mates, really) was certainly resilient - more resilient than we are!! I thoroughly enjoyed reading the race sequences in particular and have recommended this book to many. As I read it, I thought it would make a great movie. According to Wikipedia, which means it's The Truth, The Weinstein Company acquired the film rights to the story in 2011. Film director Kenneth Branagh is set to helm the film and Donna Gigliotti is producing the film. I do love Kenneth Branagh!

The Vote: It was a close vote for our next selection (mainly because we managed to count a tie out of 11 votes!!) but The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins will be our book following Yellow Crocus. We'll meet at my house on June 14th. I inadvertently took Lori's spot so she'll present her selections at that meeting, and Susan Schwartz will follow. 

Sarah presented...

• The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins      WINS!! 
• The First Wife by Erica Spindler 
• Crash & Burn by Lisa Gardner 

Up Next: Yellow Crocus by Laila Ibrahim at Gina's on May 3rd.

Next to Present: Lori

Then:

• Jessica
• Kristine
• Tassy
• Brandy
• Carmen
• Susan
• Brenda