Customer Reviews

Bliss, Remembered

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I know of Frank Deford from both HBO and NPR, but I was floored by his ability to step outside of his public persona and really write a breathtaking romance. His protagonist, Sydney Stringfellow, is as real as any heroine I've ever read, and the journey that Deford too me on, as a reader, was truly extraordinary. I found my self gasping aloud at the twists and turns and beyond that, I found myself really caring for these characters. The backdrop of the '36 Olympics was so well done (and so well researched) that the book had an implicit epic feel to it. It isn't very often that I feel truly swept away by a book, and that's what Deford was able to achieve here. I never wanted it to end...

Even before I got to this book's ending ending I was more taken with this book than I have been with any other in years. After the ending I think it might be my favorite book in decades. I mean that. It has it all- humor, love, intrigue, history, and action. A spectacular story that you won't want to end.

This is one of those books that you won't want to put down. Such a fantastic story woven into historical events of the '30s and '40s in the US and abroad. I am drawn to books relating to Olympic history and WWII history, and this book lives up to its billing as a historical fiction novel. The captivating story was definitely enriched by Deford's thorough research.

As a fan of Deford, I had no idea what to expect in a novel from him, written in a woman's voice, no less! But I can assure you that BLISS, REMEMBERED is pure bliss. I was immediately transported to the 30's, a tense but romantic period in history. BLISS REMEMBERED is a fabulous read! Highly recommended.

I heard Frank Deford discussing this book on NPR one morning and was enthralled by the plot he described - the 1936 Berlin Olympics is the setting and the main character is an American female backstroke swimmer. Above all, this is a love story set within the backdrop of these Games.

This book is completely enthralling with a narrator who will not soon be forgotten - Sydney Stringfellow is a true firecracker! I absolutely loved this book, its format, its characters, and Deford's clear and sharp writing style. And there was a twist at the end that makes it an even better read. I can't recommend this book enough. It has made it onto my list of all-time favorites!

Love is hard to pursue when you have a heated war between you. "Bliss, Remembered" tells the story as Olympic Athlete Sydney falls in love with a German gentlemen in the 1936 Berlin games. When World War II tears them apart, Sydney is heart broken, but an American still pursues her. Caught between the safe love and wanting what seems completely lost, "Bliss, Remembered" is a riveting romance set in an unstable period, highly recommended.

I am not a fan of Frank Deford on radio. His weekly spot on NPR comes across to me as pompous, self-indulgent, and annoying. However after hearing his novel, Bliss Remembered, discussed on NPR, I decided it would be an excellent birthday gift for my eighty-ish mother since it takes place in the days of her youth. She loved it (as did my father) and it soon ended up in my hands. It is really a coming of age story from the 1936 Berlin Olympic to the middle of World War II. Sydney Stringfellow, an American Olympic swimmer, meets a young German man who may turn out to be the love of her life, with the inevitable complications apparent from the start. Bliss Remembered is many genres at once; Romance, Historical Fiction, Sports, and Thriller. It succeeds at all of them. With Nazi Germany ever present, I read it with my gut and emotions churning, fearing that the characters would all come to no good and broken dreams. Sydney has a very promising swimming career ahead, but it seems impossible in the context of the times and the novel's plotline. With the Great Depression as backdrop and the social mores of the time, I got a real feeling of the 1930's. Deford comes up with some wonderful surprises that keep the story from descending into the mundane. Just when I thought it was going to end in eye-rolling sappiness, Bliss Remembered grabbed me at the end and became unforgettable.

Thank you for the sending the paper back book Bliss in excellent condition. I am in the process of reading it.

Great writer.

Quite frankly, I did not know what to expect from this book given the the subject matter and the author. I picked it up to get the real feel of the 1936 Berlin olympics. I did not realize that it would turn out to be prop for a story that would have more twists and turns than a mountain road.

Deford does a superb job of painting a mosaic of this period in history, and while the interaction of all of the events appears a little contribed, the story grows on you with each chapter. In fact when I finished the book I was sure that this was not the story I signed up to read. The roller coaster ride that Deford takes us on is irrisitable. This is one of those books that takes hold of you and just doesn't let go. For those who open up this book enjoy the ride.

This was a wonderful book. Deford writes well, the historical aspect interesting and it takes place on Maryland's Eastern Shore where I live. I recommend this one.