Book Description

Day and night, Callie Cat ice skates on the pond in her backyard. She loves to ice skate, loves it more than chocolate cake, more than going to the mall-more than her friends can understand.That is, until the Honeybrook Ice Rink announces a contest, and everyone thinks it could be Callie's big chance!Now Callie practices day and night. She wants to win the big prize...doesn't she?

Sometimes doing something you love is its own reward, as Eileen Spinelli's unusual story demonstrates. Anne Kennedy's exuberant art shows a unique heroine in motion.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The enthusiastic artwork of a playful cat and her animal friends adds the perfect touch to this heartwarming story.
Callie Cat, Ice Skater is a children's picturebook about the joy of doing something one loves for its own sake. Young Callie Cat enjoys ice skating on the pond in her backyard, more than chocolate cake or going to the mall. When the Honeybrook Ice Rink announces a contest, it could be Callie's big chance to win the prize - but is winning the prize what she really wants to do? When another skater achieves an even better performance, she's heartbroken at first, until she remembers that skating can be joyful fun for its own sake. The enthusiastic artwork of a playful cat and her animal friends adds the perfect touch to this heartwarming story. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

The Star Of the Ice Show.
You might think that Scott Hamilton led a charmed life in the world of ice skating.Not so, he had many setbacks; but his determination to show the world that he is somebody and his talent (plus hard work) let him enjoy comebacks and show his mettle.Overcoming many personal obstacles, he proved that no one could surpass him on the ice.

He was grateful to his adopted family and was able to provide vacations in Hawaii and fishing in Alaska.Always on the road as his continued search for excellence kept himstriving to improve his skills, using Denver as his home base, he was actually a 'Star on Ice,' an Olympic champion, and a friend to his competitors.

A few years ago, he put on a spectacular show (out on video) with his skater friends, along with my favorite singer providing the music.Not Buble, the other Michael!After the 1994 Olympics, I had become sated with too much t.v. coverage of figure skatingbut a dear friend, Eva Ezell, loved Scott and all the elaborate outfits the girl skaters came up with.Scott was honest in his presentations with no deceit; he was authentic.He was true blue and God saved him from an illness few would have endured.Some of us can rise above the pain.It takes a special person, and he truly is one.

What a guy!!! :-)
I loved reading this book.I am a big ice-skating fan and have watched it since I was a kid.
The book starts off in chapter one talking about his cancer discovery already.You start to get a feel for who he is based on the way he handled the news of his illness etc.Then he talks about his childhood and the sacrifices his mom made to drive him for miles to get to competitions.He goes on to talk about his actuall career (and this is the reason for losing a star - because he talks too much about his routines and the types of jumps and the scores.Enough already, just let us learn about him).He even includes a chapter about Sergei Grinkov (one of my other favourite skaters who died tragically and unexpectedly on the ice) which is nice and moving.
Scott has a real upbeat personality and a very positive attitude which will take him a long way.He is a great guy and a brilliant skater and I enjoyed reading about him and his career (just not all the endless jumps).I recommend this to all skating fans and cancer patients looking for a bit of inspiration.It's really good.

All the previous reviews have a point!
I found myself reading the previous reviews, and agreeing with all of them. Even the negative ones.At the same time, I enjoyed this book.Maybe because he speaks so candidly and with such sincere affection for many of my favorites (especially Ekaterina Gordeeva & Sergei Grinkov).

He does "dish" dirt at times, in a way that made me cringe.If I were, for example, Dorothy Hamill, I would not be happy with this book.That said, he crosses that line in only a couple of cases.I have no problem with him sharing stories of other people's bad behavior in a professional or a public setting.It is only the truly private unflattering incidents (in hotel rooms, for example) that I think should have been kept to himself - especially as they were not incidents that needed to be told as part of the story.Skaters are only professionals when they are working.Their private behavior in their private lives is not our business unless THEY choose to share it. Scott DID cross that line, but only a very few times, IMO.I got the sense once or twice that Scott was trying to apologize for his own behavior, but in the process, he ended up revealing too much detail about someone else's private life (which was unfair to them).

That said, by and large, this is a highly enjoyable book with interesting anticdotes.It is certainly honest and Scott obviously made no effort to whitewash his own behavior.I respect that.I wouldn't want a young kid reading it, but it's not written for young kids.I thought it was clear enough that the bad behavior didn't really work for him in the end, and I don't think that sends the wrong message."Yes, I did this, and it was really stupid" is an honest and positive way to deal with questionable behavior, and that is, for the most part, what Scott does.

