Gold (Cleave novel)

Gold is a 2012 sports novel by British author Chris Cleave and was published by Simon & Schuster on 3 July 2012.[1] The story focuses on the friendship and rivalry between two women and the effects that come from the choices they make and the events that they cannot prevent.

Gold
AuthorChris Cleave
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
GenreLiterary fiction
PublisherSimon & Schuster
Publication date
3 July 2012
Media typePrint (hardcover)
Pages336

Plot

Gold follows two friends and professional cycling rivals, Kate Meadows and Zoe Castle, through their lives until the London Olympics. Meeting at the age of nineteen at a cycling challenge, Kate chooses a family over cycling while Zoe maintains her profession, winning several medals at both Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games. Kate re-enters competitive cycling with hopes of competing in the London Olympics. Kate's daughter, Sophie, is seriously ill with leukemia during the preparation for the Olympics.

Background

Cleave stated that the then-upcoming 2012 Summer Olympics prompted him to write Gold, with his children also serving as a source of inspiration.[2][3] He also did research on cycling as he wrote the book, with the book going through six drafts before its final version.[3][4]

Reception

Critical reception for Gold was positive,[5][6] with the Guardian praising it as "thrillingly good".[7] The Toronto Star and Kirkus Reviews both gave positive reviews of the novel, with the Star stating that Gold was "a sports novel [that] transcends the tropes and clichés of sport journalism".[8][9]

The Telegraph gave an ambivalent review for Gold, saying that "Cleave’s writing style suggests that he enjoys the practical mechanics of his subject, but there are times when concrete, industrial images just can’t work".[10] Bruce Barcott of the New York Times praised Gold but stated that instead of being the "“North Dallas Forty” or “Ball Four” of an obscure Olympic sport" it was "“Beaches” on bikes".[11]

References
  1. Jaffer, Nabeelah. "A Novel of Olympian Ambition". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  2. Quamme, Margaret. "Sport of track cycling inspires intense novel by British author Chris Cleave". Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  3. Piechota, Jim. "Going for 'Gold' with Chris Cleave". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  4. "Chris Cleave Goes for Literary 'Gold'". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  5. Maslin, Janet (July 8, 2012). "Race for Medal Clouds All Else". New York Times. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  6. "Fiction Review: Gold by Chris Cleave". Publishers Weekly. 26 March 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  7. Alex Preston (2 June 2012). "Gold by Chris Cleave – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  8. "GOLD by Chris Cleave". Kirkus Reviews. 5 March 2012.
  9. Patricia Hluchy (9 June 2012). "Chris Cleave's Golda gripping story about two female champion cyclists". Toronto Star. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  10. Greene, Caroline. "Gold by Chris Cleave: review". Telegraph. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  11. Barcott, Bruce. "On the Line". New York Times. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
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