Jonathan Chamberlain

Disclosure: I received a copy of this from the Goodreads First Reads program.

Synopsis: Circumstances collide to set Rowan Jones (a Welsh poet) as the spokesperson for a previously unconnected group of athletes choosing to compete in the London 2012 Olympics. A little political, a little sporty and a lot funny, Dreams of Gold pits together a cast of characters who, individually posses varying degrees of sanity, but together make a formidable team of athlete-cum-detective-cum spies to save show more the Olympics from themselves and an enigmatic dictator.

One must read this book as though they are watching a sporting event with an extremely knowledgeable, yet unidentified presenter/broadcaster. Considering this is a book about the Olympics (sort of), I think it really helped to set the tone. I did wonder if perhaps this broadcaster-cum narrator would turn into a Hercule Poirot as it became more of a detective story, but alas no Belgian accent popped up.

For the most part, Chamberlain sticks to the Martin Millar approach of writing chapters in fewer than 5 pages, with a Jasper Fforde-ish quirkiness of prose. Add to this a dash of information about Olympic regulations and a host city's neurotic need to produce the best event...evaaaah, Chamberlain successfully navigates the planet and the diverse reasons athletes have for wanting to compete on the world stage.

We are given just enough detail about each character to understand what each has at stake and why their individuality improves the whole of the group. We also learn how pinning one's hopes on a singular decision can derail an entire concept while simultaneously exposing everyone to relatively esoteric ideas. Not to mention a dose of unique poetry from time to time.

I don't know that this writing style would appeal to all, but I do believe it is a story that everyone should read. The work is riddled with lessons in tolerance, reading the fine lines, doing research, having faith in one another and that differences between people make for a very spherical world. Plus, it's just simply a fun read. show less

In The Alphabet of Vietnam Jonathan Chamberlain explores the parameters of evil – both in war and in its aftermath. Two brothers, Joe the Vietnam vet, and Jack the younger professor, are disparate personalities. Before Joe kills himself by running in front of a train, he mails Jack a package of letters and a note asking him to save to what he thinks is his unborn son and the child’s mother from a cabin in the woods of North Carolina, where she’s being held by Joe’s crazed Vietnam show more partner, Wash.

The story shifts between Joe’s Vietnam - as written in the letters, a three week trip Jack takes to Vietnam, Jack’s time at the cabin with Wash, and later when he’s raising Jack’s son and has met a woman that may or may not have killed her abusive husband. Jack has become the protector of Joe’s legacy and also is burdened with the evil his brother has done and has passed to him in the letters.

The Alphabet of Vietnam takes a hard look at the atrocities of war and the men that have brought the evil home with them. show less

In a Monty Python-type with a bit of Spy vs Spy tale there are many issues to be dealt with in a timely story of Olympic Gold from the British Empire. Rowan Jones, solitary poet from Wales, is absolutely thrilled when chosen by the Committee to be the Poet Laureate of the Olympics. He is “hijacked” on the way to his presentation by a number of Olympics hopefuls who will NOT, for reasons various and sundry, be representing their countries. However….When Rowan makes his appearance, he show more spouts off thoughts which have not been run by the Olympic group. No one told him they had first approval!
In a place much removed from Wales a beautiful young lady (?) is escaping her guards and making for the border. She’s been kept locked up as the one to win her country’s medals in London and the dictator is not about to let her go quietly.
You have to read this book! I read it in one sitting and laughed my way through it happily. A group of mis-matched heroes coming together in many languages to do what seems right, not just politically right. You’ll love it! show less

This is not an A, B, C of a concept, a war, or a time of American history. This is a hard as nails, jagged as broken mirror of the evil we avoid, live with, and sometimes willingingly/unwillingly participate. Presented in several voices, I occasionally faltered as to whose time and experience I was reading, but I could not stop reading. No matter how insanely harsh or sublimely sweet, I had to know where we would all wind up. Jack has inherited his brother Joe’s personal box of war show more rantings, letters and self loathing and is compelled to upset every principle he has ever previously understood as good and true to seek an ultimate understanding that can never be obtained but will jumpstart his stalled out life. show less