For a skating fan, particularly a fan of Stars on Ice or of Scott, this will be a highly enjoyable book.If you can't stand Scott as a performer, think about skipping it.As a biography, it is also interesting and very personally revealing.But, if you aren't big on biographies as a genre and you aren't a big skating fan or a big Scott fan, then this book isn't for you (and I'm not sure why anyone in that boat would ever think that it was! LOL!)

There are times that it reads a bit like a gossip rag, which is why I didn't give it five stars. But, it is a very enjoyable and entertaining book that gives you an eye-opening and not always flattering look at the world of skating as Scott experienced it.It is also as honest an autobiography (including the unflattering sides of the subject) as I've ever read.A fact that I, personally, appreciate.Too often we put stars up on pedestals, and I enjoy anything they are willing to do to force us to see them as human beings.

The message really is that you don't have to be superman to achieve great things.And you don't have to be a saint to overcome hardships and achieve greatness.And even the best in the world face seemingly insurmountable problems from time to time.Those are all positive messages from a man who is often refered to as the "God of Figure Skating".

Fantastic Book!!
Excellent Book for any fans of Scott's a well writen story about his life. Few pictures of himself and friends and family. Recommed to any one that likes to read. Ages around 12 and up.

A Great Read
This book tells the story of a man who showed the world that anything can be done with faith. I had a hard time putting this book down. I highly recommed this book for anyone. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

This is the best guide to goaltending I have ever read!
This is the best guide to goaltending I have ever read!I often find myself refering to this book in practice sessions as well as in games.Ian Young expalins each and every situation with detail, so as not to leave the reader guessing. Not only does this book provide solid instruction, but it also focuses on the mental aspect of the game, a definite key to minding the twine.Young's references to his playing days makes the instruction that more understandable.A definite plus!Every goaltender should pick up a copy of LORDS OF THE RINK today! ... Read more

Book Description
Audrey Bakewell provides an introduction to power skating, covering essentials such as balance, agility, flexibility, timing, and endurance. ... Read more

Book Description
Rabbit Stompin' is a collection of humorous essays by Georgia sportsman and newspaper columnist Daryl Gay. Using his funnier-than-fiction true life adventures in the wild, Gay shares the hilarity of the hunt. Fun reading for all ages, hunters and wanna-bes. ... Read more

Book Description
Franklin Delano Donuthead, star of Sue Stauffacher's Donuthead, is back and life continues to throw him lots of curveballs: he's now in sixth grade which means it's time for middle school, with all of its related terrors. He has to avoid whipping pony tails in the hallways, he's forced to use school bathrooms, with eighth graders, his life science teacher makes him blush like a tomato, his beloved Glynnis Powell may be moving ahead of him socially, his mother has a boyfriend, and his unlikely best friend, Sarah Kervick, once again needs more help than he thinks he can manage on his own. But thanks to his tough but kindhearted mother, the tough but kindhearted Gloria Nelots, and a little growing self-awareness, Franklin manages what it takes to pull Sarah out of another rough situation.

Sue Stauffacher has crafted another laugh-out-loud middle grade novel about Franklin and Sarah that once again overflows with Franklin's distinctive voice, a touching plot, wholly original characters, and a little Mercurochrome for good measure.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Everyone's favorite assymetrical guy
Sue Stauffacher, a Michigan native to rival the likes of Lynne Rae Perkins, is a darling of librarians and teachers nationwide. Bursting onto the children's literary scene with the can't-recommend-it-enough, Donuthead, Stauffacher came out swinging and hasn't had a bum book to her name yet. All the more reason to feel nervous about sequels, then. In many a librarian's mind, "Donuthead", takes on a kind of global significance. It's the funny kids book that earns instant and unequivocal loyalty. So when I, personally, heard that there was going to be a sequel and that it was called Donutheart, I thrilled to the very core of my bones. I was also deeply frightened. If it wasn't as good as its predecessor, was I going to have to rethink my single-minded Stauffacher-love? Happily the answer is an emphatic, "nuh-uh". Admittedly, "Donutheart", doesn't have the heartwrenching punch of its predecessor. On the other hand, it's still one of the best danged children's books of this or any other year.

