Gold

Description

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.

Reviews

'Cleave is an acutely intelligent wordsmith. Some of the sentences cut so deep you want to scream out in pain and recognition ... This is an inspirational and moving novel in so many ways, and everyone should read it.' -- The Times 'Extremely moving ... It really has that same thing as The Other Hand and Incendiary, where you feel a bit lonely and annoyed until someone else you know has read it and you can discuss it with them ... I really loved it and I do think it's one of those books that you want to talk to people about ... no one will be able to read it then put it down with a gentle sigh. They will be pressing it on people.' -- Alex Heminsley, BBC 6 Music 'The race scenes have true visceral intensity, leaving the reader feeling as breathless as a cyclist. From start to finish, this is a truly Olympic-level literary achievement.' -- Publishers Weekly 'With its tightly plotted twists and turns this is a novel of extremes - of the heights a body can reach in pursuit of Olympic cycling gold, and of what the heart can endure in the face of love, parenthood and an ill child. Cleave's writing is nothing short of poetic and this has to be our (very early) tip for the best book of 2012.' -- Glamour 'The Olympics are almost upon us and if like me you are given to wondering whether it's possible to be a superhuman athlete and a simple human being, GOLD is here to help ... What counts about this thrilling novel are the characters: the flaws and fears that fuel their need to compete, the drives and dreads that bring them together and threaten to bring them to blows ... Cleave artfully interleaves moments of high-tensile emotion with no less taut descriptions of action on the track ... I don't know about Kate and Zoe but Chris Cleave deserves a medal.' -- Daily Express 'Cleave's brilliantly plotted, nail-biting, and emotional tale dramatizes the anguish and triumphs of ambition and sacrifice, fame and heartbreak to celebrate the true gold of love.' -- Booklist 'If you are looking for a book to read to avoid the brouhaha of the Olympics this year but still want to get a taste of what all the fuss is about, this would be a superb choice ... Cleave's style is highly readable, with plenty of humour and some wry similes and metaphors ... It would take a cold heart not to be moved at some point in this book.' -- thebookbag.co.uk 'Compelling and heart-wrenching.' -- Good Housekeeping 'A powerful piece of art ... shocking, exciting and deeply affecting ... [a] superb novel ... THE OTHER HAND delivers a timely challenge to reinvigorate our notions of civilized decency.' -- Independent on THE OTHER HAND 20080822 'Exquisitely balanced between terrible sadness and brilliant humour.' -- Observer on THE OTHER HAND 20090215 'Searingly eloquent.' -- Daily Mail on THE OTHER HAND 20080822

Author description

Chris Cleave's debut novel Incendiary won the Somerset Maugham Award, among others. His second, the Costa-shortlisted The Other Hand, was a global bestseller and sat in the New York Times Top Ten for over a year (under the US title, Little Bee). Both books were shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers' Prizes. He lives in Kingston-upon-Thames with his wife and three children, and welcomes readers on his website and on Twitter.