Everyone's favorite sensitive, asymmetrical guy is back. Franklin Delano Donuthead is just as fixated on measuring his arms and legs every night, washing his hands three times to the tune of Happy Birthday, and calling up his favorite chief statistician at the Washington D.C. National Safety Department whenever he gets a chance. Because of earlier events, however, he is also the good friend and perpetual buddy of Sarah Kervick. Sarah has become particularly adept at figure skating and the two have worked out a system. Donuthead will keep her grades above a 2.0 and Sarah will protect him from bullies. Now, however, our extraordinarily stressed narrator has a whole new world to navigate. Middle school. From boys bathrooms to a teacher with an expectoration problem, Franklin is unprepared for this world of woes. But when Sarah starts hiding a problem from him and his mother, it's up to our hero to make the ultimate of sacrifices. He's going to ride a bus. Brace yourselves, everybody. It's gonna be a bumpy ride.

In this book Stauffacher also has the chance to explore a fabulous character from an entirely new angle: Donuthead in love. It's a simultaneously horrific and fascinating idea. Franklin is just hitting puberty and he's found the girl of his dreams. The comic potential here is through the roof and you can bet your sweet bippy that Staufffacher makes the most of it. He may be wise beyond his years in some areas (morbid areas, as his mom might say), but Franklin is just like any other kid when it comes to making conversation with a girl. Of course, he's a bit more eloquent. Franklin has always spoken like a 45-year-old man, but that's neither here nor there. Some kids are just like that.

It's Franklin's humor (and, by extension, Stauffacher's) that makes the book such a pleasant read. Here's Donuthead on football players: "They've been drinking hormone-laden milk since infancy". And consider the fate of Franklin and his mother's beau. When the fellow dating Franklin's mom tries to connect with the boy, you can tell he's done his homework, " `We should spend a little time together, you and me ... You know...' He scratched his chest, thinking. `Uh ... maybe pick up some health food and ... I don't know. Hit the museum?' ". It may not sound like much, but trust me. This guy's coming up with the only things he can think of. Stauffacher also earns extra points for the guard dog in this book who attacks when you recite the Michigan slogan, "If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look around you". Just don't recite the Nebraska state motto, though. Then he goes in for the kill. Though I, personally, think the kill should have come with New Hampshire's state motto, "Live free or die!", but that's just me.

As with all sequels, there's no way to avoid comparing the second book in the series to the first. When I think of "Donuthead", I think of the last scene. Franklin on the ice, reaching out for Sarah's hand having broken through his own neurosis. That image still gives my poor little heart a firm punch in the chest whenever I imagine it. The last scene in "Donutheart" is different. It's satisfying, but doesn't carry the same kick. The book as a whole is almost a more mature beast than its predecessor. Donuthead is growing up and changing. He's learning how to care for other people, which for him is quite a feat. I love how these books are wonderful examples of what an unreliable narrator is. When Donuthead says something, you might think it makes sense at first. But think about it for any given amount of time and it's clear that Franklin's logic is not always our own. In the end, this doesn't deliver the shocking heart-stopping love of its predecessor. It just inspires love.

As in Harry Sue, Stauffacher shows her hand and displays her love of "The Wizard of Oz", the book. I think few American fiction writers working in children's literature today have done as much as this woman to promote Baum's best beloved. And perhaps few children's books have as good a chance of being remembered years and years from now than Staufffacher's body of work. "Donutheart" is a wonderful, comfortable, delightful read that is bound to be enjoyed by vast hoards of children, teachers, and librarians alike. A great find for any fan of the original and a testament to Stauffacher's prowess in the literary field. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (32)

Snooze-a-thon with a hint of self-glorifying.
How concieted can you get? This book does nothing but glorify it's subject and belittle her competitors. To add, the writing in this book is minimal. It's more of a picture book for the elementary school student as it has little literary value. If you want a book on figure skating, buy Culture on Ice instead.

A picture book
This book is 145 pages long, and nearly every single one of those pages is a picture. Some of the pictures have words written on them, but this is a picture book. Don't get me wrong though, these pictures do a good job of showing Tara's preparation for the 1998 games, and her experiences while she was there. You get a good look inside her training, and her mind set entering the games.

So, if you want to see a LOT of pictures of tara, and get a somewhat limited idea of her life, buy this book, but if you're looking for an autobiography...this isn't one.

Tara-Ice Princess
I think this is a great book! They could of put a little more writing in. But then again it was great the way it is! Tara is a wonderful skater and it is cool to see pictures of her on her way to reaching her goal! I love this book!

Totally Tara? Indeed!
Why is figure skating my favorite sport? Actually, there are several reasons. First, it is a truly international sport. Also, it has both athletic and artistic sides to it, and it is performed to a great variety of beautiful music. And most of the female competitors look like fashion models, with glamorous costumes that only heighten the illusion. And then there are the rivalries, which range from friendly (The Battle of the Brians, for instance) to highly acrimonious (Tonya vs. Nancy, "Pasha" vs. Maia), giving the sport its gossipy appeal.

The greatest rivalry of the late 90's, of course, was Tara vs. Michelle, as they battled on almost equal terms for the U.S., World, and ultimaltely the Olympic championships. This seemed to be a classic case of the "athlete" (Tara) versus the "artist" (Michelle) as each had the reputation (and higher scores, overall) in these respective areas (although both were great all-around skaters). The advantage, of course, would go to the "athlete" most of the time, since a fall on a jump is marked down much more severely than, say, an inferior leg position on a layback spin. Also, Tara benefitted from being the "underdog" in most of the big competitions, since there is always more pressure and distractions for the "favorite" to contend with. It also didn't hurt that Tara has the perfect body for figure skating (very short and pencil-thin), which no doubt contributed to her ability to rotate incredibly fast on jumps where she barely seemed to leave the ice. And switching coaches to Richard Callaghan was also a wise move, given his outstanding track record, not to mention having a hard-working and dedicated training partner and "role model" such as Todd Eldredge.

The words that seem to best describe Tara would, I think, be precocious (youngest U.S., World, and Olympic champion), focused (having the ability to "bounce back" after lackluster performances), and gregarious. In other words, when it comes to Tara's skating style and accomplishments, she gets 5 "stars" (as does Michelle Kwan, for that matter), but as far as this book goes, I would only give three. Although the photoghaphy is certainly very nice, there is very little text (116 pages to 26) and it is mostly superficial and, as is typical in a semiautobiographical book, tends to look only at the good side of Tara (for a more "in depth" and not nearly as flattering look at Tara, see Christine Brennan's excellent figure skating "storybooks", Inside Edge and Edge of Glory...

Great book!
This book is wonderful if you are a big Tara Lipinski fan.It showed Tara on the ice, at home, and just having fun. I loved every single picture in the book! ... Read more

Book Description
With all the speed and derring-do he became known for as a World Champion and Olympic figure skater, Kurt Browning brings us A is for Axel: An Ice Skating Alphabet. From Dorothy Hamill to the quadruple jump that made Kurt famous, young readers are introduced to the history, techniques, and memorable moments of the sport. With the 20th Winter Olympics coming up this month, A is for Axel is the perfect book to get fans dreaming.... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Wonderful
This is another of the aphabet series of books. Being a figure skating fan, and Kurt Browning is one of my favorite skaters, I was captivated by his book. This is written for the fairly young child, but the sidebars of information for the more adult gives good explanations of the different moves of figure skating. Very enjoyable to read!

Interesting Book
I never knew Kurt Browning could write such a book! It is filled with details and some history of the sport. I really enjoyed this book, but I thought it could've had something written about how to do an axel or something like that but it is a very, very good book. ... Read more

Book Description
In this collection of lyrical essays, writer Jack Falla`s backyard hockey rink unexpectedly becomes a vital bridge to family and friends, a lens through which he looks at his life in a game he loves, a road leading back to the frozen ponds of a New England childhood and a mirror in which he stares down middle age. Or tries to. Essays in Home Ice range from a thoughtful, sometimes humorous account of Falla`s original attempts to build a rink - `The first law of Hydrodynamics as applied to rink owners: water seeking its own level fits in in your neighbor`s yard`- to a meeting with the world`s most famous backyard rink builder, Walter Gretzky, Wayne`s father. In other essays Falla skates with the ultimate pond skaters -hockey legends Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey, travels to Duluth, Minnesota and Thunder Bay Ontario to visit backyard rink builders, reflects on the death of a parent, the meaning of an early-morning skate with a grandchild, the connection between his 60-by-35 foot backyard rink and the magical Boston Garden, and the life lessons learned shoveling, resurfacing and skating with his wife, son, and daughter. A bonus chapter explains how to build your own backyard rink. Home Ice goes beyond being a sports book. It is a book for readers more interested in family, friends, and relationships than in last night`s hockey scores. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A Wonderful Little Book
Even if you live in a climate that will never allow you to build a backyard rink, this wonderful little book should be read. In a age where youth sports are increasingly dominated by organization and structure and where the attraction of video games keeps kids inside on even the nicest of days, this book takes us to a place where play is unstructured, where one can lose themself in the early morning hours or under the stars, where family and friends can gather to play, skate and even sometimes compete, where the rituals of building, maintaining and disassembling the rink mark the passage of time.

Ultimately this book is as much about a family and a bond between them as is it about ice skating or hockey.Read, enjoy and take something away from the experience.

Great Book
A good easy read.A must have for hockey fans in New England and for builders of backyard hockey rinks.Not a big reader, but I couldn't put this on down.Very well written.

Cant Wait for NEXT Winter
WE took our rink down a few weeks ago, I cant wait for next years ice.In the mean time I will read this again for about the 50th time!

Heart Warming thought
I have to say in my 28 years of being alive I can count on one hand the amount of books I have read on my own. But I recieved this book from my wife for christmas this year. I guess she had hopes on me reading more. Well she was right. I picked up the book thrusday morning about 11:00 am and finished it that afternoon. I really enjoyed reading this book. It actually took me back to when I was really young and skated on a small lake my grandparents lived on in Kinston Ontario. I feel almost compelled to build my own rink in my back yard this winter. I won't but it would be great to do it.
Thanks

Pure delight
I have been enchanted by this book.A newcomer to hockey, as both fan and player, I have been soaking up information and lore eagerly.This book satisfies both the urge to learn about hockey, and my wish to experience more of the true joy of the game.Taken out of the huge arenas with the expensive nachos and plentiful beer, there is a game that generations have loved to play and perfect.There are kids playing here, and adults, men and women.There are friends who help shovel the backyard rink, and those who show up later.And there are stories of other backyard rinks, of ponds, and of pros.If you like hockey, I don't see how you could go wrong with this book. ... Read more

Book Description
Do you command an audience's attention using graceful arm and head positions?

Learn how...in the first ballet book designed for skaters!

Ballet Secrets for Skaters unlocks the secrets of ballet technique in a fun and friendly style.Discover many tools and tips for proper placement of the upper body--the first place an audience looks.

. Phtos of real figure skaters show common pitfalls and how to avoid them.
. Ballet Secrets and Quick Checks help you remember these points on the ice.
. Emphasis on making a winning impression--even when you stand still.

Bonus!Olympic Gold Medalist Viktor Petrenko and Ladies World Champion Yuka Sato--famous for their artistic expression--offer advice and inspiration for today's competitive skaters. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Tips, tricks and techniques for embodying grace
Written by a Russian-trained dancer, teacher, and choreographer, Ballet Secrets for Skaters: How to Hone Your Artistic Competitive Edge is a valuable guide for figure skaters, coaches, dance teachers, and skating enthusiasts of all ages and ability levels. Chapters disseminate basic poise tips of ballet, from how to hold the fingers, wrist, and shoulder to artistic guidelines for the arm and head position, and ballet poses that will add grace and charm to any ice skating routine. Black-and-white photographs clearly demonstrate the positions and, and the text clarifies tips, tricks and techniques for embodying grace. Highly recommended for intermediate to advanced and competitive skaters. ... Read more

Book Description
Toller Cranston is: six-time Canadian figure-skating champion, celebrity, costume designer, artist extraordinaire, broadcaster, choreographer of skating routines, raconteur, bon vivant, coach, world traveller, art collector, legend, and enigma. In 1976 he won Olympic bronze (so why did it feel like defeat?). This book tells the story of his life after those fateful games at Innsbruck.

The rise and fall of Toller’s first professional ice show is described in soul-searing detail. His subsequent triumphant tour of Europe as the Skater of the Century is recounted, in contrast, with wicked humour. There are vignettes here of his encounters with the rich and famous from Leonard Bernstein to Pierre Cardin and of his life among Europe’s aristocrats and bohemians. Toller has experienced the high life and the low. He has stayed in the most luxurious hotels, held court in palatial houses, sought seclusion in beautiful estates. But the hard times have taken their toll.

In the early 1990s a combination of circumstances, including a disastrous professional association with out-of-control American skater Christopher Bowman and a lawsuit that dragged on for years (ending in complete victory for Toller), led to a personal crisis from which recovery came slowly. But even in the blackest hours, Toller’s humour and creative powers never deserted him.

This generously illustrated book is an extraordinary self-portrait written by a uniquely gifted individual. Toller’s wit, insight, and delicious way with words will entertain and astound readers whether they are skating fans or not. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Zero Tolarence; and, not all remembered correctly.
I skated with Toller, as a principal, at Radio City Music Hall in the production of ICE, in New York City. I must admit that this book is extremely entertaining!! A must read for figure skaters and fans. But I was there! And though Toller said there was no closing night party, there was. Toller and I were there along with Peggy Flemming, Robin Cousins, and the rest of the cast. Plus, its producer: Bob Shipstad and choreographer: Sara Kawahara and pair skater, soon to become one of skatings most innovative producers and choreographers, Sandra Bezic.
But anything Toller writes is his interpretation, which is slightly different to what actually happened. Still, take it with a grain of salt -- and enjoy. I think Toller is one of the greatest skaters -- of any era. And perhaps the most esoteric skater of all time. I'll buy anything he writes and enjoy (if not agree)every word. His books are hilarious and witty.

Only readable for the mildly humorous writing style
What a disppointment! As other reviewers have stated, I too enjoyed Mr. Cranston's skating. I had read this in anticipation of his new book coming out, but now I will save my money.

There are some moderately interesting descriptions of skating tours in Japan and Central America. There are some vague descriptions of salacious or bizarre encounters with famous people. It should be a lot more interesting than it is. But Mr Cranston fails to make his era live for the reader, and he fails to offer any analysis of his decisions, making the book essentially pointless.Furthermore, any humor he achieves is ruined by two parallel themes: How great and Artistic Toller is, and how much he has Suffered. These themes were singularly unconvincing. ...

This is definately Toller!
An interesting look into the mind and life of Cranston.The figure skating world is shown, warts and all.Toller is definately THE most innovative and influential skater that has come along in this century.

Brilliant!
Toller Cranston is truly a complex and fascinating person, one of a kind both on the ice and off. I think it took great courage to write such an honest memoir.I had to force myself to put it down so I could savour itover the course of several days, when I really wanted to devour it all atonce. I'm sure he has much more to share, and I'm eagerly awaiting his nextbook!

Just loved the book and Toller Cranston
I absolutely loved the book. I had a crush on Toller from the minute I first saw him skate.I followed his career, and my skating partner and I saw all his shows. I remember my heart pounding when I saw his grandentrance on the star from the heaven in Toller On Ice in Manhattan.Itwas good to hear about all his escapades and how the famous skaters live. Ienjoyed hearing about his extravant costumes and programs.It was an eyeopener to hear about his encounter with Leonard Bernstein - who mygrandmother had a crush on. We use to see him at Tanglewood every summer. Toller has lived an exciting life and I'm glad he shared part of his lifewith us. He has an exceptional sense of humor which comes thru in hiswritings. I heard he has another book in the making. After reading thisbook, I will be standing in line waiting for it to come out. ... Read more

Book Description
The dazzling smile, the signature haircut, the staple spin."America's Sweetheart" Dorothy Hamill grew up on the ice, working toward the dream she was to accomplish by age nineteen: winning Olympic gold in figure skating.But life was not the picture of perfection it appeared to be. Dorothy faced a painful inner struggle from the time she was a young girl that followed her into adulthood--though she would not know about the depression that ran in her family until much later in life.Weeks and months away from home to train and compete took a difficult toll, yet little reprieve could be found in the tumultuous and fragile relationship she had with her parents.Dorothy went on to marry the man of her dreams, only to have the partnership end in heartache and a tragedy that almost pushed her to her breaking point.Then, just when a light at the end of the tunnel finally began to appear, a second failed marriage tried and tested Dorothy's trust and strength yet again--a travesty that could have led her to give up.But, she found a remarkable strength in what she did have--her greatest love, her daughter Alexandra."Thank goodness, I had my skating.There was certainly a pattern to my life.When times were tough, I went skating.It was only while I was out on the ice, enjoying the freedom of movement and my love of music, that I was able to escape from my bottomless heartache."In her deeply moving and honest memoir, Dorothy opens up for the first time about love, family, courage, and what it means to truly win both on and off the ice. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

A pleasing and enlightening read
Have you ever wondered what it takes to become an Olympic champion? What is the toll this feat exacts from a person? And after the big gold medal win, then what? Sports memoirs are usually interesting because the subjects possess a skill or talent that most of us don't, and we are fascinated to read what it was like to hit that winning home run or participate in that agonizing marathon. When picking up a memoir by Dorothy Hamill, who launched the careers of thousands of would-be skaters as well as creating a hairstyle craze, readers want to know what it was like to win the gold medal in figure skating in 1976, as well as all the hard work that led up to and followed it.

Hamill candidly talks about the sacrifices her family made to enable her to skate at the highest level. She also details openly the ups and downs and the often icy relationship she shared with both parents, especially her mother, who wasn't in the arena in Innsbruck, Austria, that day in February 1976. Her mother remained back at the hotel, an absence that Dorothy never could understand but took as rejection. After the performance, when she told her mother she had won, Hamill was stunned when her mother responded with a laconic, "That's nice, Dorothy."

We're accustomed to seeing an athlete's meteoric rise. But what happens after the competitions and medal ceremonies? Without their rigorous and regimented training schedules, how can these seasoned athletes acclimate to real life again? One of the most interesting aspects of this memoir is Hamill's assessment of just that: "I should have been on top of the world, but I was ill-equipped to handle these new pressures. All I knew how to do was to get up every morning at 4 a.m. to go to the rink and practice. My day had always been planned around structured activity toward a specific goal I cared about. Suddenly, that was gone, and my present life was so hectic and without meaning."

Apart from her skating career, Hamill also talks about her two difficult marriages. The first was to actor/aviator Dean Paul Martin, son of singer Dean Martin, who would die in a plane crash a few years after their divorce. Her second marriage produced a child, her daughter Alex, but was fraught with deceit, placing her in dire financial straits that ultimately had her declaring bankruptcy. She also talks frankly about her lifelong struggle with depression (a family affliction) and, more recently, osteoarthritis --- the bane of every aging athlete's existence. The love of her child and the desire to make a better home for her enabled Hamill to weather the hard times. Apart from her young daughter, her one abiding love was skating. Whenever she felt down or out, she could always count on a little ice time to relieve whatever pain she was feeling.

Despite all the ups and downs and the years that go by, Hamill still remains the little girl in the red skating dress, with that signature haircut that captured the world's attention and hearts. The book also serves as a good primer for the life of a young skater, the physical and emotional involvement, and what the family of an ambitious skater can expect. Both the athletic and the personal sides add up to a pleasing and enlightening read.

--- Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller

Slightly dull look at an amazing life
At age 50, Dorothy Hamill looks back at her life in this autobiography.Let me get my biases on the table at the start.
Bias#1: I've had a crush on Dorothy Hamill for more than 30 years. I'm also a big fan of women's figure skating and have met a couple of them in person.
Bias#2: I get my nose out of joint when someone writes an autobiography and leaves out intimate details that are important in everyone's life. Yes, I'm talking about sex.
With those biases in mind, I give this book 4 stars. It was a very easy read. My wife, knowing bias#1, gave it to me for Christmas and I finished all 240 pages in a week (fast for me). It was nice to recall her Olympic and World championships and to pick up a few details along the way that I didn't know. But she really doesn't spend much time on these events. Most of the details we get from this part of her life revolve around family situations and hopping from one coach to another.I guess she covered these in more detail in her 1983 book which I don't recall reading.
The next part of this book deals with her marriages and business dealings including how the two were so intertwined. Here we find out that her two husbands had sex but we never find out if she did - with the implied exception resulting in her daughter Alex. This is bias #2 - sex is important in most people's lives. Is it so unimportant in hers that it doesn't warrant a mention?This is a complaint I have with some other autobiographies. As a result, I hold Cybill Shepherd's "Cybill Disobedience" in higher regard than Ann-Margret's autobiography, "My Story". And it is why I only give 4 stars to this book. Another critical review of this book gives it 3 stars for many of the same reasons only that reviewer is not as crude about it as I am.
This book includes several pages of photos but most are old. For example, we don't get to see what Alex looks like in 2007 (the book's copyright date). For a first printing of a first edition I found few typos - I counted 5 in all. And maybe it doesn't fit into her autobiography but it would have been interesting to add a paragraph or two about what happened to Ice Capades after it was sold to televangelist Pat Robertson (see Wikipedia if you are as curious as I).

Average read
The book was interesting, but I had hoped she would have gone into more detail about fighting depression than she did.

ATrue Lady
What I like about this book is Dorothy's honesty.Perhaps a lesser person would have written angry, judgmental and mean-spirited words about the people in their lives who hurt them, but Dorothy remains a class-A lady here. Dorothy has brought so much joy into people's lives and I've never heard a negative word about her ever.The men in her life took advantage of her sweet-nature.She is no Sonja Henie (read her biography!).Reading this book reminds me of when I was a kid in the '70's, at a time when kids could take trains by themselves and skate on ponds.This is a charming story from a charming lady and the sadness behind it is the sadness of a cruel world that wants to destroy all that is delicate and beautiful -- like Dorothy herself.

Dorothy Hammill A Skating Life
This book really drew me in.Dorothy shares her story candidly,providing the reader with the unvarnished truth about her family's dynamics and the struggles she faced after she became an Olympic champion.She is at times critical of her parents, coaches, spouses, and mentors, but at the same time is fair in her assessments of each of them.

I really appreciate the fact that she was willing reveal her life as
she experienced it, rather than to try to paper over her troubles for the sake of keeping up appearances.In this regard, she reminds me of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, who seemed to have it all, yet still felt disappointed and unfulfilled.This, I think, is a reminder to us all that life is not easy for anyone, even those who live at the top. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

I haven't read the edition pictured here,...
...but I did buy the first printing and have now re-read it about 3 or 4 times.I totally agree with all the reviewers here in that it is truly an unbiased and very un-sensationalized look into the world of figure skating.I especially loved the chapter that talked to several members of the judging community. If you are a fan of the sport or participate in the sport -- RUN, don't walk, to your computer and order this book ASAP.You will not be disappointed.

A good read, but somewhat "nationalistic"
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as it covered topics, such as boot making and choreography, that are not often discussed in books about skating. However, its author, a Canadian, seems to have focused predominantly on theCanadian world of figure skating by frequently mentioning Canadian skaters,judges, choreographers, and coaches.It would have been nice to have had agreater "world" view of the topics discussed in the book.

A must have book for all figure skating fans
This book covers a variety of topics including the sacrificesmade for the skating child or children in the family, the importance of the proper fit in boots and the proper setting of the blades to the skaters, what a judge goes through to become a judge, what it is like to skate in an ice show and much more.I found this book so fascinating that I didn't want to put it down.This is a must have book for the library of all figure skating fans.

A Can't Miss!
I wholeheartedly recommend Beverley Smith's "Talking Figure Skating." Smith goes behind the scenes, yet refrains from the bias and controversy that has surrounded Christine Brennan, author of "Inside Edge" and "Edge of Glory."

Beverley Smith clearly has a respect for figure skating and a love for the sport. This third book of hers is much more factually accurate than the first two and triply as interesting. It doesn't have pretty pictures like "Figure Skating: A Celebration" or "Talking Figure Skating," but the in-depth profiles are captivating to read.

If you only buy one figure skating book this year, make this it! I guarantee you won't be able to put it down!

Lipinski, Kwan, Bobek, Lu, and More!!!
This book, unlike Tara Lipinski's and Michelle Kwan's autobiographies went behind just two or three skaters. This
showed the competition going into the 1998 olympics. The book
gave it's perdictions, and wasn't byist at all. This book also went behond what the skaters do on the ice.
This really gave insiders report. It was almost like reading a "People" magizine report--- it gave all
the details on all the skaters. I defainitly reccomend reading this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Behind the scenes in the making of The Wizard of Oz On Ice. Bobby McFerrin is the singer and Robin Cousins is the choreographer. ... Read more

Book Description
Mia St. Clair has been training all year to master the figure-skating moves she needs to compete at Regionals. But when a family crisis threatens Mia's chances of competing, she's heartbroken. She knows what it means to be a good sport, but will she be able to accept this latest challenge with determination and grace? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Loved the story!
My daughter and I both enjoyed this book.It was great to have further development of Mia's story.No one engages a child's interest like the American Girl! ... Read more

Book Description
Mia St. Clair has grown up playing ice hockey with her three older brothers and has the skills she needs to become a star hockey player.But she's tired of skating in her brothers' shadows and has decided to pursue her passion for figure skating instead.With the help of a new coach, Mia finds out whether she has what it takes to grow and compete as a figure skater. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Another wonderful American Girl story book
Great story about a modern girl who loves hockey and figure-skating.A++ read for 3 generations in our family!

WONDERFUL
I loved this book. I am personally a figure skater myself so I could relate to the book. This book is about a young girl named Mia who is trying to do her best at her sport. This is a good book for girls.

Wonderful Book!
This is a great book for girls of all ages. I have read almost every american girl book ever made and this is definatley a winner! Mia really comes alive in her first book and unlike most books these days her character grows and learns. I would definately recomend this book! ... Read more